Has anyone seen the "new innovation" on page 9 of the new September 2011 Sherrill Tree sales flyer?? The "New Innovation" is a "Caterpillar Friction Saver". Looks an awful lot like the Dan House conduit friction sleeves to me. Only thing lacking is the brightly colored electrical tape markings on the ends that improve visibility while setting them in a crotch. I do not know how long the House sleeves have been around, but I bought my first pair from New Tribe over three years ago and they are still going strong.
Wiley Coyote

I'm a little late in my reply, but this is a good catch.
Hopefully its not a rip off of someone's good idea. I don't know the history of the product.

That looks very much like a rip-off of someone else's idea, and that someone would be Dan House.

If history repeats itself, then I would guess that Sherrill approached Dan about selling his sleeves and Dan didn't want to make an arrangement, so Sherrill decided that gave them the right to take the idea to another supplier for them to make. Their defence (which is legal, but of questionable ethics) will probably be that Dan didn't patent it, so tough noogies.

I could certainly be wrong about this, and if I am, then apologies to Sherrill. However, that is what happened with the Harrison Rocket throwbag!

My first cambium saver was made using flexible conduit with a gray plastic jacket in 1997. I found the conduit style rope sleeve greatly reduced friction and the gray plastic jacket gripped the bark well. I gave a few out to friends that quickly replaced their leathers sleeves. I sent a few samples to NewTribe and after a few improvements they became my first retail vendor of Dan House Rope Sleeves.

In 1999 John Gathright of Tree Climbing Japan told Peter Jenkins his dilemma in getting permission to climb trees with ropes. John-san took a few of my sleeves that Peter gave him back to Japan and the Minister of Forests subjected them to grueling tests to see if any damage could happen. Imagine a person sawing a rope back and forth thru a rope sleeve for hours to see what happens, you guessed it one tried person and zero tree damage. John-san was granted permission contingent on the use of rope sleeves to protect the tree.

At the 2007 Rendezvous in Colorado Elliot Su brought over from Taiwan a type of ultra-flexible conduit with a black jacket. I liked its smaller bending radius and the greater flexibility so I switched to the ultra-flexible conduit even though I still use some 14 year old gray jacket sleeves that still show no wear. I found that there are two types of conduit made and one type can come un-wound if you bend it too tight so now I only use the good type that comes with a two-year full replacement no questions asked guarantee. I am not about to buy a Caterpillar to find out if it is made with the weak stuff.

Tobe also attended the 2007 Rendezvous and was able to see both versions so I knew it was only a matter of time before he could produce his own version. I did consider asking him if he would become a vendor but I personally didn’t like many of his false claims, insensitive statements and then later how he acted regarding the superior “SideWinder” throwbag launcher. I am glad he never contacted me because I would have turned him down if he did. The cost to patent this item is too much for such a small market so it will never pay off.

Now that NewTribe has reduced its retail sales so it can be more of a wholesaler I am working with another arborist supply company that will also offer the official size and weight Signature series Dan House Rope Sleeves along with their other items. Stay tuned for details.

See you at the top!
Dan House

Thanks, Dan.

My guess was off, but I don't know if I need to apologize. The fact that Tobe started selling the conduit sleeves without even discussing it with you somehow makes it even worse!

You and I are on the same page M'man. “Just the facts ma’am”, as Joe Friday would say.

I even posted a review that was posted on his site but no one should be surprised that my comments when over their heads; I guess arborists are not literary giants by any means.

It may be a small reward but seeing how close you are to Portland, Oregon you must pencil in the ISA International Tree Climbing Competition on August 11 and 12th, 2012.

Look me up and I will give you a rope sleeve.

Stan and I hope that we can invite a group with special personal challenges at the Fun Climb. We are just in the planning stages and we are not even sure who is staging the event.

Let me know if you know who will do the Fun Climb. We helped TCI at both St. Louis and Chicago and had a hoot.

See you at the top,
Dan

Way to go Dan!

This is one case were Sherrill was not able to stifle innovation with a ridiculously broad patent (Big Shot patent).

I'm down on patents, may the inventor/builder with the best implementation and ethics succeed.
-AJ

I am happy to announce that if you follow this link it will take you to TreeStuff.com newest item.

Compared to others vendors out there you will greatly like the care and personal service that Luke et al offers and dare I mention how ethical they are?

http://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?category_id=0&item=1852



There is an icon where you can post reviews and comments that will earn the first ten people a special gift from me.
( yes this is to drive up those crazy Google statics that measure webpage hits )

Just do so and then send me a link for details to: treeclimbingkansascity@yahoo.com

See you at the top,
Dan