Tank Size ?

[nobubblesinmyface]

Im a rookie to vintage diving and just put together my vintage diving gear including a helathways deluxe reg and have just rebuild it . Anyway my question as to tank size i have a aluminum 80 i dive with my modern gear but when i use it on my vintage tank pack and harness it is heavy and seems like alot of tank
What was popular when these tank packs are used aluminum 45's or 63's

[nemrod]

What you want is a steel 72. That was the tank that was correct for your regulator and that was the most common tank throughout the 60s and into the 70s. They were made in large number but people tend to throw them away mistakenly thinking that tanks wear out--not! These generally had a working pressure of 2250 psi and some had a plus which meant it could go to 2475 psi. During this time there were also steel 38s, 45s and 50s depending on the working pressure. There were NO aluminum tanks commonly available in the 50s and 60s until very late and they were not thought well off until the second generation came along with slightly better bouyancy.
I am sure others can give you more complete history but no vintage pack was ever intended for an aluminum 80. The diameter of the standard aluminum 80 is 7.25 inches and 26 inches long and the steel 72 was 6.9 inches and about 24 inches long. The LP steel 72s of that era had higly desireable bouyancy characteristics and were lighter than a modern aluminum 80 but not by much. There is no modern substitute for a LP steel 72--no currently manufactured steel or aluminum tank is a suitable substitute.

Nemrod

[bsea]

Just out of curiosity, What would be a fair price for a steeel 72 that just passed hydro?

[Gomez' echo]

I would think that $75 more or less if it is a 3/4" straight thread with good valve, new relief plug and with a current (yuck) viz. I would also expect new O rings in tank neck and on reg face. They are great tanks with an infinite life, given proper care.
Allan

[YankDownUnder]

There were also aluminum 72s. These came out in about 1971. Don't confuse them with the steele 72, made by Press Steel for many companies.

Healthways stamped steel 72s are often available with a tapered thread J valve. (Search ebay: scuba tank, or Healthways) The steel tanks are great, as already pointed out, but not the aluminum tanks, which are from a later period. The aluminums had a tendency to float inverted when very low on air and ballast lead had to be put in an otherwise unneeded tank boot. I was very embarrased when I had to decompress using a pair of them, while cave diving in Florida. The floating problem was so bad I decompressed upside down, outside the cave's entrance.

Have a bit of patience with ebay and you will find a good Healthways tank. The back pack was a black flat rectangle with blue straps, and either a single crossed stainless band or a pair of galvanized bands.

Good Luck!

[Gomez' echo]

When you find a 72, which is very easy, have a harness made for it. Try to assemble all you gear for a specific time period, say 1962. That has made for me a very fun and exciting way to collect vintage gear. CDs of dive catalogs are available to get the information you might desire on period dive gear. I have a problem with the mix and missmatch of vintage and modern gear. Just doesn't seem right. IMHO.
Allan

[luis]

simonbeans said:

I have a problem with the mix and missmatch of vintage and modern gear. Just doesn't seem right. IMHO.
Allan

Yeah…yeah… I know. You think I am a pervert… That’s ok…

[Gomez' echo]

Not at all. I am the weirdo. Who else do you know who is into this vintage stuff to relive his youth? I just have a thing for historical stuff. I also play 18th Century military. Just got a gig for shooting my cannon for a pirate festival. And you think you are a pervert. "have gun will travel".
Allan

[JES]

I glad you guys cleared this up. I'm with Luis (not quite to the pervert level ), but feeling out of place diving a mix and missmatch of vintage and modern gear.

[Creed]

simonbeans said:

Not at all. I am the weirdo. Who else do you know who is into this vintage stuff to relive his youth? I just have a thing for historical stuff. I also play 18th Century military. Just got a gig for shooting my cannon for a pirate festival. And you think you are a pervert. "have gun will travel".
Allan

Oh, you missed out. There was recently a Gatling gun replica for sale in Wichita, KS. You could have picked up gigs shooting off one huge vintage style machine gun.

[YankDownUnder]

Mix and match, why not?

I began diving in Australia in 1960. There was no brand allegiance. We bought what we could afford and what worked best for us. Some makers simply did not offer a full line of gear. I dived a Heinke MkIII double hose regulator, a Healthways steel 72 tank and back pack, Cressi Rondine fins, an Espadon Compensator mask, a no name snorkle with the ping pong ball cut off and a Champion wet suit. I bought a lead mold and poored in melted tire weights. My knife was an Australian Divers Spiro Vulcan.

I do not recall any diver having a 'one brand' set of gear in our club of about 35 active divers. If you were to see someone which 'one brand' of gear you knew he was a new guy, and he bought a package deal at a department store. Many divers in our club had regulators made by club members and used army surplus oxygen tanks.

I taught diving at the YMCA pool in 1964-1965 and we had gear from any company who wanted students to see and try it. We encouraged the students to try it all and pick what they liked most.

My suggestion is to dive the things you like and have fun.

[Broxton Carol]

If you want a like new original circa 1960 HEALTHWAYS tank, contact me via private message. Thanks, Chuck

[JES]

yankdownunder said:

Mix and match, why not?
... My suggestion is to dive the things you like and have fun.

YankDownUnder,

You're a wise man, because that's exactly how I feel!

It really doesn't matter how you do it. Just dive vintage and enjoy it. ;D