retpo
Senior Diver
Posts: 63
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Post by retpo on Dec 23, 2016 16:21:57 GMT -8
In my quest for vintage regulators, I often end up with a package deal. Kind of a collateral collection of fins. I haven't tried them all but the Swimaster Mark IX is probably my favorite. Just wondering what others think of these. Starting at 7 O' Clock, they are Scubapro Jets, Swimaster Mark X, Sportsways 707, Aqua-Lung Aquamaster (I think), Aqua-Lung Rocket, Voit Viking and Swimmaster Mar IX.
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Post by nikeajax on Dec 23, 2016 17:14:23 GMT -8
Are those blue AL fins, actually Squales? The early versions had a strap on them like our friend Clutch Cargo has: I really do like the Vikings: I would like to get a pair of 707's, to go with my Healthways Scubamasters, that I have yet to use, grumble, grumble, grumble... I like anything odd/different, and since Sportsways was kind of an offshoot of Healthways, I like 'em too JB
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Post by SeaRat on Dec 23, 2016 18:39:07 GMT -8
Somewhere I have a photo of my fin collection, but I cannot find it right now. But here's two pair of the same fin, the Fara-Fin with its leg brace. The far pair have the leg brace in the normal position. But I changed it to have a better angle for my foot, and they actually worked (the original angle made them almost un-usable). John
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retpo
Senior Diver
Posts: 63
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Post by retpo on Dec 23, 2016 20:57:13 GMT -8
Yup, The blue Aqua Lung fins are Aqua-Master fins. The traditional Aqua-Lung image is there but instead of Aqua-Lung it says Aqua-Master on the fins. I looked at a 1965 catalog and they were made in two sizes, large and extra large and were $13.95. I've never used these, they still have the factory silicone on them, I'm thinking they were probably not used at all. They came with a tank, double hose, yellow Cressi mask. It was an estate sale and the grandson of the original owner said his grandfather never got certified so he could not get the tank filled. The rest of the gear was also in mint condition, even the yellow mask. For me its like old guns. I want to know who owned them, where they have been and what stories they could tell.
Tom
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Post by tomcatpc on Dec 23, 2016 21:37:03 GMT -8
I would like to find a set of the Voit Mark IX and Mark X sometime. Also would like to grab a set of the Healthways ScubaMasters sometime, they seem to be common?
I have the Scubapro Jets and use them the most, also got a pair of new made Voit UDT Model Duck Feet and dove them a bit this Summer.
Now that I'm getting more into Healthways, my next fins will most likely be a set of Oceanways "Aquapro" fins, the current incarnation of the Cressi "Rondine" fins marketed by Healthways.
I got a pair of Voit Viking A6 Fins last week for free, but don't plan on actually diving them as I don't want to rip this set. Mark
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Post by DavidRitchieWilson on Dec 24, 2016 6:18:33 GMT -8
The Large and Extra Large Aqua-Master fins (above) first appeared in the 1962 Aqualung catalogue alongside the "Aqua Fin", which came in smaller sizes. They were still around for the 1975 catalogue. Aqualung Squale Fins (above) first appeared in the 1957 Aqualung catalogue and last appeared in the 1961 catalogue.
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Post by nikeajax on Dec 24, 2016 8:58:58 GMT -8
DRW, as usual--nice work! As I recall, "Squale" is French for shark...
JB
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Post by nikeajax on Dec 24, 2016 10:42:20 GMT -8
Unfortunately, I split the toe in these right after I got them, but I b'lieve they are a clone of the Cressi Rondine, they used an Angel-fish instead of a Swallow... JB
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retpo
Senior Diver
Posts: 63
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Post by retpo on Dec 24, 2016 19:15:08 GMT -8
I think a lot of brand availability has to do with the area you live. Midwest Skindiving was one of the early shops in the Minneapolis area and I believe the first dive shop in St. Paul. The owner Gene Betz seemed to be able to get just about any brand in once in awhile, but his main line was Sportsways. He must have moved a lot of gear. Since about 1992 I have bought or been given 4 sets of Sportsways twin 42's and 2 sets of twin 72's. When Scubapro came about, he was a Scubapro dealer and Sportsways sort of fell off his radar. If some Sportsway's 707's or MKIX's or MKX, I will post that here. I don't recall any of the early shops selling Healthways, but I think Wards or Sears did. So I haven't come across a lot of Heathways.
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retpo
Senior Diver
Posts: 63
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Post by retpo on Dec 24, 2016 19:36:50 GMT -8
I think a lot of brand availability has to do with the area you live. Midwest Skindiving was one of the early shops in the Minneapolis area and I believe the first dive shop in St. Paul. The owner Gene Betz seemed to be able to get just about any brand in once in awhile, but his main line was Sportsways. He must have moved a lot of gear. Since about 1992 I have bought or been given 4 sets of Sportsways twin 42's and 2 sets of twin 72's. When Scubapro came about, he was a Scubapro dealer and Sportsways sort of fell off his radar. If some Sportsway's 707's or MKIX's or MKX, I will post that here. I don't recall any of the early shops selling Healthways, but I think Wards or Sears did. So I haven't come across a lot of Heathways.
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Post by surflung on Dec 27, 2016 13:33:44 GMT -8
Sportsways Navy Fins- My son sent me a pair of these for Christmas. Unfortunately the rubber in both heels is broken but they're still an interesting piece of diving history.
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retpo
Senior Diver
Posts: 63
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Post by retpo on Dec 27, 2016 20:35:21 GMT -8
Somebody has Sportsways Waterlung 707's on Craigs list in Mineapolis for $8.00
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Post by nikeajax on Jan 25, 2017 15:48:28 GMT -8
Well boys, I bought a pig-in-a-poke, but they shur do look swell! The ones on the left are Cressi Genoas, made for Healthways. Talking to DRW, he thinks they may be exclusively HW too, he said he's never seen strapped Cressis in a catalog. Though they are flexible, they don't stretch to get my foot in The Seafins burst the foot pocket as soon as I put my foot into them The Genoas last appeared in the HW catalog in 1963... JB
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Post by SeaRat on Jan 25, 2017 19:02:50 GMT -8
Sportsways Navy Fins- My son sent me a pair of these for Christmas. Unfortunately the rubber in both heels is broken but they're still an interesting piece of diving history. Surf lung You may be able to fix that broken strap, and gain some use out of that fin. I have successfully fixed a USD fin with a similar strap, and I will see if I have a photo of that fix already. If so, I'll describe what I did; found it. John I painted the entire rubber strap with neoprene cement, twice, letting it dry completely between coats. I did the same without a piece of bicycle inner tube, which was wide enough to completely go around the strap. I then applied a third coat of neoprene cement, dried until tacky, and stuck the two ends together. I then took the inner tube (with tacky neoprene cement applied) and wrapped the entire strap with the inner tube, and held it tight until it was well struck together. It then cured for several days before I tried it in the pool. I won't take this fin into open water, but at least I can use it in the pool. John
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Post by tomcatpc on Oct 24, 2017 15:43:02 GMT -8
I just ended up ordering a set of the Oceanways fins, that are based on the Cressi Rondine fins. Will share a photo when they get here. Mark
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