Odd Survivair Regulator

[Creed]

I was doing some research, and stumbled across this image of an older Survivair face mask and regulator. My first thought was, whoah, it's an Aquarius!


I know that some of their tanks had standard 3/4" necks, but I never realized that they also seemed to have used their regulators on the Survivair line, too. Does anyone have anymore info on this?

[SeaRat]

Well, they had to start somewhere, and they already were manufacturing the Aquarius at USD. So this is a logical step to take. But I have no actual information on it.

John

[Creed]

Well, I've verified that the outlet for the above mentioned regulator is the same size as a standard scuba inlet. I just received a set of doubles used with it. They have smaller sized necks, but the little double manifold has a standard outlet. A Conshelf nestles in the spot just fine. If they pas hydro, I'm going to make a SASY unit out of them for the kids. Basically, strap the doubles onto a PFD, and let the kids bomb around the surface of the pool with their own set of doubles while dad is in the deep with his twin 45s. Start 'em young and all

[william]

I too have an entire Survivair Outfit in the Factory "Premiere Cruise Trunk" but mine is totally different than yours. ::)I wish I knew exactly what I DO have here??? It has a special Valve on the tank, and a special 1st stage, Big & Round Honker, that fits it. It does Not look like it was made for diving after I received it and got to examine it much better. It (was) Advertised as a ( U.S.Divers) set up, but I am thinking I may have received the ( USD-Shaft) and it is actually made for use like a Mining Accident Survivair. I will try and make some pictures later on if that will help. William

[william]

I found one outfit just like mine, on Ebay now # 7630299375 so you could see what I am talking about. It looks more like a Gas-Mask Version than a Scuba Diving Version. I got mine for only $55 so I got a bargain for what I was looking for. The Nice Tank it came with with the Very Special 3/4" Sized Valve Thread on the Tank with the tank being totally round Bottomers. I hope to find another tank, like my tank, so I can make Cool and Unusual Twin Tanks. Those would be great for "Shock Value" when Vintage Diving, ha, ha. William

[william]

Different picture to try and ID what it is. William

[Creed]

Yeah, the big round regulators are positive pressure regulators used just for firefighting and rescue. I've heard reports that some firestations tested them at 6 ft of depth, to simulate a firefighter falling into a pool with a full set of gear, and they work, albeit not well. If you look at my gallery on vintagedoublehose, you can see the ones I have set up with a Conshelf XI.
I also have 4 of the 45cf steel tanks that they made for a while. I currently have 2 set up with a Sherwood manifold, and the other two are awaiting the same treatment.

[william]

Man Your Twin tanks are going to be so Cool. Have you decided which Decals to use on them yet? I have been buying many Oxygen Tanks, 8 to 10 Sets so far, to set up for Twins and they seem to be working out extremely well. They hold the same amount of air as my Voit Twins but weigh 10 #s Less. The Voits + Bac-Pac are 53 #s and the Oxygen tanks with White Stag and Sportsways (both types) are Only 42 #s. All my Valve Assemblies have the Rubber O-Ring Sealing Straight Threads. Same size/capacity the Oxygen Tanks << did Very Well at the Hydro Testing >> , so I guess they used a better grade of Steel or some other thing. I think they are PST and I really love them. I sure would like to see a Picture of your Twin 42s when you get done fixing them Up. I bet they will look (Great). If you get them done and all and decide to sell one set, please let me know. My email is listed here. Survivair=Shaft. I just knew I got the (Shaft) instead of the Dive Outfit, ha ,ha. I really thought I was buying a U S Divers-->Diving Outfit, but when I received it, I pretty much knew I had been cheated. But the seller may have thought it was for diving too because it had U.S.Divers I.D. on her too. Anybody want to buy it Cheap??? Ha, ha. William

[william]

My Twins all ready for Diving. The Sportsways beside them I have got to do next. I just bought a like-new Sportsways Twin Tank Valve Assembly for them. Thes types of twins are very good in that after the yearly Visual Exam, they are super easy to line Back up with the Decals in the correct place. William

[SeaRat]

I tested a Scott firefighting SCBA years ago that a local fire department was thinking about using for shallow water rescue of cars. They had set up a water rescue team, and at the time I was a NAUI Instructor. So I took them down and have the following comments:

--There is extreme visual distortion due to the curved lens (true of the SurvivAir too, I think). It was extreme enough that moving my head induced a visual disorientation, and I had to ignore it in order to stay oriented to the water's surface.

--The regulator ignores the Cousteau patent for an exhaust, and since the regulator of the Scott system was on the belt, it would free flow terribly in an upright position. This is precisely the problem Cousteau encountered with the first unit he and Gagnan put together. If I got horizontal, and had the mask at the regulator's height, it would work.

So I told them that it could work, but would be very problematical for someone without extensive water time. They elected not to use them, and to get other units.

John

[william]

:)I would think that the Fireman were smart to take your advice. I would not even want to see the visual Distortion you describe either. But there does seem to be plenty of room in the Mask to Throw-Up in. William

[SeaRat]

William,

It's like looking with both eyes through a fisheye lens. Things that swim in straight lines look like they are swimming in curves. The surface is curved, as is the bottom, but in the opposite direction. When you turn your head, you're getting a greater than 180 degree view, and everything starts "swimming," but at different rates. Things right in front swam at normal rates, but fish in the periferal areas seemed to shoot from one place to right in front of me, and on a curved path. It was not a pleasant experience. I ultimately had to close my eyes, and act like I was in zero visibility to make keep from getting sick. I'd then opened them to see things right in front of me, and ignore the rest, without turning my head.

John

[duckbill]

U.S. Divers' Squale "Vista Vision" lense was curved to compensate for underwater refraction and magnification. I don't know if they were discontinued because of poor acceptance or because of manufacturing costs. It seems that if they were properly designed they would work. The Survivair lense is clearly more convex and bulbous and obviously not designed for underwater work. My guess would be that they were designed that way to increase peripheral vision, increase strength, or to keep the radiant heat eminating from the glass surface away from the face. Just curious- Is it glass or plastic?

[william]

Mine is Buried under a bunch of Boxes but I am thinking it is glass. I will have to dig mine out. I am wondering if different models used different materials too. I would suggest asking John (SeaRat) what the Face Shield was made of, on the one he had experience with when he dove with and was training the FireFighters. If no answers come soon, I will go and dig mine out and check it, so I will know positively if it is Glass or Plastic. William

[SeaRat]

I am thinking that the facepiece of the Scott was tempered glass, but I may be wrong. That was in the 1980s that I did this test. Plastic would tend to scratch pretty badly in some firefighter's circumstances.

John