Old consumer magazines as diving equipment history sources
Aug 29, 2023 8:53:53 GMT -8
SeaRat and vance like this
Post by DavidRitchieWilson on Aug 29, 2023 8:53:53 GMT -8
Old consumer magazines can be great sources of information about vintage diving equipment. Here in the UK, the August 1965 issue of "Which?" magazine contained an article entitled Masks and snorkels for underwater swimming, while States-side Consumer Reports published Underwater swimming equipment in July 1957. These two reviews provide valuable insights into the "state of the art" in recreational underwater gear from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s.
Many countries have similar consumer magazines designed to keep their readership fully apprised of product development. The Soviet Union's own consumer monthly was entitled Новые товары ("Novye tovary" = "New Products"). The articles and illustrations conjured up an image of the USSR as a shopper's paradise where the finest radios, TVs, tape recorders, kitchen appliances, sporting goods and fashionable clothing were readily available. In reality, consumer goods like these were in short supply in Soviet stores, thanks to small factory production runs and a lack of foreign currency to finance imports from western countries.
Between the early 1960s and the early 1970s, Новые товары announced several product developments in the field of recreational diving equipment. These reports have proved helpful in establishing a timeline chronicling the range of basic gear available to Soviet recreational divers in the mid twentieth century. So far as I am aware, no diving equipment catalogues ever appeared in the USSR, hence other sources of dating information have to be found.
Russian text:
Ласты „Барракуда‟
Ласт имеет два боковых ребра жестокости, плавно переходящих в пятку, два ребра на верхней части плавника и два ребра по всей длине нижней части паста.
Резиновые ласты типа «Барракуда» выпускаются Московским заводом резиновых изделий санитарии и гигиены. В 1963 г. запланирован выпуск 5000 пар. Цена одной пары 7 руб. 20 коп.
Новые резиновые ласты для подводного плавания разработаны также промкомбинатом Ленинградского областного общества охотников и рыболовов. При их разработке были широко использованы лучшие образцы Ленинградского филиала.
Форма новых ластов очень удобна и отвечает самым придирчивым требованиям любителей подводного плавания. Промкомбинат выпускает ласты трех размеров: 34—38, 39—40 и 41—43.
К летнему сезону промкомбинат выпустит свыше 30 тыс. пар ластов всех размеров.
My very rough translation:
“Barrakuda” fins
For reinforcement, the fin has two lateral ribs that smoothly merge into the heel, two ribs on the top of the fin, and two ribs along the entire length of the bottom of the fin.
“Barrakuda” rubber fins are produced by the Moscow rubber sanitation and hygiene products plant (Sangigiena). In 1963, production of 5,000 pairs is planned. The price per pair is 7 roubles 20 kopecks.
New rubber underwater swimming fins have also been developed by the industrial plant of the Leningrad Regional Hunters and Fishermen’s Association. During their development, the best examples from the Leningrad branch were widely used.
The shape of the new fins is very comfortable and meets the most demanding requirements of diving enthusiasts. The industrial plant produces fins in three sizes: 34-38, 39-40 and 41-43.
By the summer season, the industrial plant will produce over 30,000 pairs of fins of all sizes.
More Новые товары underwater gear related articles to follow.
DRW
Many countries have similar consumer magazines designed to keep their readership fully apprised of product development. The Soviet Union's own consumer monthly was entitled Новые товары ("Novye tovary" = "New Products"). The articles and illustrations conjured up an image of the USSR as a shopper's paradise where the finest radios, TVs, tape recorders, kitchen appliances, sporting goods and fashionable clothing were readily available. In reality, consumer goods like these were in short supply in Soviet stores, thanks to small factory production runs and a lack of foreign currency to finance imports from western countries.
Between the early 1960s and the early 1970s, Новые товары announced several product developments in the field of recreational diving equipment. These reports have proved helpful in establishing a timeline chronicling the range of basic gear available to Soviet recreational divers in the mid twentieth century. So far as I am aware, no diving equipment catalogues ever appeared in the USSR, hence other sources of dating information have to be found.
In this thread, I intend to share what I have found online in the way of articles and illustrations dedicated to underwater swimming equipment in the Soviet consumer magazine Новые товары. The first piece dates from May 1963:
Russian text:
Ласты „Барракуда‟
Плавники этих ластов изготовлены из твердой резины, а объемная часть для ступни — из мягкой и эластичной.
Ласт имеет два боковых ребра жестокости, плавно переходящих в пятку, два ребра на верхней части плавника и два ребра по всей длине нижней части паста.
Размеры ластов (в мм): длинна 465, высота 80, ширина плавника 198, высота пятки 64. Ласты не разделяются из правый и левый.
Резиновые ласты типа «Барракуда» выпускаются Московским заводом резиновых изделий санитарии и гигиены. В 1963 г. запланирован выпуск 5000 пар. Цена одной пары 7 руб. 20 коп.
Новые резиновые ласты для подводного плавания разработаны также промкомбинатом Ленинградского областного общества охотников и рыболовов. При их разработке были широко использованы лучшие образцы Ленинградского филиала.
Форма новых ластов очень удобна и отвечает самым придирчивым требованиям любителей подводного плавания. Промкомбинат выпускает ласты трех размеров: 34—38, 39—40 и 41—43.
К летнему сезону промкомбинат выпустит свыше 30 тыс. пар ластов всех размеров.
My very rough translation:
“Barrakuda” fins
The blades of these fins are made of hard rubber, while the bulky part for the foot is made of soft and elastic rubber.
For reinforcement, the fin has two lateral ribs that smoothly merge into the heel, two ribs on the top of the fin, and two ribs along the entire length of the bottom of the fin.
Fin dimensions (mm): length 465, height 80, blade width 198, heel height 64. Right- and left-handed fins are identical.
“Barrakuda” rubber fins are produced by the Moscow rubber sanitation and hygiene products plant (Sangigiena). In 1963, production of 5,000 pairs is planned. The price per pair is 7 roubles 20 kopecks.
New rubber underwater swimming fins have also been developed by the industrial plant of the Leningrad Regional Hunters and Fishermen’s Association. During their development, the best examples from the Leningrad branch were widely used.
The shape of the new fins is very comfortable and meets the most demanding requirements of diving enthusiasts. The industrial plant produces fins in three sizes: 34-38, 39-40 and 41-43.
By the summer season, the industrial plant will produce over 30,000 pairs of fins of all sizes.
More Новые товары underwater gear related articles to follow.
DRW
