Strange Voit Manifold

[surflung]

A Strange Voit Manifold...
- My son brought me a vintage double tank set-up and it has this Voit Twin Tank Manifold I've never seen before and that doesn't seem to have been cataloged. I did see a '67 or '68 catalog that had a single tank J-Valve where the reserve portion looked kind of like the reserve on this twin tank manifold.


- I'd rather have the valve facing down rather than sticking straight up like this one. And, it doesn't look like it can be positioned facing downward... Looks like it is soldered that way.
- The reserve mechanism looks different than the Voit ones that can't be repaired. I haven't taken anything apart yet to see but any comments or knowledge about this manifold would be welcome.
- The tanks it is attached to are the same as that surplus green oxygen tank I posted here a month or so ago only they have the anti-shatter wire wrap removed. They've got some surface rust on the outside but don't look pitted anywhere. They come from western (dry desert) Colorado and they still have 800 psi old air inside.
- If the insides look okay, I'm going to get them hydro tested and inspected.
- If they pass that, I'll refinish them with Galvalite Zinc Paint.
- After that, I'll need a USD Twin Tank Manifold so the valve will point down.
- And finally, I already have some USD twin tank bands to make an authentic USN harness...

[diverdon]

That set up looks pretty sweet. I like the valves!
I've only come across one tank like the ones that have been falling in your lap so I want to get in hydro'd. Problem is the only hydro station around here won't do it because of that collar.
More pics please!
Nice find BTW!

DD

[nikeajax]

Eb, I think this is one of those you really want to use those wee-bonny tanks with, an' keep it low slung, or just don't use it for a DH, then it won't matter eh?

Jaybird

[surflung]

Jul 24, 2015 8:31:38 GMT -8 diverdon said:

That set up looks pretty sweet. I like the valves!
I've only come across one tank like the ones that have been falling in your lap so I want to get in hydro'd. Problem is the only hydro station around here won't do it because of that collar.
More pics please!
Nice find BTW!DD

Pictures for Diver Don...
- Thanks Don... Here are some pictures of the whole rig as I received it.

- Above is the front side before cleaning up. You can see where the tanks were originally green and where the anti-shatter wrap was removed they have surface rust. They were painted all black at one time to cover the green and the bare metal under the wire wrap.

- This is what the back side looks like after cleanup. The surface doesn't look pitted at all. I still haven't looked inside. But if the insides look good, I'll take these tanks to the Minnesota School of Diving for inspection and hydrotest. If they pass, I'll bead blast the outside and refinish them with Galvalite 96% Zinc paint.
- Yes, I'm lucky to have found the Hydrotesting guy that I use. His name is Bill Mathies and he was one of the pioneers of diving in Minnesota... A contemporary of Jack the Frogman. He even wrote a book (I bought it) about his early years doing commercial dive jobs by the seat of his pants and building his dive business. Anyway, he has experience with various scuba tanks, fire extinguisher tanks, etc... going back many years. I found him when an inexperienced hydrotester had failed two nearly perfect Sportways 42 cf tanks. Bill discovered what the guy did wrong and the tanks actually passed the Hydrotest by a wide margin.
- When I bring in these tanks that use bushings, I don't bring the bushings or the valves. I'm only there for the hydrotest and the tester has fittings for many types of tanks... Not just Scuba. He just finds the correct fitting and performs the test.

- Jaybird... I know it's an interesting manifold but I don't like it and will have my eye out for either a US Divers or Sportsways Twin Tank Manifold with 1/2" tapered threads and the valve pointing down. All of which depends on whether the tanks pass the hydrotest and inspection... I think these are Twin 50s and I hope to end up with them looking something like these Twin 38s...

[SeaRat]

Eban,

Those look very interesting, and will be great for diving. They will probably be a bit buoyant, but some weights can offset that. Keep us up-to-date on this restoration project. I really like doubles, and I also like where the regulator is placed on my doubles. You are correct that these would cause problems with regulator placement between your shoulder blades (I'm saying this not for you, but for some who may read this thread).

By the way, that is a very old U.S. Divers Company harness that they marketed for a few years between the time they had the military harness, and got to the backpack-style harnesses. I don't think there are many of those around. I'd keep it on this set.

John