Triple Tank Harness

[Gomez' echo]

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Dear VSS readers,
I posted this thread on the VDH forum last night, and am asking for any assistance from anyone who might be familiar with this type of tank/harness setup. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I have been contacted by a diver to make a harness for a triple tank configuration. The tanks are held together by two bands and utilize large eye bolts to hold the system together. I know how the upper, shoulder pieces were attached to the eye bolts, but I am not sure on how the waist section was fixed. We have one photo to work from:
[img src="http://auction1.inetu.net/member/simonbeans/0608[1].fj_3.triple2__3_.jpg"]
I think the waist was one piece and just slipped through the two lower eye bolts with the crouch piece slid on it between the bolts. Sound reasonable? Any help would be appreciated.
Allan

[Ron Hearn]

Hi

I'm pretty sure that those old straps were the same ones used in old military canvas back packs. I'm sure you can pick up all you need at a army surplus store. There may or may not be some alterations on your part.

Good Luck

Ron

[Ron Hearn]

Hi Again

I may attempt to put one of those systems together my self some day. I'm looking for the manifold a darn thing to find these days.

Ron

[Gomez' echo]

I don't need the parts as I have all the materials. They are new old stock military specs. What I don't know is how the lower (waist) strap goes through the lower eye bolts. The upper (shoulder) is two pieces on each side with the chest strap sections attached. The upper of the shoulder and the lower of the shoulder is riveted in a loop and is on the eye bolt. But I am not sure how the waist strap goes through the eye bolts. Are they attached in anyway or just passed through?
Allan

[SeaRat]

Simonbeans,

If you want to use the current harnesses, you can simply wrap them around the center tank band twice. I did this with a triple tank setup exactly the same as pictured, but with the Navy Harness. That way, the waist strap is already there, and secure. We did that with our small doubles too in the USAF Pararescue (the jump tanks).

Or if you want to get real exotic, you can duplicate the following Navy harness design, the first out there I believe:




John

[MOSSBACK]

SeaRat

Some of those photos of the Navy divers has the tanks and reg high on the back........didn't that affect ease of breathing somewhat?

[duckbill]

MOSSBACK said:

Some of those photos of the Navy divers has the tanks and reg high on the back........didn't that affect ease of breathing somewhat?

I'm not SeaRat, but I think it's O.K. for me to mention that that is one of the downsides of the triple setup. The yoke cannot be flipped down and is always higher than the manifold if the tanks are worn "right-side-up".
Smaller diameter tanks, and therefore a centerline closer to one's back, help to offset the disadvantage somewhat.

[SeaRat]

Mossback and Duckbill,

You are both right, as this was the first harness that was ever used by the U.S. Navy. It did not set the regulator in a really good position, but it would be interesting to get one and see what it could do. It would also give insights into why it was dropped in favor of the current Navy harness system. It should be noted that this system did not use a crotch strap, and from what I can tell in the old movies I've seen, and the photos, the tanks were not held well to the diver. I have my own modifications to harnesses, and so I have some prejudices concerning all these harnesses. But it would be interesting to see and use.

Concerning the tanks, they were not only smaller in diameter, but somewhat shorter than the standard 72, and much shorted than the Navy twin 90s. That would allow the harness to ease the tanks down to a good position, but remember that the early DA Aqualung regulators had pretty short hoses on them too.

Well, this is going to be my last posting for awhile, and I'll explain this on another thread. I'll probably look in from time to time until summer, and then be back. But I have some things I need to do this Spring, and will be spending my time with that. Until then, I hope everyone enjoys their dives, and the old regulators that we have been rebuilding and using.

John

[Michel]

Hi guys,
You might be able to get more info on the tripples by checking out a site I stumbled on which features euro stuff called www.frogmanmuseum.com. Lots of info and photos of CG45's and history and a guy called David Dekker seems have Medi regs and sets of tripples for sale! I have not contacted him but the site is very informative, looks like north americans(Canada is included in that by the way) are not the only crazies about vintage(superior) stuff!

Michel A.

[treasureman]

Sea Rat
whatever it is you do, may good health follow you and good luck find you.

[Ron]

Hi

Can some one tell me the name or email of the fellow who makes tank straps.

Thanks

Ron

[Linda]

Allan Klauda. Just click on his user ID (simonbeans) to email him.

[Seahuntjerry]

Hi frans the old master is going to take detail pics and measurements from an orginal triple set for us.
I need the haRNESS AND BANDS ALSO.
jERRY

[Seahuntjerry]

Hi Frans and myself were over at ron's took pic;s of harness today.
Allan please give me your phone number or call me 763-786-8018,
Thanks,Jerry

[SeaRat]

Jerry,

You might want to send that as a PM, and take your phone number off the forum.

John