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Post by Tusker on Dec 3, 2023 8:57:58 GMT -8
In the R-4 thread the other day I alluded to a second regulator that had recently found its way to me. This is it: a 1953 Aqua-Lung green label. I got it from a dive shop that can trace its roots back to the early 60s. The owner got his first set of equipment in 1953 and, when he was older, went into the business. The regulator turned 70 this year and I want to commemorate that. There’s one obvious answer: a dive. Now, clearly this won’t happen this year. I don’t have the time or resources to throw that together on such short notice. That leaves all of next year. But I want this dive to be as close to 1953-4 as I can get. To make it easier, that means skipping an exposure suit. Warm water is a must. I’ve already got a trip to Panama City Beach planned for July. I’m attending the 60th anniversary of SEALAB at the Man in the Sea museum and there’s a shore dive thirty minutes away. Perfect. Location sorted. Here’s my planned equipment: - Twin 1/2” NPT 72s with a USD J-62 manifold on a USD blue harness from Allan - Oval mask - The ‘53 Aqua-Lung - Period shorts, and - Green Churchills I doubt I will need weights with a twinset, but I do have this early cotton belt and lead weights if necessary. Tasks and Problems: - The manifold needs rebuilt — currently the old screw-in burst disks are stuck - I need to buy the harness and bands - My mask isn’t entirely correct, a single-skirt round model would be better. This may be difficult to source in time - The UDT shorts aren’t ideal but are close enough and I have them - 1953/4 saw the first commercial dive watches released onto the market. Both Zodiac and Tudor currently manufacture something harkening back to these models, and Tornek-Rayville sells something that captures a slightly later Blancpain. I don’t have one that’s correct for this early a period and will be trying to borrow something close I’ll likely make separate threads for questions and post more general updates here as I make progress. Jacob
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Post by nikeajax on Dec 3, 2023 9:57:27 GMT -8
Hey, very fun! I see that you're a hopeless-romantic like me and like to relive/recreate the old days as best you can. I like old fishing and hunting gear, but can't get anyone to participate in the spirit of things like I do. Looking forward to seeing your progress. Jaybird
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Post by antique diver on Dec 3, 2023 10:06:12 GMT -8
In the R-4 thread the other day I alluded to a second regulator that had recently found its way to me. This is it: a 1953 Aqua-Lung green label. I got it from a dive shop that can trace its roots back to the early 60s. The owner got his first set of equipment in 1953 and, when he was older, went into the business. The regulator turned 70 this year and I want to commemorate that. There’s one obvious answer: a dive. Now, clearly this won’t happen this year. I don’t have the time or resources to throw that together on such short notice. That leaves all of next year. But I want this dive to be as close to 1953-4 as I can get. To make it easier, that means skipping an exposure suit. Warm water is a must. I’ve already got a trip to Panama City Beach planned for July. I’m attending the 60th anniversary of SEALAB at the Man in the Sea museum and there’s a shore dive thirty minutes away. Perfect. Location sorted. Here’s my planned equipment: - Twin 1/2” NPT 72s with a USD J-62 manifold on a USD blue harness from Allan - Oval mask - The ‘53 Aqua-Lung - Period shorts, and - Green Churchills I doubt I will need weights with a twinset, but I do have this early cotton belt and lead weights if necessary. Tasks and Problems: - The manifold needs rebuilt — currently the old screw-in burst disks are stuck - I need to buy the harness and bands - My mask isn’t entirely correct, a single-skirt round model would be better. This may be difficult to source in time - The UDT shorts aren’t ideal but are close enough and I have them - 1953/4 saw the first commercial dive watches released onto the market. Both Zodiac and Tudor currently manufacture something harkening back to these models, and Tornek-Rayville sells something that captures a slightly later Blancpain. I don’t have one that’s correct for this early a period and will be trying to borrow something close I’ll likely make separate threads for questions and post more general updates here as I make progress. Jacob Nice setup you have to celebrate the early 50's! I might suggest a new but period correct drysuit to finish that off, and you will also greatly extend your diving seasons. Best bet in my opinion is the AQUALA for the vintage design with long lasting quality. Ty really knows how to build 'em! Hydroglove also makes relatively inexpensive vintage style latex suits, but they are not in the same league as the above, and have a limited life. I have pampered two of them for 8 years, but one of them has finally deteriorated to unusable status. The other still seems ok, and I hope to give it a dive or two this month.
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Post by Tusker on Dec 3, 2023 17:21:07 GMT -8
JB, unabashedly. I'm looking forward to seeing how this goes, I reckon it'll be a challenge if nothing else.
Bill, absolutely! I would love one of Ty's tunnel entry suits. It's likely not in the budget for this coming year, but I would be delighted to make it happen for the following. Extending my diving season would be great — I get cold far too quickly. Re: Hydroglove, it looks like he isn't currently taking orders. According to his website, his wife had a fall and they will be delayed for an undetermined amount of time.
Jacob
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Post by vance on Dec 3, 2023 17:25:30 GMT -8
That green label looks great! It is an OG rig for sure, dating to the early 50s. The rebuild is pretty straight forward. The second stage lever will need a new seat and you'll have to dig it out, but it's the same diameter as the replacements. Just be sure to glue the puck in!
You'll need an adapter in order to set the IP perfectly, but there are ways to get around it which might be good enough.
It isn't a great breather. There's no venturi. In fact, the jet is 180 degrees away from the intake horn. I have one of these as well. It's pretty and it's old, and it'll breathe like a stock Dacor R-2.
So what? It's cool to get them back in the water.
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Post by Tusker on Apr 8, 2024 15:52:37 GMT -8
Whew, it's been a while! Work has been semi-steady on the project and the Broxton is back in dive-ready condition. (Thanks Herman!) Equipment is now sorted minus buying a new hose set from Rob. Jacob
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Post by vance on Apr 8, 2024 16:17:01 GMT -8
Hey Jacob, good to see your post! That's a sweet green label Broxton. I take it you met up with Herman for the Broxton rebuild. If anyone knows how to get one in shape, it's Herman!
I also have a Broxton, and it appears to be a Green. I bought a label for it from VintageScubastuff, but it turned out to be a blue label painted green. It was pointed out by, and I was castigated by, a well known OG when I tried to sell it. He felt I should not try to sell it with the wrong label.
Easy for him to say. He didn't go to the trouble to have a legit serial # laser inscribed and rivet it on! Naturally, I caved.
Respek.
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Post by artc on Apr 8, 2024 20:13:53 GMT -8
Hey Jacob, good to see your post! That's a sweet green label Broxton. I take it you met up with Herman for the Broxton rebuild. If anyone knows how to get one in shape, it's Herman! I also have a Broxton, and it appears to be a Green. I bought a label for it from VintageScubastuff, but it turned out to be a blue label painted green. It was pointed out by, and I was castigated by, a well known OG when I tried to sell it. He felt I should not try to sell it with the wrong label. Easy for him to say. He didn't go to the trouble to have a legit serial # laser inscribed and rivet it on! Naturally, I caved. Respek. Phil, I had to lookup the term OG to find out it’s meaning. Being an old guy, l just don’t know the latest jargon that the cool kids are saying. 🤪
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Post by SeaRat on Apr 8, 2024 21:30:26 GMT -8
Jacob, You won’t really need a dive suit. When I went through the U.S. Navy School for Underwater Swimmers at Key West, Florida in 1967, here’s how we dressed for all the swims and dives: USS Divers waiting by John Ratliff, on USS-boat exit by John Ratliff, on Flickr But, if you are not active, you can chill in any water that is less than about 90 degrees F. If you elect not to use a dive suit, I’d recommend a rash gaurd suit to prevent sunburn though. The DA Aqualung is a really different regulator. You’ll find the exhalation is fine; it’s the inhalation that is a bit harder, and you’ll need to pull the breaths into your lungs. Saying that, the DA Aqualung is the quietest regulator ever developed. It’s quietness in very apparent when you get into the water with it. I’d recommend several dives in a pool with it before taking it into open water. The water off Florida is actually warmer, due to ocean warming, than it was when I was there in 1967. John
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Post by vance on Apr 9, 2024 8:16:27 GMT -8
Hey Jacob, good to see your post! That's a sweet green label Broxton. I take it you met up with Herman for the Broxton rebuild. If anyone knows how to get one in shape, it's Herman! I also have a Broxton, and it appears to be a Green. I bought a label for it from VintageScubastuff, but it turned out to be a blue label painted green. It was pointed out by, and I was castigated by, a well known OG when I tried to sell it. He felt I should not try to sell it with the wrong label. Easy for him to say. He didn't go to the trouble to have a legit serial # laser inscribed and rivet it on! Naturally, I caved. Respek. Phil, I had to lookup the term OG to find out it’s meaning. Being an old guy, l just don’t know the latest jargon that the cool kids are saying. 🤪 Well, us cool kids were using the term OG back when the word hella came into use. So, it was the latest jargon in 1980!
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Post by spirou on Apr 9, 2024 9:19:59 GMT -8
That green label looks great! It is an OG rig for sure, dating to the early 50s. The rebuild is pretty straight forward. The second stage lever will need a new seat and you'll have to dig it out, but it's the same diameter as the replacements. Just be sure to glue the puck in! You'll need an adapter in order to set the IP perfectly, but there are ways to get around it which might be good enough. It isn't a great breather. There's no venturi. In fact, the jet is 180 degrees away from the intake horn. I have one of these as well. It's pretty and it's old, and it'll breathe like a stock Dacor R-2. So what? It's cool to get them back in the water. That's truth,. Continue to dive old regs, and take care of them after each dive, clean everything. Protected them from the sun, until the next dive, so they stayed alive eternally. It'is like flying, a Whright FLYER, or driving a Porsche 356, it,s not efficient but that give sensations, and need specific skills.😃 Respectfully Fred
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Post by spirou on Apr 9, 2024 9:24:04 GMT -8
Jacob, You won’t really need a dive suit. When I went through the U.S. Navy School for Underwater Swimmers at Key West, Florida in 1967, here’s how we dressed for all the swims and dives: USS Divers waiting by John Ratliff, on USS-boat exit by John Ratliff, on Flickr But, if you are not active, you can chill in any water that is less than about 90 degrees F. If you elect not to use a dive suit, I’d recommend a rash gaurd suit to prevent sunburn though. The DA Aqualung is a really different regulator. You’ll find the exhalation is fine; it’s the inhalation that is a bit harder, and you’ll need to pull the breaths into your lungs. Saying that, the DA Aqualung is the quietest regulator ever developed. It’s quietness in very apparent when you get into the water with it. I’d recommend several dives in a pool with it before taking it into open water. The water off Florida is actually warmer, due to ocean warming, than it was when I was there in 1967. John Hello John, I really like yours photos. That is the real light diving , just the essentials, the twin, the reg, the fins, a mask, and the diver. And .....a little BCD ( mouth inflated) Cheer's Fred
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Post by SeaRat on Apr 9, 2024 9:42:57 GMT -8
Fred, There is nothing like using minimum equipment and being weightless in the water without a BCD. The sense of freedom is awsome. Here, I'm in Alexander Springs State Park, Florida in a very light 1/8 inch top, and from what I can tell, not even a weight belt. The vest had virtually no buoyancy, but did keep the chill off. I'm also diving a Mistral regulator, mounted on our pararescue jump tanks (twin 42s). This was in 1970. John Photos003 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Alexander Springs State Park, Florida PJ Okinawa Dive003 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Terry Wetzel and Stephen Samo off the Okinawan coast, inside a coral reef. They are wearing twin 72s from our 33rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron's Pararescue Section, with Calypso regulators. They are wearing LPUs for lifesaving purposes (Life Preserver, Underarm), which have a 25 gram CO2 cartridge on each side. Again, look at the freedom of motion these divers exhibit. John
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Post by Tusker on Apr 10, 2024 3:23:57 GMT -8
Jacob, You won’t really need a dive suit. When I went through the U.S. Navy School for Underwater Swimmers at Key West, Florida in 1967, here’s how we dressed for all the swims and dives: USS Divers waiting by John Ratliff, on USS-boat exit by John Ratliff, on Flickr But, if you are not active, you can chill in any water that is less than about 90 degrees F. If you elect not to use a dive suit, I’d recommend a rash gaurd suit to prevent sunburn though. The DA Aqualung is a really different regulator. You’ll find the exhalation is fine; it’s the inhalation that is a bit harder, and you’ll need to pull the breaths into your lungs. Saying that, the DA Aqualung is the quietest regulator ever developed. It’s quietness in very apparent when you get into the water with it. I’d recommend several dives in a pool with it before taking it into open water. The water off Florida is actually warmer, due to ocean warming, than it was when I was there in 1967. John John, yes, I am planning on skipping exposure protection — just going at it in shorts and a cotton harness. Good call on being active! I’m not planning for it to be a long dive, but I will definitely stay mobile. I get cold enough as it is! I’ll ask my LDS if I can tag along to a pool session to try it out, I want to make sure I’m comfortable with it before swimming out in open water with it. Jacob
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Post by nikeajax on Apr 10, 2024 9:12:09 GMT -8
Jacob, once you get acclimated you should be OK, it's like playing in the waves in Northern California: when your body gets used to it and your mind is preoccupied you won't even notice it. Side notes: out here, the water takes your breath away, and even hurts, so it's best to plunge right in, but I don't think you'll have anything like that. It's more than ironic that it's called the Pacific, or peaceful, cuz most of it it ain't! It's my understanding that the word Atlantic comes Atlas, so Atlantis means Isle of Atlas JB
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