What ever Happend to???

[John Adair]

What ever happend to Ralph Shamlian, one of the founders of Farallon, inventor of the Farallon DPV, moldable mouth piece, decom meter (never worked), Fara-fin, bunch of gauges and the tekna regulator?

It looks like after the Tekna reg, he stopped inventing? Does anyone have any info on what he has done since Tekna?

And while we are at it, what about Bill Walters, inventor of the At-Pac and a laundry list of other cool things.

Where are these guys who revolutionized diving gear that we now take for granted, I would love to ask them all kinds of questions about how they did it. We all trade the gear, were are they? Any one have any other names to add?

[Dennis2]

Maybe this is the same Bill Walters? An article says that he has invented a kevlar dry suit.
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In addition to the Ocean Vendors location, we recommend the following Dealer Reps as well.

Bill Walters/Southern California
26 Via Candelaria
Trabuco, CA 92679
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
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Kevlar Flex Dry Suit
Ocean Vendors of Brentwood California introduces its new Kevlar Flex Dry Suit. The new suit is unique in that it fits the diver closely, yet allows for unrestricted movement through its patented flex material.

The designer of the new "ultra-light" suit and patent holder of the new material, Bill Walters, couldn't be more pleased. "The new suit has exceeded our original goals of offering today's diver what they have been missing for so long," states Walters. The close fit of the suit is just the start. Air trapping has now been minimized, relieving the diver from having to wear the excessive weight.

[Dennis2]

Here is an article on fins that mentions Ralph Shamlian: www.sandiasnorkel.com/history/his-f_dp.htm

Another monumental failure was in 1977, when Ralph Shamlian combined a diving fin with a ski boot. The intent was to prevent the diver from involving his ankle. Instead all trust would be exerted from and controlled by the larger thigh muscle. Although well advertised, these fins were met with limited success and were soon retired, undoubtedly because of their radical departure from the norm and exorbitant retail price.

You can see a picture of these fins at: www.vintagescuba.com/farallon/farfin1.html

The web site for Farallon is: www.farallonusa.com/

[VintageDiverMN]

Does anyone know what happend to Andrew H. Beardsley? He was the owner of the commercial diving school, Divers Training Academy, located near Miami, Florida in the 1960's. I was a student there in 1962.

[SDM]

[quote author=Guest-John Adair

"What ever happend to Ralph Shamlian, one of the founders of Farallon.........., It looks like after the Tekna reg, he stopped inventing? Does anyone have any info on what he has done since Tekna?"

Ralph Shamlian sold Farallon, collected some more investors came back into the industry as Tekna. When Tekna failed he left the dive industry for good

He was adapted so he made an extensive search for his birth parents-found them and aquired their name. Ralph Shamlian is now known as "Ralph OSTERHOUT!"


"And while we are at it, what about Bill Walters, inventor of the At-Pac and a laundry list of other cool things."

Re Bill Walters Sr.--- Watergil broke up many years ago Bill moved his half north 125 miles to Ventura while the other half of the company remained in Fountain Valley. With in a short time the company also failed.

Bill moved to the pacific North West and became a dive manufacture's represetative. Bill is probably 65 plus and I would assume is retired.

Larry Scott his partner and theAtPac co inventor and the sole inventor and patent holder of the DSFS 1 & 2 series of regulators sold the remainder of the company and has totally retired to Long Beach California.

Ron Coleman, the third member or the organization passed away on his ranch --possibly as long as 10 to 15 years ago.

Billy Walters Junior Lives in SoCAl and is in the wet suit/dive bag business. He is refereced elsewhare in this post as the inventor of a special suit

Hope this answers where they are and what they are doing.


SDM ;D

[John]

Thanks for the info