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Post by nikeajax on Sept 7, 2020 13:08:39 GMT -8
2. "Aquaped Speedswim", stocked by Woolworths on the UK's high streets:[ I've often wondered: is this the same as F.W. Woolworth's: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Winfield_WoolworthWaaay back when they called them "Five and dime", "nickle and dime" or "Nickle and ten cent stores": as a boy I remember my mother telling me she was going to "the dime store" I really love anachronistic phrases... JB
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MCincy
Regular Diver
Posts: 15
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Post by MCincy on Sept 7, 2020 17:50:27 GMT -8
"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."
I'm already seeing that come into play, for sure! I'll probably have to develop some sort of methodology as to where to draw the lines, but for the time being if I can find the information, its in; it can always be edited down later. Besides, the manufacturer/distributor/retailer and re-labeling relationships is kind of what attracted me in the first place.
Update to follow shortly...
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Post by DavidRitchieWilson on Sept 7, 2020 21:24:36 GMT -8
2. "Aquaped Speedswim", stocked by Woolworths on the UK's high streets:[ I've often wondered: is this the same as F.W. Woolworth's: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Winfield_WoolworthWaaay back when they called them "Five and dime", "nickle and dime" or "Nickle and ten cent stores": as a boy I remember my mother telling me she was going to "the dime store" I really love anachronistic phrases... JB Exactly the same company, JB. We affectionately called it "Woolies". It was famed as the place we went here in the UK in the 1950s and 1960s if we needed some non-standard light fitting. The stock was cheap and very comprehensive and there was even an attempt in each store to create an American-style diner with stools to sit on, so the place was considered a more exotic retail outlet than the very traditional English shops trading back then. The present-day "pound shops", where every item costs just one pound, are generally a poor substitute with very limited stock and many have closed since lockdown. This said, I managed to buy a set of screwdrivers once there for a pound that was available in a home improvement store for £15, so bargains are available. I have happy childhood memories of Woolworths, though, and miss window-shopping and looking around inside. Here's a historical snapshot of the long-gone Bournemouth branch of Woolworths in the south of England. You can tell it's from long ago because of the men's hats... DRW
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Post by DavidRitchieWilson on Sept 7, 2020 21:34:48 GMT -8
"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." I'm already seeing that come into play, for sure! I'll probably have to develop some sort of methodology as to where to draw the lines, but for the time being if I can find the information, its in; it can always be edited down later. Besides, the manufacturer/distributor/retailer and re-labeling relationships is kind of what attracted me in the first place. Update to follow shortly... You're a person after my own heart! I too enjoy figuring out who the "original equipment manufacturer" is or was for the leading brands of today's and long-gone fins, masks and snorkels. It's so much easier to do nowadays by online searching than it was with trade directories at the public library, but it still presents some challenges as leading brands rarely acknowledge who actually makes their "own-label" goods. DRW
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MCincy
Regular Diver
Posts: 15
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Post by MCincy on Sept 13, 2020 10:58:35 GMT -8
Updated 9/13/2020
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MCincy
Regular Diver
Posts: 15
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Post by MCincy on Sept 18, 2020 19:06:59 GMT -8
Minor Update 9/18/2020 -------
White Stag is giving me some problems with dates. It's got a fairly interesting timeline, they got their start in sails for sailing ships, before diversifying in to workwear and eventually skiing and sporting goods before being taken over by a lingerie company by the name of Warner Brothers (no, not THAT Warner Bros). After getting in tight with the Speedo company in the 90's, eventually the brand name was sold to Walmart.
When exactly they started and exited the scuba market still eludes me but their heyday seems to have been around 1970. The earliest date I've seen seems to be 1957 but I'm at a loss on the upper end.
Any ideas?
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Post by DavidRitchieWilson on Sept 20, 2020 8:30:05 GMT -8
These lists are coming along extremely well and it's great when you are able to establish the chronology. Sometimes you have to delve into state company law records to find out when a company is founded, changes its name, merges and goes out of business. Google is your friend! A few leads to explore: Canada: International Divers Corporation. 1950s/1960 catalogues. Interesting company led by Martin Scholler; read Phil Nuytten's "Martin Scholler and International Divers Corp." on page 36 of Historical Diver Volume 15 Issue 4. Australia: Turnbull was probably the major producer of basic equipment. Here's a 1960s catalogue. I'm researching Australian diving equipment manufacturers at the moment and have identified Undersee Products and Torpedo as significant companies in the field. UK: Follow some of the leads in my Scubaboard threads about basic gear here. When covering European manufacturers, be aware that spearfishermen in the Mediterranean were often the ones to set up the early companies manufacturing fins, masks, snorkels and suits. This particularly applies to Spain, France, Italy, Greece. USA: Have a look at the Totes Isotoner article in Wikipedia. When the company was called So Lo Marx Rubber Company and headed by Joe Marx during the 1950s, he extended his range of watertight gear to dry diving suits, which he exported around the world as far as Europe and Australia. DRW
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Post by nikeajax on Sept 21, 2020 13:13:21 GMT -8
Watergill / Seapro / AtPak: they were American 1970's-80's. One of the more creative regs ever!
JB
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Post by snark3 on Sept 21, 2020 14:01:03 GMT -8
SeaCraft industries is missing from the list
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MCincy
Regular Diver
Posts: 15
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Post by MCincy on Sept 22, 2020 17:25:41 GMT -8
Watergill / Seapro / AtPak: they were American 1970's-80's. One of the more creative regs ever! JB For sure! That's one of the problems I'm running into, for the list all I'm looking for are start and end dates, but every time I run into an At-Pak, a Demone, or a Loosco Egg I can't help but delve a little deeper. That dual piston design on the Watergill/Seapro is pretty crazy, I'd love to see one in action. I'm not sure if you can call it an elegant solution to the problem, but it is undoubtedly brilliant. My understanding is that you could set the auto inflate time to fill the At-Pak from anywhere from 15 seconds to 5 minutes. SeaCraft industries is missing from the list Thanks! I'll see what I can find. DavidRitchieWilson I'll be sure to add those to the to do list, thank you!
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Post by nikeajax on Sept 22, 2020 17:51:49 GMT -8
This is what I meant by the slippery slope that falls into an abyss I'd really love one of those Watergills one day I sent an orange Seapro octo off to our friend James yesterday because I thought he'd have fun plating with it, and well damnit: I was feeling virtuous! JB
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Post by SeaRat on Sept 22, 2020 22:33:45 GMT -8
Minor Update 9/18/2020 ------- White Stag is giving me some problems with dates. It's got a fairly interesting timeline, they got their start in sails for sailing ships, before diversifying in to workwear and eventually skiing and sporting goods before being taken over by a lingerie company by the name of Warner Brothers (no, not THAT Warner Bros). After getting in tight with the Speedo company in the 90's, eventually the brand name was sold to Walmart.When exactly they started and exited the scuba market still eludes me but their heyday seems to have been around 1970. The earliest date I've seen seems to be 1957 but I'm at a loss on the upper end. Any ideas? I got my first wetsuit from White Stag in about 1962. They started Scuba gear before that, I think. I'll look it up, as I'm located right next to Portland. HoodCanal by John Ratliff, on Flickr This is a photo of me in my White Stag wet suit in about 1962. Note also that I had converted from the double hose Healthways Scuba regulator to the Healthways Scuba Star single hose regulator, and to a steel 71.2 cubic foot tank (my first was a single 38 cubic foot tank). I also had acquired a Champion Arbalete spear gun from U.S. Divers Company by then too. The spear had a weighted head, and I actually bounced that spear off the head of a cabazon when I tried to hit it between the eyes. It bounced off! That's a really hard head. John
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Post by SeaRat on Sept 24, 2020 19:13:55 GMT -8
I found this link to the White Stag DEEP trademark: But White Stage was into Scuba way before this. John
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MCincy
Regular Diver
Posts: 15
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Post by MCincy on Oct 11, 2020 11:06:42 GMT -8
Minor Update; Further updates as real world permits...
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Post by DavidRitchieWilson on Oct 17, 2020 3:00:10 GMT -8
A half-dozen names to add to the list of Italian manufacturers you have already compiled. They are all mentioned in a "complete table of Italy's underwater gear importers and producers" in the June 1974 issue of the monthly Italian diving magazine Mondo Sommerso:
GSD - Prodotti Smeralda, via Molino Nuovo 55. 16030 Avegno (Ge), tel. (0185) 79.097 Longo Sub. via Madonna dei Prati 5/a, 40069 Ponte Ronca (Bo), tel. (051) 756.810 Mordem, via Primaticcio 182, 20147 Milano, tel. (02) 415.2227 Industrie Pirelli spa, via Milano 8. 20038 Seregno (Mi), tel. (0362) 21.711 Salvas Shark, via Circonvallazione 100, 15053 Castelnuovo Scrivia (Al). tel. (0131) 85.237 Tigullio Sub spa, via Pisa 79, 16036 Recco (Ge), tel. (0185) 74.120
DRW
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