Scuba Manufacturers, The List

[MCincy]

I was browsing through the excellent digital collection over at cg-45.com the other night and it got me thinking about all the various manufacturers over the years and all their various interconnections. What struck me is how a lot of the early regulators were variations of the same design (most famously with Voit & US Divers, but seen in way more circumstances than I originally imagined).

What I propose is a comprehensive list of dive equipment manufacturers and their years of operations. Some major brands are up front and a more comprehensive list by country follows. Who knows it could turn into quite a project!

***This list is not up to scholarly standards; sources have not been kept, crosschecked, or verified. In some cases information of a colloquial nature has been included where hard dates are lacking. Its conceivable & likely that information here is incorrect. As to errors, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING.***

Here's what I've got so far...

(Last Update 11 October 2020)

Aqualung and Associated Brands


- Air Liquide (1943-1946) (Founded 1902) (Parent of Aqualung Family of Companies 1946-Ca.2017)

- La Spirotechnique (1946-2003) (Merged w/U.S. Divers 1998)

- Air Liquide Canada (1947-1950)

- SPACO (1948-1950)

- Rene Sports (1949-1952) (As U.S. Divers)

- U.S. Divers (1952-2003) (Acquired by La Spirotechnique 1957, Merged w/La Spirotechnique 1998)

- J.C. Higgens (1956-Ca.1962?)

- Spiro Sub (1959-1963)

- Aqua Lung Japan (1961-?)

- Kawasaki (Ca.1971?-?)

- Fenzy (Ca.1961-Present) (Founded Ca.1920) (Acquired 1976)

- Technisub (1962-Present) (Acquired 1979)

- Suunto (Ca.1965-Present) (Founded 1936) (Acquired US Distribution ?; Divested US Distribution 2016)

- Pelagic Pressure Systems (1979-Ca.2015) (Acquired 2015)

- Biosystems (1984-198?)

- SeaQuest (Ca. 1975?-Ca. 2010) (Acquired 1992)

- Apeks (Acquired 1974-Present) (Acquired 1997)

- Aqualung International (2003-Present)

- Aqualung America (2003-Present)





Cressi-Sub and Associated Brands



- Cressi-Sub (1946-Present)

- Spiro Sub (1959-1963)

- Aer Sub (1963-Ca.1965?)



Beuchat and Associated Brands



- Beuchat (Ca.1947-Present) (Founded 1934)

- Cavalero-Champion (Ca.1946-1992) (Founded Ca. 1941) (Acquired 1992)

- U.S. Cavalero (1975-?)





Nemrod and Associated Brands



- Nemrod (Ca.1948-Ca.1988?) (Possibly as late as 1999?) (Founded 1934)

- Seamless (1959-Ca.1980?)





Mares and Associated Brands



- Mares (1949-Present)





Voit and Associated Brands



- Voit (Ca. 1950-1957) (Founded 1902)

- AMF Voit (1958-Ca.1983)

- Swimaster (Ca.1955-?) (Acquired Ca.1960’s)





Scubapro and Associated Brands (Johnson Outdoors)



- Healthways (1954-1962)

- Scubapro (1963-Present)

- Aer Sub (1963-Ca.1965?)

- SeemanSub (1979-Ca.2010?) (Acquired 2007)

- UWATEC (1984- ?) (Acquired 1997)

- Subgear (2010-Present?)





Sportsways and Associated Brands



- Sportsways (1958-1981)

- New England Divers (Ca.1963-Ca.1969)

- Waterlung (1982-?)





Oceanic and Associated Brands (Huish)



- American Underwater Products (1972-2017) (Parent Company)

- Oceanic (1972-Present) (Acquired 2017)

- Hollis (2009-Present) (Acquired 2017)

- Pelagic Pressure Systems (1979-Ca.2015) (Divested by AUP Ca.2015)

- Farallon (1971-?) (Acquired by AUP 1976)

- Zeagle (1979-Present) (Acquired 2011)

- Stahlsac (1978-Present) (Acquired Ca.2012)

- Aeris (1998-?) (Acquired by AUP 2014)

- LavaCore (?-Present)

- Suunto (Ca.1965-Present) (Founded 1936) (Acquired US Distribution 2016)

- Liquivision (2004-2017) (Acquired 2014)





DUI and Associated Brands



- Diving Unlimited International (1963-Present)

- OMS (1991-Present) (Acquired 2014)



-------



Australia



- Porpoise (Ca.1948-Ca.1976)



- Sharkskin (?-Present) (Formerly Adventure Extreme)



- Waterlung (1982-?) (See Sportsways)





Canada



- Air Liquide Canada (1947-1950) (See Aqualung)



- Bare (1979-Present) (Acquired by Huish in 2011) (See FitzWright Wetsuits)



- FitzWright Wetsuits (1979-Present) (See Bare)



- Liquivision (2004-2017) (Acquired by Huish in 2014)



- Shearwater Research (2004-Present)



- Whites Manufacturing (1956-2015) (Acquired by Aqualung 2010)



- Worthington Cylinders (1971-2014) (Founded 1955) (Acquired from Lennox Industries 1971)









Finland



- Suunto (Ca. 1965-Present) (Founded 1936) (See Also Aqualung/Huish)





France



- Air Liquide (1943-1946) (Founded 1902) (See Aqualung)



- Aqualung International (2003-Present) (See Also Aqualung/La Spirotechnique) (Parent Company)



- Beuchat (Ca.1947-Present) (Founded 1934)



- Cavalero-Champion (Ca.1946-1992) (Founded Ca. 1941?) (Acquired by Beuchat 1992)



- Fenzy (Ca.1961-Present) (Founded Ca.1920) (Acquired by Aqualung 1976)



- Hurricane (1947-ca.1961)



- La Spirotechnique (1946-2003) (See Aqualung/Aqualung International)





Germany



- Barakuda (1952-Ca. 1968) (Founded 1949)



- Drager (1952-Present) (Founded 1889)



- HeinrichsWeikamp (2004-Present)



- SeemanSub (1979-Ca.2010) (Acquired by Scubapro 2007) (See Subgear)



- Subgear (2010-Present?) (See Also Scubapro/SeemannSub)





Italy



- Aer Sub (1963-Ca.1965?) (See Cressi, Scubapro, Spiro Sub)



- Audaxpro (1983-Present)



- Cressi-Sub (1946-Present)



- Faber Cylinders (1972-Present)



- Mares (1949-Present)



- Omersub (1985-Present) (Acquired by Aqualung 2013)



- Spiro Sub (1959-1963) (See Cressi, La Spirotechnique, Aer Sub)



- SOS (Strumenti Ottici Subacquei) (1950-1985)



- Technisub (1962-Present) (Acquired by Aqualung 1979)





Japan



- Apollo (1965-Present)



- AQA (1988-Present) (See Kinugawa Co. LTD)



- Aqua Lung Japan (1961-?)



- Bism (Ca.1997?-Present)



- Cocoloa (Ca.2010?-Present) (See Kinugawa Co. LTD)



- Gull (1983-Present) (See Kinugawa Co. LTD)



- Kawasaki (Ca.1971?-?) (See Aqualung)



- Kinugawa Co. LTD (1982-Present) (Founded 1939) (Parent Company)



- Tabata (1952-Present)





Neatherlands



- Loosco (As Dive Safe) (Ca.1957-ca.1980?)







Spain



- Nemrod (Ca.1948-Ca.1988?) (Possibly as late as 1999?) (Founded 1934)





Sweden



- Poseidon (Ca.1958-Present) (Founded 1954)





Switzerland



- UWATEC (1984-?) (Acquired by Scubapro 1997)





U.K.



- AP Diving (1969-Present) (AKA Ambient Pressure, A.P. Valves)



- Apeks (1974-Present) (Acquired by Aqualung 1997)



- Britmarine (Ca.1962-Ca.1981) (See W.W. Haffenden)



- E.T. Skinner (1947-Ca.1970?) (See Typhoon)



- Heinke (Ca. 1955-Ca.1967) (Founded 1844) (Acquired by Siebe Gorman 1961)



- Siebe Gorman (1948-Ca.1972?) (Founded 1819)



- Submarine Products (1959-1990)



- Typhoon (Ca.1970?-Present) (See E.T. Skinner)



- W.W. Haffenden (1947-Ca.1962) (See Britmarine)





U.S.



- Aeris (1998-?) (Acquired by Oceanic 2014) (No later than 2018)



- Aluminum and Brass of Lockport, NY (1957-1963) (Bought out and consolidated into Sherwood – Selpac)



- American Underwater Products (1972-2017) (See Oceanic) (Parent Company 1972-2017)



- AMF Voit (1958-Ca.1983)



- Atomic Aquatics (1996-Present) (Acquired by Oceanic (Huish) in 2011)



- Aquala (1959-Present) (See Bel-Aqua)



- Aqualung America (2003-Present) (See Also Aqualung/U.S. Divers)



- Bel-Aqua (1952-1959) (See Aquala)



- Biosystems (1984-1985) (See Aqualung)



- Blue Steel (2004-Present) (Joint venture of Faber & Kaplan Industries)



- Body Glove (1953-Present)



- Catalina Cylinders (1986-Present)



- Dacor (1954-Ca.1998) (Acquired by Mares Ca.1998)



- Deep See (1981-Present) (Acquired by Aqualung International 1992)



- Demone (1961-1965)



- DESCO (1947-1960) (Founded 1937) (Commercial Surface Supply to Present)



- Dive Rite (1984-Present)



- Dive Xtras (2003-Present)



- DiveTek (Ca.1996?-Ca.2006?) (See Seapro)



- Diving Unlimited International (1963-Present)



- E.B. Industries (1982-2016) (Parent Company) (See Oceanways,SeaDive) (Acquired by XS Scuba 2016)



- EDCO (Engeneering Development Company) (Ca.1952-Ca.1957)



- Farallon (1971-?) (Acquired by Oceanic 1976)



- Fenjohn (Ca.1954-Ca.1962?) (Founded Ca.1928) (Possibly as late as 1970’s)



- Halcyon (1996-Present)



- Healthways (1954-1962) (See Scubapro)



- Henderson Divewear (Ca.1960-Present)



- Heiser Cylinders (?-?) (See Bauchat)



- Highland Millwork (1992-Present) (Acquired by XS Scuba 2008)



- Hollis (2009-Present) (See Oceanic, Huish)



- Huish Outdoors (2009-Present) (See Oceanic Associated Brands) (Parent Company)



- Ikelite (Ca.1962-Present)



- J.C. Higgins (1956-Ca.1962) (Sears) (See Aqualung/Healthways)



- Johnson Outdoors (1997-Present) (Founded 1970) (See Scubapro Associated Brands) (Parent Company)



- Kaiser Cylinder (ca.1970?-Present) (See AMF) (No Later than 1979)



- Luxfer USA, LTD (1971-1997) (See US Divers)



- Luxfer Gas Cylinders (Ca.1997-Present) (See Luxfer USA)



- New England Divers (Ca.1963-Ca.1969) (See Sportsways)



- Norris Cylinders (?-Present?) (Founded 1930)



- Northill (Garret Corp.) (1952-1961) (Founded 1936)



- Oceanways (1983-Present) (Acquired by XS Scuba 2016) (See E.B. Industries)



- Oceanic (1972-Present)



- OMS (1991-Present) (Acquired by DUI 2014)



- O’Neill (1952- Present)



- Pelagic Pressure Systems (1979-2015?) (Acquired by Aqualung 2015) (See Also Oceanic)



- Pressed Steel Tank Co. (PST) (?-Ca.2002) (Founded 1902) (Acquired by Norris Cylinders Ca.1970)



- Princeton Tec (1975-Present)



- Rene Sports (1949-1952) (As U.S. Divers, See Aqualung)



- Scott Aviation Corp (1952-Ca.1962) (Founded 1932)



- Scubapro (1963-Present)



- Sea Pearls (Ca.1978-Present) (Acquired by XS Scuba 2007)



- Seacraft Industries (Ca.1960?-1964?) (Acquired by New England Divers mid 60’s)



- Seamless (1959-Ca.1980?) (Founded 1877) (See Nemrod)



- SeaDive (1996-Present) (Acquired by XS Scuba 2016) (See E.B. Industries)



- Seapro (1979-Ca.1996?) (See Water Gill)



- SeaSoft (1985-Present)



- Selpac (ca.1960’s-ca. 1980) (Incorporated 1951 as Selwyn Pacific consolidated into Sherwood – Selpac 1963)



- Sherwood - Selpac (1955-Present) (DBA Sherwood Scuba)



- So-Lo Marx (Skooba Totes) (1957-Ca.1965) (Founded 1924) (Now Property of Totes-Isotoner)



- SPACO (1948-1950) (See Aqualung)



- Sportsways (1958-1981)



- Stahlsac (1978-Present) (Acquired by Huish Ca.2012)



- Swimaster (Ca.1955-?) (Acquired by Voit Ca.1965?)



- Thermo (1972-Present) (Acquired by XS Scuba 2009)



- TUSA (Tabata USA) (1978-Present)



- U.S. Cavalero (1975-?)



- U.S. Divers (1952-2003) (See Aqualung)



- Viking/Norseman (1958-1963)



- Voit (Ca. 1950-1957) (Founded 1902)



- Walter Kidde (?-?) (Founded 1917)



- Water Gill (1969-1979) (See Seapro)



- White Stag (?-?) (Founded Ca. 1907) (Designs by Sportsways?) (Now Property of Walmart)



- XS Scuba (2002-Present) (Parent Company)



- Zeagle (1979-Present) (Acquired by Huish in 2012)




-------

There are still major brands I haven't gotten to yet, and I'm sure there are plenty of other companies I've never even heard of.

Did I forget your favorite brand? Any errors? Is "Brand X" simply a cosmetic re-brand of "Brand Y"?

Let me know below!

(P.S. The smileys are not the author's, except this one...   )

[DavidRitchieWilson]

This is an excellent project and one that is long overdue. I would only ask that you don't restrict your scope to regulator manufacturers and do include all makers of basic gear such as masks, fins and snorkels. I'm going to throw into the ring some lists of diving equipment companies I've compiled over the years or have found online or in print. Start-up dates are often very hard to find, however, particularly of firms beginning in the aftermath of World War II, and you won't find them below. Anyway, here we go, lists of French, Italian and Spanish manufacturers, most long gone, but each of them has left a mark on diving equipment history:
France
BEUCHAT. 28, avenue Alexandre Dumas. 13008-Marseille.
CAVALERO. 25, rue Gustave Eiffel. 13010-Marseille.
CRAWL (Ets). 263-265-267 rue de Lyon, 13015 Marseille.
CRISTAL. 11, rue des Petits-Champs, Paris 1.
DOUGLAS. 7, avenue Notre-Dame, Nice.
GODEL. 16 rue du Champ-Renié, Saint-Maur (Seine).
HURRICANE. 15 Rue Clement-Marot, Paris 8e.
KENT ADOUR CAOUTCHOUC. 39, avenue de l'Espagne, 64600 Anglet.
MARIN. Société de Fabrication d'Articles de Chasse d’Exploitation Sous-Marine, 34, rue Ribotti, Nice.
MATCH 105, rue du Berceau, 13010-Marseille.
PIRANHA. Marseille.
SOMMAP. 12, Traverse Magnan, 13003-Marseille.
SPIROTECHNIQUE. 114, rue Marius Aufan. 92300-Levallois.
SPOFRA (Sporta-France). 38 rue Milton, 75009 PARIS
SPORASUB. 93, chemin de la Mûre. 13015-Marseille.
SQUALE. 4303 Ancien chemin de Toulon, 83110-Sanary-sur-Mer.
STAR-FRANCE. 26, rue de l'Avenir. 66000-Perpignan.
TAHITI. Marseille.
UNITED SERVICE AGENCY. 8, rue de Congrès, Nice.
WATERSPORTS. 268, avenue de la Californie, Nice.
Italy
- CRESSI SUB · Piazza B. Frassinetti, 3a · Genova-Quinto
- PIRELLI SUB · Centro Pirelli · Milano. 1968: Azienda Seregno · Via Milano, 8 · Seregno
- MARES SUB · Via Bolzano, 14 · Rapallo · Tel. 61349
- TECHNISUB SpA · Via Papigliano, 16 r · Tel. 36.3968
- TIGULLIO SUB · Via Pisa, 79 · 16036 Recco (Genova) · Tel. 74.120
- SPIRO SUB · Via G. Majorana, 19 r · Genova-Quinto
- AQUATIC · Genova
- SALVAS · Via Silicella Casilina Km 10,7 · Roma
- SHARK · Castelnuovo Scrivia (Genova)
- MORDEM · Via Zuara, 22 · Milano · Tel. 447.236
- SOS · Via Magenta, 36 · Torino
- MAMMUT (Genova)
- ATLANTIC
- FRANCIS
- GSD · 1968: Via Collodori · Recco (Genova). 1969: Via Molino Nuovo · 16030 Avegno (Genova)
- ITAL SUB
- LONGO SUB · Via de' Gandolfi, 12 · 40128 Bologna · Tel. 36.09.61
- NAUTILUS
- ONDINA
- SQUAL
- SUPERGA
- TECNISPORT · Via Sansovino, 243/50 · Torino · Tel. 210.463
- UVEX
Spain
- NEMROD (Catalunya). C/. Coll 59 a 61 (La Sagrera). BARCELONA-13. TEL. [phone].
- COPINO (Illes balears)
- SAFARI SUB (Comunitat Valenciana). Calle del Cartón, 11, 03690 Sant Vicent del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain. 34 965 66 06 58.
- BELTRAN (Illes Balears). Vendaval, 4 - Molinar.
- INDUSTRIAS RIVER (Illes Balears). Palma de Mallorca.
- BARRAGAN (Catalunya)
- DUARRY (Catalunya)
- SUPERLLUCH
- TARRACO
- NAUTI SUB
- INDUSTRIAS CLASAL (Illes Balears). Padre Vives, 59. Teléfono 23129. Palma de Mallorca.
- CARBONELL GIMENO (Catalunya). 2 de Mayo, 236. Barcelona. Teléfono 258343
- PRACTISUB (Catalunya)
- ELECTRONICA ROS (Catalunya)
- BCN SCUBA (Catalunya)
- METALSUB (Catalunya)
- TECNOMAR (Comunitat Valenciana)
- MASTER
- INO SUB?

- TRIDACNA (Catalunya)

There will be more to come, not least because I haven't included my own country (UK), where I would single out E. T. Skinner (Typhoon) and W. W. Haffenden (Britmarine) as important manufacturers.

DRW

[nikeajax]

J.C. Higgins (rebranded regs sold under the Sears label) first used USD gear, then Healthways.

Sportsways and Waterlung were always concurrent I've never understood why they needed two different names.

It's my understanding that Kawasaki, yep, that same one, licensed their design from USD but later came into their own.

Another Japanese reg which was a Healthways was Seahorse (Scuba Star).

Scubamaster what became of Healthways.

Tekna, later merged with Oceanic.

IDI (International Divers Inc.?)

Zeagle

JB

[vance]

Excellent idea! Thanks for bringing it. I'm always fascinated by the unusual and rare diving equipment that's out there (or used to be), and love to see all of these items and all the information about them being recorded and preserved.

It won't be too long before the antique and vintage stuff we consider ordinary will pretty much disappear. I'm surprised at how much of the early equipment is still around!

As flawed as it is, that's something for which eBay can claim a lot of responsibility. All this stuff that was packed away, hanging in sheds and garages, etc., is now seeing the light of day (which is really bad for rubber... ).

[nikeajax]

Oh, I should have mentioned that J.C. Higgins stopped being in 1962: Sears changed their sporting goods brand to Ted Williams. I get pretty excited when I see any Higgy: I've got a 16-guage shotgun, a lantern, a cooler...

JB

[MCincy]

Thanks for all the info! I can already tell I've bitten off more than I can chew!

I'll try and update the opening post with the latest findings.

I would only ask that you don't restrict your scope to regulator manufacturers and do include all makers of basic gear such as masks, fins and snorkels. I'm going to throw into the ring some lists of diving equipment companies I've compiled over the years or have found online or in print.

I'll make that my goal, but I'll probably gather all the low hanging fruit first. Being U.S. based, I'm naturally more attuned to the North American market, lists of Old World manufactures like above help immensely for a jumping off point, thank you!

First update to follow...

[snark3]

How about Garrett/Northill

[SeaRat]

I don't think I've seen White Stag mentioned here:

IMG_1491 by John Ratliff, on Flickr

IMG_0981 by John Ratliff, on Flickr

White Stage Manual BC-1 by John Ratliff, on Flickr

John

[MCincy]

By the way, what's the most useful way to organize things?

My original format looks like it's going to turn out unsatisfactory, and some sort of list by country seems to be in order. That being said, I still think some concession to the modern umbrella corporations with multiple brands and heritage brands with significant market-shares needs to be made in some way.

Any suggestions?

[DavidRitchieWilson]

Sept 4, 2020 16:58:03 GMT -8 MCincy said:

Thanks for all the info! I can already tell I've bitten off more than I can chew!

I'll try and update the opening post with the latest findings.

I would only ask that you don't restrict your scope to regulator manufacturers and do include all makers of basic gear such as masks, fins and snorkels. I'm going to throw into the ring some lists of diving equipment companies I've compiled over the years or have found online or in print.

I'll make that my goal, but I'll probably gather all the low hanging fruit first. Being U.S. based, I'm naturally more attuned to the North American market, lists of Old World manufactures like above help immensely for a jumping off point, thank you!

First update to follow...

Point well taken! There have been many diving equipment history projects I've begun full of enthusiasm, only to find myself confronted with either too much or too little data to proceed with confidence. One source you may wish to explore when compiling your list is the Early Manufacturers and Retailers section of the Skin Diving History site. Short perhaps on chronological detail, but impressively long on companies active in, and period advertisements from, the mid-twentieth-century US diving equipment industry.

DRW

[MCincy]

Sept 4, 2020 20:55:03 GMT -8 DavidRitchieWilson said:

Bookmarked!

[nikeajax]

You may want to just stay in the realm of manufacturers as this slippery slope can quickly become a sheer cliff that drops into an abyss.

Monkey Wards (Montgomery Wards) had their own line of snorkeling gear too:



Spiegel, famous for their catalog, also sold dive gear:





If I'm not mistaken, the German equivalent of Spiegel, Quelle Inc. did too, for those Germanophiles in the states they had a branch in NYC. Does our polyglot friend DRW know about Quelle Inc?

I know, nuttin' but trouble!

JB

[DavidRitchieWilson]

Sept 5, 2020 16:31:13 GMT -8 nikeajax said:

You may want to just stay in the realm of manufacturers as this slippery slope can quickly become a sheer cliff that drops into an abyss.

If I'm not mistaken, the German equivalent of Spiegel, Quelle Inc. did too, for those Germanophiles in the states they had a branch in NYC. Does our polyglot friend DRW know about Quelle Inc?

I know, nuttin' but trouble!

JB

Thanks, JB! "Quelle" is German for "source" and the name of Germany's best-known mail-order company. I don't know a lot about the company as I have never used its services, but I do recall seeing branches in German cities during the old millennium where I suppose goods could be ordered from a catalogue. In that sense, I suppose the company resembled the UK's Argos catalogue company, where you went in, looked up what you wanted in the firm's catalogue, filled out a form, passed it to an assistant and waited for the order to be processed at the warehouse at the back. I'm not aware of "Quelle" stocking their own underwater equipment, though, scuba or snorkelling. Germany's department stores had sports departments well-stocked with "Barakuda" snorkelling gear from the 1960s to the 1980s when I travelled the country.

JB brings up an important point about diving equipment history research, the issue of "own labels" or "private labels". Many European snorkel gear manufacturers would make their own equipment clearly marked with company name, brand and model details. Then they would make similar, unbranded and generally lower-priced versions for large stockists of their products, who would sell them as "own-label" (UK) or "private-label" (US) goods. You can learn more at private label.

Here's an example. W. W. Haffenden of Sandwich in the English county of Kent manufactured Britmarine Clipper swim fins:


They also made fins to the same or a similar design for other companies:
1. "King Neptune Marlin" for distribution within the USA:

2. "Aquaped Speedswim", stocked by Woolworths on the UK's high streets:

3. "Uvex" for distribution within continental Europe:

So tread carefully (no pun intended)! JB is right to advise you to stick to diving equipment manufacturers and not to get sidetracked into the "own label" underwater products of major retailers where the original equipment manufacturer isn't always easy to trace.

DRW

[scubalawyer]

I don't recall if Lillywhites was a manufacturer or a retailer but they had some cool catalogs.

[DavidRitchieWilson]

Sept 6, 2020 9:30:18 GMT -8 scubalawyer said:

I don't recall if Lillywhites was a manufacturer or a retailer but they had some cool catalogs.

A sporting goods retailer, although they did sell occasional "private-label" products (e.g. a Lillywhites dry suit and a pair of Lillywhites fins in the 1950s and 1960s) made for them by diving equipment manufacturers. You're right about the coolness of their historically important diving gear catalogues; judge for yourself by accessing the ten available online here.

DRW