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Post by nikeajax on Nov 23, 2014 14:49:35 GMT -8
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG before they became a trendy clothing line for teens, Abercrombie & Fitch used to be a top of the line sporting goods retailer: did they ever sell any dive gear, and if so, what brand? I'm curious because I love old sporting goods, like J.C. Higgins, Sears, here are my Higgies: Sears re-branded Healthways USD gear... Jaybird
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Post by CG-45.com on Nov 23, 2014 15:15:24 GMT -8
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Post by surflung on Nov 24, 2014 6:27:04 GMT -8
- I visited Abercrombie and Fitch in 1976... They were outfitters to African Safaris back then and had a magnificent "Gun Room". Holland and Holland, Greener, Purdy, etc... Fabulous hunting and fishing gear as well. I'm sure diving gear was just as prevalent... It being an adventure sport back in those days before spear fishing became politically incorrect. That all went away because of politics. And perhaps that's why L.L. Bean is just a clothing seller now, too. - Probably off topic but "the Gun Room" was the first thing that flashed into my mind when you mentioned Abercrombie and Fitch.
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Post by SeaRat on Nov 24, 2014 8:32:53 GMT -8
That J.C. Higgins Aqua Air-Lung looks to be a U.S. Divers Company Overpressure Breathing regulator, their first single stage regulator (prior to the DW and DW Mistral regulators). John
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Post by Linda on Nov 24, 2014 19:03:37 GMT -8
Adair, I wonder what the front of that catalog looks like? The one that you posted the pages from... Sure it's not diving related, but just curious.
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Post by CG-45.com on Nov 25, 2014 2:00:35 GMT -8
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Post by Linda on Nov 25, 2014 7:08:00 GMT -8
That's really cool. Thanks!
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 25, 2014 9:58:33 GMT -8
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Post by SeaRat on Nov 25, 2014 10:16:21 GMT -8
Jaybird,
The suit is a Parkway (see the "P" on the chest), "sharkskin" type suit. That "Standard Suit" was a skin two sides suit, without any nylon lining. Their Deluxe Suit had nylon lining. The Standard Suit was delicate, and could easily rip. The nylon-lined suit was much more durable, but with nylon on the inside, took a day or so to dry out whereas the skin-in suit dried in about 15 minutes. 3/16th thickness was not their warmest suit, which would have been 1/4 inch.
John
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Post by Linda on Nov 25, 2014 17:42:16 GMT -8
Gee, thanks, Jay! That red pantsuit is classic!
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sidm
Pro Diver
Posts: 219
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Post by sidm on Nov 29, 2014 22:00:22 GMT -8
Abercrombie and Fitch did sell dive gear. I have a photo of an A&F window display with dive gear in it. One of the products they sold was the Amerman weight belt. Tom Amerman opened the first dive shop in Portland, OR, in 1950. He produced the weight belts in the mid-50s. They were advertised in Skin Diver as well as being carried by A&F. I will try to find the A&F photo and post it along with photos of the Amerman weights. As a side note - in 1954, Tom wrote an article for Skin Diver, titled "The Weight Belt Is Not A Wait Belt", which emphasized the importance of quick release weight belt buckles. Prior to his articles, there were no ads for belts with quick release buckles. After the article, such ads began to appear. An additional side note - the cartoon that went along with Tom's article was drawn by Homer Groening - father of Matt Groening the creator of The Simpsons. Homer Groening was an avid Northwest diver which may explain why Bart and Homer are often seen diving.
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 30, 2014 17:43:35 GMT -8
I was thinking they would! There's an old Rock Hudson movie with Paula Prentiss called "Man's Favorite Sport" www.imdb.com/title/tt0058324/?ref_=nv_sr_1Rock Hudson is supposed to be working at A&F. Just in case you don't know what Ms. Prentiss looks like, or for some strange reason forgot, WOW!: Jaybird
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sidm
Pro Diver
Posts: 219
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Post by sidm on Dec 5, 2014 20:28:21 GMT -8
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sidm
Pro Diver
Posts: 219
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Post by sidm on Dec 5, 2014 20:38:19 GMT -8
One last try.
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sidm
Pro Diver
Posts: 219
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Post by sidm on Dec 5, 2014 20:41:56 GMT -8
Well, if you click on the link above it will take you to the photos of the Amerman belt and the Abercrombie and Fitch window display in Photobucket. I can't seem to make the pictures appear here. Anyway, the Amerman ad is from Skin Diver, June 1955 (not 54 as I had thought). I don't know the date of the Abercrombie and Fitch photo but looking at the equipment display it seems to be around the same time.
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