In 1938 outdoorspeople Lloyd and Mary Anderson, unable to find high-quality, inexpensive climbing gear, formed a co-op in Seattle through which climbers could pool their resources and buy gear in bulk from Europe and other places. With the help of a lawyer friend, the Andersons and 21 others officially formed a co-op, each paying a $1 lifetime membership fee. The first retail location of the future REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) was a shelf at a local cooperative grocery store, with the Anderson's attic as storage.

By the time this 1963 REI catalog was printed, the store had two Seattle locations. The catalog lists all kinds of climbing and camping equipment, including the axes, rucksacks, and lederhosen shown on these pages. Still based in the Seattle area, in 2018 REI operates 154 retail stores in 36 states and employs over 11,000 people.

Caption information source: https://www.rei.com/blog/camp/rei-history-it-started-with-an-ice-axe