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Post by Linda on Apr 14, 2006 12:31:43 GMT -8
Anyone like trivia? I thought I'd start a little game... The only "rule" in the game is this: If you choose to answer the question, you must post another trivia question to keep the game going.  The question should be related to vintage scuba diving and/or history. (obviously)  Also if you reference a web page to find the answer, feel free to post the link. In this way, everyone can learn, plus we'll have a nice archive of vintage scuba related links! I'll go first. The two gentlemen who founded the company Siebe Gorman Ltd. were related. In what way? |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2006 12:51:22 GMT -8
They were Father and Son-in-Law.............??  What was the name of Hans Hass's Uncle? |
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Post by DavidRitchieWilson on Apr 15, 2006 2:25:23 GMT -8
Fritz. When his nephew Hans Hass was just 4 years old, Uncle Fritz announced that he wanted him to learn to swim.
My own, 2-part, question:
1. Which diving equipment company originally developed Jet Fins?
2. Which feature distinguished the original Jet Fins from their modern counterparts?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2006 4:44:19 GMT -8
The company that developed "JET FINS" was the Jet Fin Co. Inc. The difference between the originals, and the modern ones is that the original ones WORKED. There once was a model for female divers which had 4" stilletto heels, but that idea flopped when they found they couldnt put on their wetsuits while wearing them!!!!! |
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Post by JES on Apr 15, 2006 5:08:29 GMT -8
Fritz. When his nephew Hans Hass was just 4 years old, Uncle Fritz announced that he wanted him to learn to swim. My own, 2-part, question: 1. Which diving equipment company originally developed Jet Fins? 2. Which feature distinguished the original Jet Fins from their modern counterparts? 1. Which diving equipment company originally developed Jet Fins? Beuchat. Georges Beuchat, of Marseille, France, filed his original patent on April 25, 1962, and apparently produced the fin in that time frame. His US Patent, #3,183,529 was granted May 18, 1965.2. Which feature distinguished the original Jet Fins from their modern counterparts? I regretfully don't know the answer to the second part of your question.  Maybe someone else can fill in the void. |
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Post by DavidRitchieWilson on Apr 15, 2006 5:32:48 GMT -8
Sorry, wrong, Voice of Gomez, but I expect you already knew that.  JES, well done with part one of the question, you've given me more information than I had to hand. I'll wait until somebody else has a go before supplying a clue to the second part of the question. |
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Post by Broxton Carol on Apr 15, 2006 6:02:32 GMT -8
I didnt know they were still being made. I would guess that back then they were made in USA, and now theyre made in CHINA.  |
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Post by JES on Apr 15, 2006 8:21:09 GMT -8
... JES, well done with part one of the question, you've given me more information than I had to hand. ... I must admit that I received my "education" on this topic from Dr. Sam Miller & SeaRat. They are both very knowledgeable Vintage Equipment Divers. |
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Post by duckbill on Apr 15, 2006 9:44:24 GMT -8
I must admit that I received my "education" on this topic from Dr. Sam Miller & SeaRat. They are both very knowledgeable Vintage Equipment Divers. I was going to ask what book you found that in! It would be great to find a comprehensive book on diving history packed full of such information and complete with timeline charts. I can't help with the second part of the question, but I'm on the edge of my seat! |
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Post by DavidRitchieWilson on Apr 15, 2006 9:59:55 GMT -8
OK, I promised a clue with the second part of the Jet Fins question about the difference between the French prototype and its American metamorphosis: Think heel.
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Post by SeaRat on Apr 15, 2006 11:25:58 GMT -8
Well, I almost had the answer before you replied DavidRitchieWilson. But my internet contection went out, and the answer was lost. Here's what I said: I'll take a stab at the second part of the question. The original Jet Fin was a full-foot fin, as shown on the patent # 3,183,529 filed March 16, 1964 and issued May 18th, 1965. I have a photo from Duilio Marcante's book, This is Diving which also shows the original Beuchat Jet Fins being worn by a spearfisherman somewhere in Europe. They were full-foot, with a long blade and an open toe. This changed quickly, as the 1964 book by Cousteau, World Without Sun showed the Jet Fins being worn by Cousteau divers as an open heel, adjustable strap fin. Here's a photo of from Marcante's book showing the original Jet Fin:  Now, the next question: What is the name of the U.S. Divers Company fin that was a full-foot fin with a detachable blade, and when was it offered? This fin allowed the diver to take off his/her fins without removing the shoe portion, and therefore allowed the diver to easily walk over coral. John |
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Post by DavidRitchieWilson on Apr 15, 2006 11:49:42 GMT -8
Yes, the fact that the first Jet Fins had a full foot fitting (or "chaussantes", as the French say) was the answer I was after.
David
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Post by DavidRitchieWilson on Apr 15, 2006 12:16:33 GMT -8
Is the fin with the detachable blade you had in mind the Caravelle, which came out in 1963, according to pages 75-76 of the document at www.xray-mag.com/pdfs/xray07/X-Ray7_part4.pdfThere's a picture of the fins in question on page 76. This document attributes the development of these fins to Luigi Ferraro of Technisub, with financial support from La Spirotechnique: "In 1963, he (Luigi Ferraro) came out with a revolutionary new design, the Caravelle, with a detachable polypropylene blade and foot pocket of rubber that essentially worked as galoshes. These rubber galoshes made it possible to walk to the shoreline, and then mount the blade onto the galoshes to continue diving. Jacques-Yves Cousteau was so impressed by these fins that he named Luigi the best fin designer in the world." I've read somewhere else that the fins were actually a commercial failure, though futuristic in the way they presaged the development of fins with foot pockets and blades routinely made out of different materials. Am I right? Oh, and if I am, here's my next question: Oscar Gugen was the founder of the British Sub Aqua Club in the 1950s. He was in partnership with Eric Skinner in a jigsaw, toy and novelty business. What became of the company after Skinner left for Canada? |
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Post by SeaRat on Apr 15, 2006 13:11:06 GMT -8
DavidRichieWilson,
That's the fin I was looking for. I still have my set of Caravelle fins, which I modified in 1968 to the scoop fin design by having a USAF life support guy make a sheet aluminum "U" for each fin, then fitted the interior with inner tube rubber. They still work, and I'll get a photo of them and post it here sometime.
By the way, that is a fascinating link you gave us. Thanks.
John
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Post by Broxton Carol on Apr 15, 2006 16:12:05 GMT -8
Back in the "50's" I remember a chest mounted tank with a little hose that went to a snorkel, so you could snorkle on the surface, but when you wanted to go down, it operated as a regulator, and becama a scuba. It was made by Healthways. It had a tank like the little rigs from us divers, that sold with an aquamatic regulator for 50 bucks about the same time, or a little later. I have never seen one on ebay, or anywhere else, except in popular mechanics back years ago. Who knows anything about it, and better yet, does anybody have one??
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