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Post by Nemo on Dec 11, 2014 22:19:22 GMT -8
WHATSIS? Galvanized steel 72 with the winebottle base from PST dated 1-54. Instead of the usual Broxton address, this tank is stamped "Aqua Lung, Inc." It does not say "Rene." The serial number starts with a "V". The tank has no exterior rust and the galvanizing is in good condition. There are no stampings for subsequent hydros beyond the date of manufacture. The valve is dated 2-54 and would have been in pristine condition had not the person I bought it from thought he needed to disassemble it to get the air out for shipment; it's ruined. But both tank and valve appear to be original mates. The harness is what I'm most curious about. I've talked about it with SeaRat; and seen one or two pictures of civilian divers wearing these back in the early 1950's, but I have never seen one before. I've seen "basket" harnesses from back then. And some canvas wrap types used on an early Australian SCUBA. But the only other ones like this I've seen are (1) worn by a photographer who filmed the Creature from the Black Lagoon; and (2) a book photo John Ratliff shared showing a civilian photographer underwater in Florida in the early 1950's. Other than that, it's unknown to me. Anybody know anything about this kind of tank harness?
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Post by Nemo on Dec 11, 2014 22:20:56 GMT -8
It looks like it was dived a few times and then put in a closet for 60 years.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2014 7:48:30 GMT -8
what is wrong with the valve? Unless there is scoring inside where seals fit from an clumsy dis assembly, it should be repairable. What are you missing if anything?
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Post by Nemo on Dec 12, 2014 14:38:47 GMT -8
what is wrong with the valve? Unless there is scoring inside where seals fit from an clumsy dis assembly, it should be repairable. What are you missing if anything? Everything he took off was there in a bag: the handle assembly from the bonnet up; and the safety plug. According to the previous owner, the tank was dropped and the valve impacted a granite stair step. The valve body is dented out of shape where the reserve plug threads in. I put in 1000 psi and there is a slight leak at the reserve plug when I soap it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2014 17:29:45 GMT -8
what is wrong with the valve? Unless there is scoring inside where seals fit from an clumsy dis assembly, it should be repairable. What are you missing if anything? Everything he took off was there in a bag: the handle assembly from the bonnet up; and the safety plug. According to the previous owner, the tank was dropped and the valve impacted a granite stair step. The valve body is dented out of shape where the reserve plug threads in. I put in 1000 psi and there is a slight leak at the reserve plug when I soap it. Yep, sounds like it is toast.........
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Post by duckbill on Dec 12, 2014 19:20:16 GMT -8
WHATSIS?
I can answer that in one word....."Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!"
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Post by Nemo on Dec 14, 2014 7:00:13 GMT -8
Thanks guys. Mostly thanks to John Ratliff, I've now seen three pictures of a harness like this one; all on an underwater photographer in Florida. John says that chap was Jerry Greenberg. Last I heard, Mr. Greenberg was still alive. Does anybody have his contact info or the ability to let him know I'd like to show him a pic of this rig and ask if he can tell me anything about the harness?
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Post by SeaRat on Dec 14, 2014 8:31:23 GMT -8
Here are the photos I sent to Nemo via Facebook: Nemo, these photos of Jerry's were published in Underwater Photography, Simplified, by Jerry Greenberg. Here's the listed address: SEAHAWK PRESS 6840 S.W. 92nd St. Miami, Florida 33156 But that was in 1971. However, this is a family business of the Greenberg's. It might just still be valid. John
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Post by Nemo on Dec 14, 2014 10:43:35 GMT -8
The first one of John's pics above (diver aiming camera into overhang) looks like the same kind of harness; even has the same square D rings; but it's set up for a right hand reserve pull. However, three out of four of the next pics show this kind of harness with a left hand reserve pull; it's even laced the same as the Mystery Rig. I see nothing in the pictures to make me think they are not of the same person; in fact, the details I can see all suggest it IS the same person. That diver is identified in captions as "Ed Fisher." Here is a picture of Ed Fisher swapping tanks during his 24 hour dive on 21 August 1954; it all matches. I do believe this is the same type, if not one of the same tanks, Ed Fisher used. I'd like to follow that line of research. I know nothing about the man. Does anyone know if it is still possible to contact Ed Fisher?
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Post by regulator68bj on Dec 14, 2014 11:33:09 GMT -8
Hi Nemo, This information you might have already have on file , On "Google" I typed in "Ed Fisher Underwater Photographer" and the account of the 24Hour submerged plus a few extra leads at the bottom of the page
Good Hunting
john
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Post by cnotthoff on Dec 14, 2014 16:31:44 GMT -8
This always seems to be my addition to the story. If you would like to replace the damaged valve, I've got a 1/2" mpt US Divers J valve in decent conditon. Contact me if you want it. Price is reasonable.
Good Dives,
Charlie
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Post by SeaRat on Dec 14, 2014 18:53:46 GMT -8
Nemo, I've done a bit of googling, and found the following links: maya-gaia.angelfire.com/24_hour_dive.htmlnews.google.com/newspapers?nid=2206&dat=19560812&id=D7wyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3esFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4462,3475990 Apparently, it was Paul Arnold who provided the scuba for this dive by Ed Fisher, and he probably manufactured the harnesses too. Since there is no mention of the logistics of the harnesses, I'm guessing that there were only two of these harnesses, and that they allowed a quick exchange of cylinders. Because they are laced, it would be easy to untie one in the boat, slip it off the used tank, and onto a full tank, then simply pull it tight and tie it as a shoe lace is tied. Because all other harnesses used either the USD strap, which had buckles which took time to undo, or (worse) galvanized steel bands that needed to be unscrewed with a wrench, this would be an easy way of changing harnesses in the boat in anticipation of taking it down to Ed within the hour. The one article says that Ed Fisher got a job promoting Healthways products, so I feel that Diving Corporation of America (or Unity Divers Service Company) sold these to Healthways very early. Perhaps if you can find the first Healthways catalog, you can find this harness. One other thought I have is that you may have one of the only surviving harnesses of this type, which was specially made for this 24 hour dive. I have not seen it in diving photos other than Jerry Greenberg's photos, and either connected with this dive or from the same general area of this dive geographically. 'Just a thought. John
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Post by Nemo on Dec 14, 2014 19:50:04 GMT -8
Thanks guys. Had some work to do today but coming back to this I'm really happy to see the responses; thank you. This has become most interesting.
John: Thank you. I did see that one and am still googling; Thanks for your help.
Charlie: I do have one 1/2 inch valve and was originally planning to use this tank in a set of duals, but I'm rethinking it now. I'm bent because the tank and valve were original to each other so a lot of originality has been lost. But I'm seeing reasons t keep it together as a vintage single rig. What month / year are stamped on your valve?
SeaRat: Wow, thanks for the research. I was thinking along those lines, too; it being one made for the 24 hour dive. Clearly, it is the same type, configuration, and lacing pattern as the ones shown in the 24 hour dive pics. But I think I have a pic of a similar harness used in filming Creature from the Black Lagoon, and that was filmed in 1953, about a year before the 24 hour dive in August 54. Gotta go back and recheck that. I will continue to look for additional info, as well.
This has become more interesting than I thought it would. It seems we have an actual mystery here that might lead to a significant discovery in the Vintage SCUBA community. Thanks for everyone's help and I will continue to post information updates; especially if we get any solid intel on this.
Mahalo Grande, y'all! ;-)
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sidm
Pro Diver
Posts: 219
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Post by sidm on Dec 14, 2014 22:02:54 GMT -8
Last I heard, Jerry was alive and kicking. I interviewed him for an article in 2005, but have not been in touch since. Try this contact www.fishcards.com/. This is the company he and his wife published cards and books. He does not use email - at least not in 2005, and communicates by phone, fax, or letter. Old school.
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Post by Nemo on Dec 15, 2014 9:23:28 GMT -8
Last I heard, Jerry was alive and kicking. I interviewed him for an article in 2005, but have not been in touch since. Try this contact www.fishcards.com/. This is the company he and his wife published cards and books. He does not use email - at least not in 2005, and communicates by phone, fax, or letter. Old school. Great, thanks! I will follow that lead. :-) Today, the plan is to do a lot of HIDEF pics and video of the tank and harness; and I've got inquiries going out to PST and USD about the tank numbers. I haven't removed the valve from the tank and it does not appear to have been removed ever that I can tell. I'm going to hold off on the urge to pop it open because (1) it looks like it's been kept in a protected environment all its life; (2) the exterior is pristine; and (3) I put 1000 pounds in it and it tasted OK to me. Based on that, I really don't think the inside of this tank is a nightmare; I have great confidence it will pass hydro and VIP. But while it's being researched I think it should be left intact; stored, actually. And when it comes time to open it I will take it down to Bill at the Nautilus Dive Shop and we'll unvalve it together; that way we'll be able to document our actions and findings. I don't know that this tank is unique at all; I need it because it is an early PST winebottle; and on that basis I agreed to have it hydroed and vipped. But this tank has no hydro numbers on it at all; just the date of manufacture. That ain't natural. So here's something I never thought I'd say: since it has no hydro stamps (and that might be historically significant) maybe i should forego getting it a fresh hydro; call the tank "good enough for me" and send the man his money? I think so. I was going to make a set of duals out of this but there's no hurry on that. I've got one set of Rene duals ready to set up right now; I can hold off on this. It would be nice if it turned out to be one of Ed Fisher's "24" rigs; definitely worth preserving. So I think I'll just wrap this in a bag until we find out more about it. About those blood stains on the tank and one harness strap: They were on the original auction photos so they got there before the seller attempted to disassemble the valve; not his blood. The source is unknown. In a day and age when bloodborne pathogens are a serious biohazard, I am concerned about health and safety. My first instinct is to decontaminate the sites; but then, what if it turned out to be part of a significant story connected with this rig's history? I am in a bit of a bind there, so I'm just going to put it in a plastic bag until I learn more about it. Definitely still gonna keep looking into this, though; and certainly do appreciate everyone's help.
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