|
Post by LilMarie on Jun 20, 2005 17:14:49 GMT -8
Hi:
I'm looking for information on a tank I found at a yard sale this past weekend. I've never seen a valve like this and I curious because of the markings I found on the tank. It's stamped Nov. 1955 and was made by a company by the name of Healthway located in LA, California and the valve is stamped Dacor Superior 5871 and the valve is not a K or J valve. My old man has been diving for over 20 years and has worked as a commercial diver and now we have our own dive company. We handle about 8 Marinas in Central Jersey and we have some boat owns that we've been doing business with for the past 2 yrs. He tested the tank and it seems to be in fine working order. We dropped off at our local dive shop to have it serviced and all the gentleman said when he saw it was "Damn that's older than me!" and he's in his mid- 50's. He asked where we found it and when I told him we purchased it at a yard sale for $10.00 he was surprised. I was just wondering what something like this might be worth. If you have any info on a tank and valve set-up like this I would appreciate anything you maybe able to share. Looking Forward to hearing from you soon.
Thanks, LilMarie
|
|
|
Post by Broxton Chuck on Jun 21, 2005 3:48:35 GMT -8
I have bought several of those tanks, and backpacks. They are top quality. I vave never paid more than 25.00 for units. The original harness that came with the packpack, is the most comfortable there is, and they had the quick release wire release that is so "COOL"!
|
|
|
Post by Bryan on Jun 21, 2005 4:52:58 GMT -8
Chuck you gotta stop diving with that old junk....It's gonna get you killed! Get in touch with Allen, he will make you a new harness that can hold 10-20 D-rings. Make Gomez proud!!
|
|
|
Post by Broxton Carol on Jun 21, 2005 11:35:00 GMT -8
Bryan: ALLAN did make me a superb harness better than the original for my 1954 BROXTON tank. Its got softer shoulder pads that look authentic. It is exactly like, and you cant tell it from an original. Any of you guys wanting a great web harness, ALLAN is your man. Tell him "Broxton Chuck" sent you. You gotta get one of these harness' because they are so comfortable, once you try it,you will throw away whatever you were using before because it is the best and there is no place to hang "D" rings or other computers, headlights, telephones, sattelite dishes or other geegaws on there, I know that will dissapoint some of you, but thats life! Yah, I had 3 emails about screwing up on BRYANS regulator this morning could it be I had my mask on backwards? kick me with a jet fin and forget it. Everybody has his "waterloo"
|
|
|
Post by mnydvr on Jun 21, 2005 14:16:03 GMT -8
guys,
I am really trying to find out about the TANK,I'm really curious about the valve,it's not a "k" or a "j",I've been told it is post 55',Ive never seen one and as far as the tank,well is it a scuba or did they or should I say,were they able to get a tank from say a medical supply co. and convert the valve or what,as far as being a rare find,well, as long as that mutha' can hold clean air,we throw her into service in my co. along with the rest of those hard sout after 72 's
thanks!!!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by Bryan on Jun 21, 2005 14:54:18 GMT -8
So did it pass hydro and visual inspection? That would be good information to know.......A photo of the cylinder and valve would be helpful as well. In reality it's still only worth what someone will pay for it. Most Healthways equipment is neither rare or highly sought after. Same would apply to Dacor valves.
BTW, 72cf cylinders are still pretty common. You should be able to get plenty of them in hydro with current VIP's for around 20 to 40 dollars.
|
|
|
Post by Bryan on Jun 22, 2005 18:36:09 GMT -8
So did it pass hydro and visual inspection? That would be good information to know.......A photo of the cylinder and valve would be helpful as well. In reality it's still only worth what someone will pay for it. Most Healthways equipment is neither rare or highly sought after. Same would apply to Dacor valves.
I gave you an honest answer to your question. It is about as good an answer as anyone can give you since you have not answered the follow up questions that I have asked that might provide more information.
You might try becoming a registered member of our little community and getting to know us a bit better before you start giving people on the board grief....
BTW, I am not your "bud" and if you are afraid of the answers to your questions, don't ask them.
|
|
|
Post by RMannix on Jun 23, 2005 5:01:27 GMT -8
Sounds like just an old 1/2" valve with the little knob on top. Probably why she says "not a J or K valve"
|
|
|
Post by lilmarie on Jun 23, 2005 13:40:35 GMT -8
Bryan
I'm not some Urban stench and maybe I was just expecting a different answer to my question. I am only trying to learn as much as I can about the world of diving because I want to be able to contribute to bringing up my 2 boys. I am not a certified diver and I became very interested and fancinated with diving and have been seriously thinking about going to certify I may not be as qualified as you are and never claimed to be, but I must say my old man works very hard and I'm very proud of him and his accomplishments. We're not a commercial dive company with alot of fancy equipment and a big crew, it's Danny the boys and myself. Also, Danny has been raising the boys and has set an example for them to be responsible and they've learned alot of important values and he's not either one of the boys biological father. I work a full time job as an Admin. Director for Century 21 Grant A Realty and Danny is a full time marine mechanic. My older boy Giovanni is 10 yrs. old and he just completed his Bubblemaker class and my little guy Johnathan is 5 yrs. old and he helps me with cleaning up all of the equipment and basically meeting with people at the marinas and anything else that may need to be done. I joined the real world a long time ago Sherlock and it would probabally be a blast to take a vacation at neverland. I am working very hard to help my family some real hard times. I'm raising 2 beautiful boys and Johnathan came into our family about a year ago, he's my nephew and the little guy went through some really bad time. His Mom left when he ws 2 yrs. old and his father is an addict and also incarcerated. I know I may not be as qualified as you gentlemen are divingm but I know I qualify as a pretty hard working women who is determined to help my old man and my boys appreciate and reconize there accomplishments and they should be very proud. I did find out that the valve is a pre-k valve and they are not made anymore. Also, you can't use a standard k or j valve on this tank because the threads are different. I don't know wheather or not the tank passed inspection yet, I sent it out on Monday of this week, I'll let you know as soon as I get the tank back I'll let you know if it did pass and I will be able to post a photo of it then.
Lilmarie
|
|
|
Post by mnydvr on Jun 23, 2005 13:57:11 GMT -8
Bryan,
I am a registered member of your little "group",I have enough experieince to know what I am talking about,and if you feel it is nessacary to question my ol' lady's back ground in this field, I'll only say this,without her hard work and support,I honestly can say,there probably would'nt be a dive service.All she says is true about our family,we are a group of misfits thrown together by destiny or chance or what ever you might call it,it's tough,and working 7days a week all summer is not easy ,but if it makes people see me the way I want them to, hard working ,supporting my "family at any cost",then I'll feel satisfied when they put me in the ground for that last big dive,I just hope they grant my last wish and bury me face down so the whole world can "#$%@!"!!!
MNYDVR
|
|
|
Post by Bryan on Jun 23, 2005 15:21:02 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by VintageDiverMN on Jun 23, 2005 16:12:59 GMT -8
Hey Bryan, how do they know you eat Cherrios for breakfast ?
|
|
|
Post by Linda on Jun 23, 2005 16:27:55 GMT -8
As admin, I can only trace I.P.'s to the server. It's not like I can get names and addresses or anything. This one is not associated with any server that Urban has used in the past. So... in my opinion we have to give them the benefit of the doubt. They seem sincere. I reread the whole thread twice, and I think the misunderstanding occurred when Bryan asked if the tank passed hydro and vis (thinking this would help determine value, I assume) when these people were really more concerned with the question of 'what is this weird valve'? I know it's hard to say without a pic... and they did ask value as well. But Rich is the only one who offered up any guesses about the valve. A tiny voice in a sea of mud-slinging and 'Urban' crap. It makes me ill, the 'empowerment' some of you give to Urban. I swear, I think I'll add his name to the list of banned words here on the forum. I'm sick of hearing about him. And I have much better things to do than to dog down some I.P. address because someone didn't hold their face right when they said something. Sheesh you guys are jumpy. Let's all sit around here and wait for M.U. to come back, trying to fool us into thinking he's someone else, okay? Shall we? I think NOT - we all have lives to lead - at least I do. Thanks for the links, Bryan, but no, people will NOT be rude and hurtful here on this forum. It is an extension of our business. Rudeness may occur momentarily, but I try to check in several times a day in order to delete any nonsense. I don't want people to think that by coming here, they run the risk of being insulted and asked to "go away". If any of you ever feel that someone is violating the TOS (posted in the announcements section) then please, IM or email me and I will determine if they should go away or not... ::steps down off her soap box::
|
|
|
Post by SeaRat on Jun 23, 2005 18:27:11 GMT -8
From Basic Scuba, by Fred Roberts, page 269:
It looks like Dacor manufactured the positive reserve valve from its beginning until 1962. That would be the time period of the tank in question. On the page prior (page 267), Mr. Roberts offers this text:
psig = pounds per square inch, gauge
My first regulator, a Healthways SCUBA two-hose regulator, had the "restrictor orifice" in it, and it worked very well. When you went on reserve, and breathed hard, the regulator diaphragm would go all the way down, but the air would only come through at a certain rate. So you simply sucked it, and ascended until you could breathe normally. Once you understood it, when you felt the restriction, it was time to surface.
John
PS--I've been out for a few days, and am somewhat surprised also at how this thread went. I think there was a basic misunderstanding, and a somewhat defensive reaction on the poster's part to Bryan's questions. But it also illustrates that not many people remember the equipment from the beginnings of our sport. The "R" valve was quite popular before the advent of the submersible pressure gauge, as it could not be knocked down like the "J" reserve valve. I like Linda's comment, and hope that we can allow all people to post here without initial challenge. Mr. ______'s ghost has started haunting this area, and we need to excise it. Questions like this deserve an honest answer, and if you've never heard of it, it doesn't mean the question is not valid. We can all learn, and there has been a lot of our diving history that has been forgotten.
PS2--Linda, the new spelling check option is great!!
|
|
|
Post by Linda on Jun 23, 2005 19:26:25 GMT -8
Thank you, John, for steering the thread in a more positive direction. I have deleted some of the more "unnecessary" comments. Sorry, guys. I don't mean to censor your "banter" but just think how it looks to bonafide newcomers who don't know you yet. There are many others who read the threads besides the ones that you are directing your comments to.... You'll have to excuse me now... I have to think of a nice word to replace "urban"... (not an easy task).
|
|