RENE Steel 72 Tank?

[ltstanfo]

All,

I think I have happened upon a RENE tank at my LDS. I was asked to stop by the shop today and the owner showed me an old tank that had just returned from hydro (it passed). The original hydro date is 3-55 and it has the "+" to the right of the hydro date. Just above the hydro date is (I believe) the facility stamp which is a large "C" with a capital "L" inside the "C". Immediately above the facility stamp is the word "RENE".

The top of the bottle has "ICC-3AA...." and the pressure is 2150. Below that it is stamped U.S. Divers and has the (IIRC) Pico address stamped as well.

Am I looking at a cross over tank from the time period when Rene sold his store and incorporated as US Divers?

Oh yeah, the bottom of the tank is not concave but convex with a very early "ankle breaker" black boot. It is also a 1/2 inch neck / thread for a valve (missing and I will need to obtain).

So, did I in fact find a RENE tank?

Thanks,
Ltstanfo

[ltstanfo]

I've been able to confirm that I do indeed have a RENE tank (should be obvious but since I've never seen one...)

Anyway, I've picked it up and now need to find a correct, tapered thread 1/2 valve for it. It'll go great with my Mistral! :-)

Regards,
Ltstanfo

[wrcook]

I just picked up a RENE tank on ebay. I thought it might be a 1970s era tank as it had a Dacor backpack. But it turned out to be a US Divers, RENE, Pico Blvd. made in 1956. Serial number 27084. It seems to me that this has to be one of the last marked thus.

[william]

To keep the Galvinized Finish on the tank as much as possible,
Never use Naval Jelly ( Burns off Galvanized Coating, can cause pitting and it Will turn many areas Jet Black, very badly ) forcing you to use Very Heavy Grit Sandpaper to remove the Black Stains). Use NO type of Acid Cleaner, nor soap.
Best to clean-polish useing 1000 Grit Wet-Dry Sandpaper-Wet.
Wal-Mart & Staples Stores have Long Teflon Trays that work excellently for such cleaning, will Not crack & have Wheels on one end of tray = moving tray with water outside easily. Whole tank fits in tray, add 2 inches of water and lay tank in.

Very easy to do right in your living room while watching TV, if the little wife will allow you.
("Just ask her to help you do the work and she Will leave you alone then!)

(Dry VERY well & cover tank good with cloth to protect the clean surface from rusting & from salty oils on hands.)
Take to a nice auto body shop( "Allow NO Sandblasting!")
Spray with Clear Emron Spraypaint only, no primer, Cost $30. That will give a very tough finish similar to Clear Vinyl that will not chip easily & Not yellow over time. The 1000 grit sandpaper will only polish the galvinized coating stains off & will not hurt the galvinised finish.
................................................................
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.................................................(1956 1/2 Twist-On, 1/2 Twist-Off Valve).................................................
Push Down-Twist, Up-Slowly=On. Reverse Twist=Off. Works nice on 1950s Scuba Tanks.
1/4 Twist/Turn Down turns on "Reserve Air"
.................................

[Broxton Carol]

thats an early one. The 2150 was a 70 cu. ft. if I recall. Mind drifts when you reach 39. That would look great with a blue label broXton, or a black label pico navy!.......

[wrcook]

Thanks William for the cleaning information, that is useful.

My RENE tank is finished black. Were any USD tanks finished black or should I strip the finish? It is painted some sort of semi flat black, and most of it is still intact.

The Tank I have is a West Pico Blvd. ICC 3AA 2250 initial hydro is 6 (what looks like an L within a C) 56+

I have a harness and DA Navy on the way for it.

[william]

I really would not know. I only know that US Divers used different colors later in the time frame.
You would do well to check with the men here who know much more about the Rene tanks.

[Captain]

The L in a C is Cochran Labs in Milwaukee, WI, the initial hydro tester for PST tanks. I believe some of the early tanks were black.