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Post by ltstanfo on Feb 23, 2007 9:14:53 GMT -8
I stumbled across this mask on ebay. I suspect it is from the 1970s but know nothing about it. What model is it? Was it a US Divers' product or a rebrand? I'm sort of interested in bidding on it. ** EDIT ** I think I know what it is... Apparently Kirby Morgan bought out the US Divers Commercial Diving Division in 1988 (I did not know that but the mask has the look of a KM mask) I think this MAY be a KM10 mask. See here for more details. Does anyone have experience with this mask? Any thoughts or opinions? Thanks, Ltstanfo |
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Post by Glenn "Whitebear" Kennedy on Feb 23, 2007 9:29:27 GMT -8
The USD experts in the forum can probably give you more detailed info, but it sure looks like their licensed version of the Kirby-Morgan KMB-10 Band Mask. The rig as shown is missing a critical piece. There is a "Hood" and face seal assembly that is made out of various neoprene pieces that makes up the back half of the system. It has pockets for the earphones and an internal face seal. The entire rig is then held to your head with a rubber "spider" that snaps or pops over the round knobs you see sticking out. They were fun to dive and if you can get it for the right price might be fun to have. Glenn p.s. I realized after I posted this .. that I'm holding one in my arm in the picture that's over there <-------------------  |
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Post by BLT on Feb 23, 2007 10:37:59 GMT -8
Hey!
I have one of those (or at least the Navy Mk1 Mod1 masks)! Unfortunately mine is in just slightly better shape as the one on Ebay and I have never even had it wet. I got mine at a yard sale for ~$50 but the neoprene hood and face block(?) were rotted and falling apart. About a year or two later, at another yard sale, I actually found a good hood and the foam for the face for a buck!!! Every so often I start to look into getting it divable and figuring out what kind of cheap compressor I could use to run it, but I never seem to get too far on it, life seems to get in the way.
I had talked to some people at a nearby dive shop, with lots of serious Navy and commercial dive experience, who said they could get it into diveable shape for about $200 and then I would have a mask worth about $4-500 or so (5 years ago)
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Post by luis on Feb 23, 2007 12:40:58 GMT -8
Every so often I start to look into getting it divable and figuring out what kind of cheap compressor I could use to run it, but I never seem to get too far on it, life seems to get in the way. You don't really need a compressor. Storage tanks (even Scuba tanks) with a regulator on the surface is the safest and cheapest. I am assuming you are not really trying to spend lots of hours actually working underwater. Even then you can get cascade tanks cheep and there is no concern about a motor cutting out etc. |
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Post by Captain on Feb 23, 2007 20:38:29 GMT -8
You don't need a surface supply to use it. A tank and first stage can be connected to it at the port directly behind the valve knob that faces to the side. Directly below that port is the surface suppy connection port and check valve. If using the mask with a surface supply you must be sure the check valve is working to prevent a squeeze in the event the surface supply hose loses pressure. The knob facing forward is the ventalation valve that bypasses air into the mask for extra ventalation and to prevent foging. Generally a diver would have a bailout tank on his back with a first stage connected to the mask. If the surface supply failed he then would open the sideways facing valve to get air from the bailout bottle, usually single or double AL 80's depending on the working depth. With the ventalation valve closed it operates just like a regular demand second stage.
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Post by Glenn "Whitebear" Kennedy on Feb 24, 2007 10:51:54 GMT -8
I agree with "Captain", if you want to rebuild it and dive it for fun, just use a normal set of scuba tanks and connect the output from the first stage to the valve block. If I get in the "Way Back" machine and return to memories of my DUI days, we spent more time with these masks being driven by scuba tanks than the hassle of an LP compressor and umbilical ... 'cause we just needed to get in the tank and use the KMB for the oral-nasal mask for testing microphones and diver comm gear. So, con BLT out of that face seal assembly for $2 and fix it and dive it Glenn |
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Post by crimediver on Feb 24, 2007 17:11:10 GMT -8
Yep, It is a KMB 10 mask. Parts are easily available for it. I would clean up the manifold block and make sure the check valve is working by simply sucking back on it. If you cannot get air, it's OK. Get some new mushroom valves for the exhaust and a neoprene hood/faceseal and a mask spider. Just like the other stated, you can use it with a scuba tank. It was designed to be used with an umbilical for uw comm, but it is not a problem to use with a tank. You would need to get a whip to run from the block on the mask to the first stage. They are still sought after by working commercial divers and go for a decent price. I had one US Divers mask like that one as well as one that looked just like it, but with no regulator. It was used as a freeflow mask with surface supplied air. They are called bandmasks and Kirby Morgan supports this mask.
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