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Post by nikeajax on Dec 8, 2018 11:49:11 GMT -8
Every once in a while I see a reg on eBait called a Seahorse: it's Japanese and is a relabeled Healthways Scuba Star, at least from all outside appearances... The yoke-screw does say "SEAHORSE" where the SS would say "HEALTHWAYS". Kawasaki made/makes regs too: I think I remember hearing that they made a DH that was a relabeled DA Aquamaster. They also had a SH called the Spartan X200: www.lola.cz/cs/muzeum/scuba-vintage-museum/automatiky---regulators/japan/kawasaki/spartan-x200The second stage looks like a tweaked Conshelf, but that first stage, shur don' look like nuttin' I ever seen b'fore! Anyone else know anything? DRW, can you tell us about non-regulators gear? Jaybird |
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Post by DavidRitchieWilson on Dec 9, 2018 2:56:40 GMT -8
Anything to oblige, JB. I'll stick for the moment to what is available today, because one Japanese diving equipment manufacturer, Gull Marine Sports has ignored trends elsewhere towards "tupperware" fins and the like, continuing instead to make classic basic gear the way it used to be done everywhere a few decades ago. Their full 2018 catalogue (Japanese/English text) can be downloaded at gull.kinugawa-net.co.jp/en/wp-content/themes/gull/pdf/catalog_gull.pdf. Gull fins are the most obvious examples of classic designs: Gull Mew Gull Super Mew Gull Warp Gull Emden Gull Basara Rubber Mask Gull Rubber Snorkels Gull fins come in a range of colours, some of them representing particular hardnesses. I have pairs of Gull Mew and Emden full-foot fins and a rubber Gull snorkel in my collection. They are excellent quality and do the job when snorkelling. Gull gear used to be a pain to source because online retailers in Japan never responded to requests from western countries, but Marinetone of Hong Kong at www.marinetone.com/ is now a very reliable and quick source of Gull equipment. I'll leave it there for the moment. Japanese snorkellers and divers are very fond of Gull gear, if their blogs are anything to go by, where they proudly display their new purchases. DRW |
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Post by SeaRat on Dec 9, 2018 6:16:46 GMT -8
Jaybird, That first stage for the Seahorse regulator is indeed unique, and I also have never seen it before. But, guess what? The Japanese have made a balanced version of the Scuba Star regulator. That's right, that piston regulator is balanced! That in and of itself would make acquiring this regulator a good decision. Now, your link goes to the Spartan regulator, not the Seahorse. Is this the regulator you meant to post about?    John |
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Post by nikeajax on Dec 9, 2018 8:30:59 GMT -8
John, where did you find your info?!?!?!? The only thing I came up with were neoprene-fetish-images  Not my kink, but hey, if hat's what they like... There was another reg in the '70's-'80's, I think called an "Atomic": the plastic used was junk, because the one I saw was falling apart  it sure was a pretty red though! JB |
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Post by technidiver on Dec 10, 2018 16:21:21 GMT -8
DRW that Gull Basara mask is really nice, I tried searching where to buy it and I couldn't find it. Kind of looks like an updated version of the Aqua-Rama.
If someone knows where to buy one could you let me know?
TD
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Post by SeaRat on Dec 11, 2018 5:54:51 GMT -8
John, where did you find your info?!?!?!? The only thing I came up with were neoprene-fetish-images Not my kink, but hey, if hat's what they like... There was another reg in the '70's-'80's, I think called an "Atomic": the plastic used was junk, because the one I saw was falling apart it sure was a pretty red though! JB JB, I simply followed your link. www.lola.cz/soubory-muzeum/1164.jpgJust below the Japanese link above, there is a link to the Sensivair from Hong Kong. It apparently was manufactured by Bunns Diving in Hong Kong. I thought of going there, but after looking at their website, it was apparent that they have no vintage grear. But that regulator was interesting.  This looks like a Mistral clone, but it isn't  Here's what the insides looks like.  Put together, here's the insides of the Sensivair.   This diagram shows a very interesting concept, with the seat and the valve sitting in the opposite direction as what we normally see in the Mistral. But it is a single stage regulator with a HP outlet for a SPG. The lever system is intriguing, as it seems to use a double lever system to enhance sensitivity, hence the name. www.lola.cz/cs/muzeum/scuba-vintage-museum/automatiky---regulators/hong-kong/sensivairJohn |
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Post by DavidRitchieWilson on Dec 11, 2018 8:46:22 GMT -8
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Post by nikeajax on Dec 11, 2018 8:58:26 GMT -8
That first stage for the Seahorse regulator is indeed unique, and I also have never seen it before. But, guess what? The Japanese have made a balanced version of the Scuba Star regulator. That's right, that piston regulator is balanced! That in and of itself would make acquiring this regulator a good decision. John, I meant about the Seahorse being balanced? The only ones I've seen look exactly like the Scuba Star...  JB |
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Post by SeaRat on Dec 12, 2018 5:18:06 GMT -8
That first stage for the Seahorse regulator is indeed unique, and I also have never seen it before. But, guess what? The Japanese have made a balanced version of the Scuba Star regulator. That's right, that piston regulator is balanced! That in and of itself would make acquiring this regulator a good decision. John, I meant about the Seahorse being balanced? The only ones I've seen look exactly like the Scuba Star... JB JB, Take a look at the piston on this regulator:  See that addition to the top of the piston, the tube with the O-ring, then take a look at the cap, and the receiver for that tube.  This cap chamber is a balancing chamber, and is what makes it a balanced first stage. High pressure air is on both ends of the piston. Therefore the pressure differential as the tank pressure is reduced will have no effect on the interstage pressure. The later piston models of the USD Calypso regulator do the same thing, but in a different orientation. These Japanese designers figured out a way to balance the Healthways Scuba Star design. Look closely at the diagrams above and you can see this illustrated. John PS, I just realized that these Japanese engineers have also turned the space in the piston cap, between the piston and the cap at the top of the first stage into an intermediate pressure reservoir too. The only HP air in this part of the regulator is inside the balance chamber. This is a really neat engineering feat. |
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Post by koatexeira on Dec 29, 2018 22:03:38 GMT -8
My father-in-law found a Nihon aqua-lung 2 stage regulator at an antique store. I'm wondering if anybody knows how much this is worth?
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Post by crabbyjim on Dec 30, 2018 7:19:39 GMT -8
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Not my kink, but hey, if hat's what they like...
it sure was a pretty red though!
