Small white Voit tank

[Jim Perdway]

There is a small white Voit tank (perhaps a 40?) that is for sale in my area. I’m wondering if anybody potentially has info on years of production, rarity, and value for a tank like this. I think it’s a pretty neat tank and have only seen pictures in few places online.

[snark3]

I didn't check all the Voit catalogues but I did see in 1961 the Voit shorty tanks were 1800 PSI and marketed as 38 cu ft. By 1963 they had been increased to 2250 PSI and marketed as 50 cu ft "50 footers"

[nikeajax]

If I'm not mistaken, it's the same as this:





They were used for C02 bottles that inflated rubber rafts Being the military: if one's good, 2-million are better--they made lots of 'em!

JB

[Jim Perdway]

You’re likely right JB. So far I’ve only seen a distant, somewhat blurry photo and I haven’t been able to get in touch with the seller. I hope to add a tank like that to the collection.

Would the same manufacturer likely have made Sportsways 38s? I’m waiting on a twin set of those picked up by a friend at estate sale- hoping they check out and I can dive them 🤞

[vance]

Hi, S!
Welcome!! Glad to have you back.

[nikeajax]

Aug 25, 2021 14:15:15 GMT -8 Jim Perdway said:

Would the same manufacturer likely have made Sportsways 38s?

More than likely, yes!

It's always swell when you can find cool old gear with the patina on it: it gives the gear that "old pro" look, AKA, "Get the eff outta my way, I really do actually know what I'm doing here..."

If you get it, please post some images, we can compare pix

That tank is dedicated to my "Diver Dick" reg:



A few years back someone had an eBait listing where I bought a whole bunch of Healthways prototype/pre-production second stages for a buck! Dick Anderson's widow was cleaning out her garage

Jaybird

[Jim Perdway]

That’s a cool setup- pretty awesome to get items from a source like that. Do you know what model that one is a prototype for?

[nikeajax]

Yes, it's for either a Scubair or Scuba Star:









JB

[surflung]

The small tanks actually came in a variety of pressures:

1800 psi were mostly surplus military. Very lightweight and "floaty". Mostly with bushings but sometimes not. Some early Voits were 1800 psi and 1/2 NPT threads (as seen on Sea Hunt). I have a set of USD production 38s that are 1800 psi and 3/4" straight thread with O-rings. These are slightly heavier than the surplus 1800s but awfull close in weight and buoyancy. USD also made a longer 1800 psi tank they called a 53 cf.

1880 psi were the Sportsways production. No bushing. Heavier. These were 1/2 NPT and also a unique 1/2" straight thread w/O-ring. I have a Healthways 1/2 NPT that is 1800 psi and I think I have another Healthways that's 1880 with 1/2 NPT... I was thinking of putting it together with a Sportways to make Twin 42s.

2015 psi... A recent find by my buddy Rich. These are from ScubaPro and are 3/4 Straight thread with O-Ring. These are even heavier that Sportways 1880s.

2250 psi... Voit "50s" are 2250 and are notoriously heavy little tanks. I have a single Voit 50 that I never found a mate for. As a single, it's a really nice tank to dive. But I've heard they are uncomfortably heavy to dive as twins... For example, heavier than the weight you need for neautral buoyancy so, you may dive with no weight belt and still need a horsecollar BC to keep from sinking.


Things that Interest Me About Small Twin Tanks:

1. I remember seeing Mike Nelson on Sea Hunt, diving small Twin tanks with just a swimsuit and wearing a weight belt as well. Compared to me in High school with a 1/4" full wetsuit, wearing Twin aluminum 50s with no weights, and sinking... I actually had to use my safety vest as a BC back then.
- Nowadays... I have a set of surplus 1800 psi 38s that are "floaty". Same as Mike Nelson, with just a swimsuit and no wetsuit buoyancy, I have to wear a 6-8 lb. weightbelt with those Twin 38s to achieve neutral buoyancy.

2. My 1880 psi Sportways 42s are heavier. I wear only 2 lbs on my weight belt with the Sportways 1880 psi twins. And when I'm diving Fortune Pond with the 1880 psi twins, I drop the 2 lb weight and wear a Horsecollar BC to neutralize my buoyancy at the deeper depths.

3. The comfort level seems best with the 1800 psi 38s and degrades progressively the heavier the twins get. I measure comfort by the degree of complication and cumbersome-ness. How much more equipment do you have to strap on to make cumbersome tanks workable? For example, I have surplus Twin 48s at 1800 psi and Twin 72s at 2250 psi and they are both far heavier and less comfortable. On the other hand, the 1800 psi Twin 38s are almost like free diving with just a mask and fins. You just add the Twin 38s and a few weights and you're free diving with an air supply.

Conclusion:
- In my opinion, your small white Voit tank is far more desirable if it is an 1800 psi tank.

[scubalawyer]

Aug 30, 2021 6:54:04 GMT -8 surflung said:

1880 psi were the Sportsways production. No bushing. Heavier. These were 1/2 NPT and also a unique 1/2" straight thread w/O-ring.

2015 psi... A recent find by my buddy Rich. These are from ScubaPro and are 3/4 Straight thread with O-Ring. These are even heavier that Sportways 1880s.

My Scubapro 2015's (3/4" o-ring neck) on the left. Sportsways 1880's (1/2" o-ring neck) on the right. I have a roundy-bottom 1/2" NPT 38 but it's brother failed hydro (even using all the known pre-hydro techniques and done by a guy I trust) so I'm on the lookout for a match. I have a NIB 1/2" NPT manifold just waiting for a pairing.

[snark3]

Since we were talking about small Voit tanks I thought I'd post a pic of my "50 footers", along side my Sportsways. I believe the Sportsways are 38's. The galvanized tank in the second pic is I believe a Scubapro 40, It's a 6.9" diameter 2250 PSI tank but its a couple of inches shorter than the Sportsways.


IMG_0386 by Skip Yetman, on Flickr


IMG_0387 by Skip Yetman, on Flickr

If anybody has one of the Scubapro tanks they'd be willing to part with I'm looking for a match to set up a set of doubles. They were made around 1970.

[Jim Perdway]

I never heard back from the guy and ad was removed, so that one slipped away unfortunately. It was great seeing your guys’ doubles though on here and getting some info on them. You’ve got some really cool setups and I’m hoping my sportsways check out so I can join the club!

[kjatexas]

I remember Voigt 42s, with a white coating. My friend had a set of doubles when I was a kid. I think, but maybe I’m misremembering, that Voigt then came out with 52s.