New DH regs and Fred Roberts #2

[diverdon]

I've been busy and haven't posted much on here lately. But I have been diving and adding a few things here and there to the collection. I'm posting a few for discussion. Even though anything in the FR book could be had for the asking, thanks to several generous individuals on this board, I thought I should have the second edition for immediate reference should the need arise. It actually cost me less than the first.And its in really good shape too. Anyone want a first edition?




I also picked up a couple double hose regs recently. The DA was quite affordable so I couldn't pass it up and the Waterlung is kind of a must have for me. I tried the SW and there is a leak in the body gasket but that should be an easy fix. Some new hoses and a homemade gasket and I'll be in business. The DA? that's another story. She'll need a whole compliment of things to get it in the water. She cleaner than my first HW Deluxe, but still, more of a project then I'm ready to dive into right now.








I like that a gage can be added without an adapter, but this is yet another non-balanced reg. Should be a fun winter!

Don

[nikeajax]

Hey stranger, or is that just strange Um, I think, if you want, you can take the HP assembly out of your Hydronaut and make it a balanced reg. I know your Hydronaut is missing a tee for the second stage, unless you found a new one. I think a while back someone did this to their Scuba Deluxe: holy mother of pearl, can you imagine that...VROOOM! The same chap designed both regs, so they used the same parts in the HP-nozzel, or, can be made to, those being the valve sear and plunger, you should at least try, as I only know of a few people with these regs and none of them has anything to say but how good they are. BTW, you stink for having one now, 'cause I don't grumble, grumble grumble...

Jaybird

[SeaRat]

Don, I'd keep the first edition of Basic Scuba too if I were you. I have a second edition, but it's almost completely worn out (binding is breaking). There are some things in the first edition, I think, that are not in the second edition, which is why I recommend your keeping it.

John

[diverdon]

JB, I just may try that I seem to recall your growing collection exceeding even John's in the HW dept...
But I sure do like my Waterlungs. Now I need a NED version. If you see any out there in Cali, scoop it up for me. I'll give you a bird-dog fee
Hey John, I was half kidding. I couldn't possibly break up my set. I haven't even read the second edition yet so until I do its pretty safe right there on my shelf.
As to the reg, I have a little more in it than any of my others so until I get the new gasket, hoses and whatever, it'll be my safe queen. If a reg can even BE a safe queen.

D

[nikeajax]

There are few things in the first ed. that aren't in the second, but I dismember what they is!

Huh, if I can find a SW first stage that's balanced, I may hot-rod my Gold label!

Jaybird

[duckbill]

I can't seem to find my first edition at the moment, but as I recall the first edition has some of the earlier regulator models that were obsolete by the second edition. Sorry I can't specify which ones.

On the other hand, I know where my second edition is. I'll never misplace that one! I bought it from the man himself, and he personalized it to me- one of my treasures.

Definitely good to keep both editions as a set that overlap in content. Congratuluations on your acquisition!

[diverdon]

Thanks DB. A signed copy would surely be a treasure. How long have you had it? Personally I have been looking for a while and when it popped up on eBay I was elated no one bid against me, though according to eBay "one person was watching it per hour" Gotta hand it to them. Their emails and info-windows are getting more creative, if not a little annoying. I am thankful for their email notifications in this instance though, thats for sure.

Don

[nikeajax]

Don take the OPV off... and use the second stage of your Hydronaut in its place! The down stream valve do the same thing in case of failure. You can swap out the exhaust tee between the two regs, as I remember you have one SW that has one, and don't you have a SW SPG too, if that is the case, you'll be quite studly in your all SW rig, while being ENTIRELY up to code 'cause ya have a port for yer BC too, "Get out'a my way boys, I'm goin' divin'..."

"Say, I heard Don rescued the Governor last month using that very reg..."

"No, it was the President!"

Jaybird

[diverdon]

Who said "Great minds think alike"? Too bad he wasn't thinking of us  I do have several SW accy's that could be added to the kit   And perhaps a new avatar would be in order...

[duckbill]

Nov 17, 2014 7:02:10 GMT -8 diverdon said:

Thanks DB. A signed copy would surely be a treasure. How long have you had it?

Dated Sept. 3, 2005. IIRC, he was no longer into scuba so much then as into aviation.

When I was looking, they seemed to pop up in groups. Sometimes three or four available, then none for a long while. I think they get mentioned on the internet and readers say, "Hey, I should get one". Then the current supplies gets bought up and people eventually forget about them, until someone mentions them again, the supplies have replenished in the mean time, and new vintage divers say, "Hey, I should get one", and so on, and so on.

[diverdon]

I've been looking to add a balanced DH reg to the collection and I picked up this RAM off eBay for what I consider a reasonable price. It lacks hoses and mouthpiece and I'm sure it needs a rebuild, but the chrome looks good and I've always liked the older label with the large crown more than the newer round one, so I hope I can bring this one back to diveable condition. Maybe I'll start a new thread on this one as I progress with the project as the last RAM thread by Dave is a rather unique round label that was restamped over a can like this one.

[surflung]

- Man that looks to be in good shape Don. Are you smiling for the camera in the face of your Royal? That label looks good but if you need to replace it, I see Allan's got quite a nice collection of repro labels for sale at vintagescubastuff.com/labels/.

[diverdon]

Thanks Eben,

I'll see how it cleans up first. I don't believe the label will ever look as good as the repro in your picture, but I like the been there-done that look to a label so long as you can tell what it is

As for the smile, that was intentional. Looking at eBay and many online postings of shiney chrome objects, you see a lot of hand/phone reflections, but almost never a smile Maybe it'll catch on?

Don

[sitkadiver]

Don,

I think you'll find that these regulators are easy to rebuild and fairly straight forward to tune. All the parts are readily available, so you'll have little trouble procuring everything.

Congratulations on finding one with such nice chrome. I've several that were placed into storage with salt water in them and sadly, the chrome and internals show the signs of neglect. Yours, on the other hand, looks like a great candidate for restoration.

[nikeajax]

One of the things I like to use on chrome is a copper scrubbing-ball: I've found it works better than a brass brush. You can actually use steel wool too: the steel wool isn't nearly as hard as the chrome plating, so it will not harm the surface. If you do use steel wool though, make sure you wash the crud off first, the micro particles are what scratch the chrome.

Jaybird