Equipment Question

[ralphl]

OK, kids, here's one on accessories from the '59-63 time frame.

Anyone remember the mask that had the Pinochio purge valve that had the plastic cage and angled down, about 45 deg if memory serves me? There are several similar around now, but I am trying to remember who it was that came out with the FIRST one. Wasn't USD, or Healthways. Can't remember the right one, though. Seem to remember a SS band around the lens, but not really sure on that either.

Also, around the same time frame there was a snorkel that had a piece of corrugated hose like the reg hoses so the mouthpiece would drop away. There were several much later editions.

Both the mask and snorkel were black, not in colors.

This has been buggin' me for a couple years trying to remember who made those and why they never appear on Ebay. Of course, most original rubber products are no longer around anyway. They weren't silicone but natural rubber or neoprene.

Ralph

[Linda]

Dan gave me a snorkel that has the corrugations, but it's yellow on the top section, with black corrugations and mouthpiece... It's a Swimaster "Bello-Flex".

[ralphl]

I seem to remember they were all black...could be wrong that was a long time ago.

I'll check the page line up when I get in the office tomorrow...normally get in around 6:15 (REALLY early for you guys :-))

[Linda]

Yes, 6:15 is way too early for me, even in my own time zone.

[DavidRitchieWilson]

I have a 1962 Swimaster catalogue. I wonder whether the mask might be the "Wide View Mask". Here's the description (sorry, don't have a scanner at home):

No other mask in all the world has so captured the universal acceptance of diving experts as has this mask with its unique and superior features. It is distinctive in appearance as well as performance by reason of its non-return exhaust valve. This excellent feature permits purging of all accidental seepage easily, completely and instantly with one slight nasal exhalation. The Wide View Mask affords the perfect seal for every facial contour with its exclusive neoprene sealing edge. The safety pane is brought closer to the eyes, resulting in truly wide view vision. Note too that the unqie diving shape of the Wide View Mask provides minimal air displacement for easy diving.

#2M35. Wide View, Std. Model, Black Neoprene, Tempered Safety Lens, Stainless Steel Band and Fittings. $12.95.

#2M35N. Wide View, Narrow Model, Black Neoprene. Tempered Safety Lens, Stainless Steel Band and Fittings. $12.95.

The Wide View Mask incorporates a unique equalizing cushion pad built right into the nose piece. This permits quick, comfortable and effortless equalization. Simply place the palm of the hand over the one way clearing valve, push gently inward and upward so that the cushion pad closes off the nostrils. By exhaling gently against the pad the pressure is equalized.

As for the snorkel, the Swimaster catalogue reveals that the Bello-Flex snorkel (which Linda mentions) is available in black and yellow versions. Here is the description:

Bello-Flex Snorkel. Here is a new concept in Snorkel comfort and performance. With the most comfortable mouthpiece ever developed, you breathe with your mouth completely at ease. With "Swivel Action" flexible hose, instead of the rigid J bend, there's never any twisting to get the mouthpiece in place, no jaw pull, it hangs out of the way when not in use.

#2S10. Bello-Flex Snorkel - Black. $2.95.

#6S10. Bello-Flex Snorkel - Yellow. $2.95.

Hope the above helps to identify the mask and snorkel in question.

[ralphl]

David,

That sounds right, could be it. I didn't remember the snorkel being available in anything but black but the wording of the catalog is familiar. Right time frame, also.

Thanks.

Ralph

[DavidRitchieWilson]

Maybe this will confirm whether or not the mask and snorkel are what you had in mind, Ralph. As the saying goes, a picture's worth a thousand words, so finally here's a scan of the two relevant Swimaster catalogue pages:

www.tomwilson.com/david/water/swimaster_1962.pdf

David

[Gomez' echo]

And the most famous person wearing this mask:
www.jamesbondmm.co.uk/bond-villains/adolfo-celi.php?id=002

[ralphl]

David,

THAT'S IT. The mask is right, snorkel is a little different but I think it is right. Thanks.

Ralph

[burniefransico]

Hi,

Can anyone help me. I have a regulator 1st and 2nd stage single hose it appears to be quite old, on the purge button coloured maroon with gold print is says "SEIBE GORMAN neptune". It looks like a US Divers chrome conshelf design but I cannot find anything anywhere that details the history or manufacturer of this regulator. I would appreciate any information on this. THANKS . I can send a e mail of any photos required.

[DavidRitchieWilson]

Just chanced upon "Interview with Dick Bonin" by Bret Gilliam at

www.fathomspub.com/cgi/interview.pl/9

which has interesting facts about the pioneers of diving in the 1950s. Bonin was a co-founder of Scubapro who joined Swimaster (originally Pacific Moulded Products) in the mid-1950s.

More particularly for this thread, the interview gives information about The Spearfisherman Company (later bought by Swimaster) and its Duck Feet fins. The company's Wide View mask gets a mention and there's a fascinating detail about Dick Bonin's contribution to the development of the snorkel with the flexible hose at Swimaster:

"There were lots of other people in assembly but, yeah, it was basically the two of us running things. We brought out the first flexible snorkel. In Chicago, they used to sell surplus aircraft parts so I took a hose and put it on a snorkel tube, and I never forgot that. Swimaster priced it at $2.95 and everyone said we were out of our minds, but we sold them like crazy."

[SeaRat]

I have used several of the flexible snorkels, and have used both the Swimmaster version and the AMF Voit version. The Swimmaster version had a bit of a problem, in that in current the current would push it against my chin, and effectively cut off the air flow.

The AMF Voit flexible snorkel would not collapse in current, as they put a non-collapsable flex hose on theirs. The interior was also smooth, so that when you surfaced from a snorkel dive, and blew out the snorkel, all the water would come out. The AMF Voit one was in blue (flex part) and white (upper part). Here I am, wearing it in Puget Sound (probably Hood Canal) in about 1963:



Now, I dive a Dacor "Turboflex" snorkel (the Model NST), which is a very nice snorkel to dive with vintage scuba gear. It is straight, and remains out of the way of a two-hose regulator during the dive, but is there if you need it.

John

[Yank Down Under]

burniefrancisco asked about Siebe Gorman Neptune...........Siebe Gorman was one of two makers of conventional hard hat diving equiment in England. The other was Heinke. Siebe Gorman traded diving suits to La Spirotechnique to get some early La Spirotechnique Mistrals. Later they became the British maker and distributor of the Mistral in Commonwealth countries. The double hose regulators they made, reflected their heritage and were built like tanks. In the early 1960s they bought out Heinke. Heinke had made conventional hard hat gear for about 80 years by that time. Heinke had avoided the US Patent that Cousteau-Gagnan had, by making a regulator with horn like exhausts. Ted Eldred did not patent the Australian Porpoise single hose regulator that he first sold in 1952, so anyone could make it. Heinke made five different regulators, the last being the Heinke Merlin. Siebe Gorman continued the Merlin, but with their own name. Some models will have both names on them as old parts were used up. Your Neptune was Siebe Gorman's step into single hose regulators and is a rare item that you should keep. The other British scuba maker of the period was Submarine Products, that made the Sea Lions, Atlantic and Black Prince regulators. They made a single hose too. The term regulator was not commonly used in the Commonwealth countries. They were called demand valves. The term double hose was not used either. They were called twin hose. All of those companies are now gone.