The last edition of Sir Robert Davis book 'Deep diving and Submarine operations' was published in 1995, as a two volume cased set and sold at that time for $275.00 US. Yes I have a copy, No it is not for sale.
There are many many books, articles and documents that should provide answers to you quest for information...The listing that follows is from my personal collection which is recognized by the world's serious diving bibliophiles as the most complete private collection in the world. Perhaps it will provide some insight as to what is-or was avaliable
PERSONAL LIBRARY
I have a complete bound set of "Skin Diver" magazine (1951 to it's demise) including every diving equipment catalog published and all Underwater Film Festival programs. This is the only set of its kind in existence any where in the world.
I also have a extensive collection of Skin diver magazine covers inscribed to me by Art Pender, (1954) Ron Merker (1955) Bev Morgan (1961) Jack Prodanovich (1953)
Wally Potts (1957) and numerous others.
Movie stars Lloyd Bridges and Tony Francioso, Singer ,John Gary
Artist John Steel SDM covers have been inscribed to me (I also own several of his pictures)
I also have complete bound sets of “Dive”, “NDA News”, American Scuba Diver”, Aquarius”, "Water World", "Underwater", "Fathom", "Sport Diving”, "Underwater Photographer",” California Diver,” “ Pacific Diver”, “SCUBA PRO Diving and Snorkeling”, “Diving and Snorkeling Quarterly” “Ocean Realm”, all of which are no longer published. Maintain and bind current sets of “Dive Training”, “Sport Diver”, Historical Diver” (USA), “Historical Diving Times” (UK), and “HDS Notizie” (Italy).
Have the only known complete set of “Pacific and Atlantic Underwater News”, published from 1966 to 1971. It was the first newspaper devoted entirely to the underwater world. Appeared in numerous issues of this publication.
I also have what is considerd the largest and most complete set of civilian dive training manuals begining with the Spaco manual of 1949 to about 1980.
I also have all the USN diving manuals beginning with the original 1905 "Manual for Divers" to the conversion to electronic format
I have published approximately two hundred articles on sport diving in the NAUI News, Los Angeles County Underwater News, Skin Diver, Dive, Discover Diving, Aqua Corps, Historical Diver, and Arizona Diving News, Southwest Diver Magazines, Historical Diving Times (UK), Free Diving and Spear Fishing News (Australia).
From June 1999 to August 2002 I wrote a twice-monthly column “Dive Bubbles” for the five cities Times Press Recorder newspaper. It is reported that this column was the first and only regularly scheduled diving newspaper column in California and possibly the United States
August 1960 appeared on the front cover of Skin Diver Magazine magazine
February 1966, selected, featured and honored as the first guest editor of Skin Diver magazine.
Fall, 1988 issue I was featured as a Celebrity Seafood Chef Scuba Pro Diving and Snorkeling.
I have collected and maintain an extensive 1000 plus volume diving library, the majority of which are rare out of print books. Many have been personally inscribed by the authors who were also friends and diving companions,in addition to being noted diving authorities; Dr. Bruce Halstead, F.M. Roberts, Bill Royal, John Reseck Jr., Dr. James Dugan, Clint Degn, John D. Craig, Dick Schroeder, two (2) Eugenie Clark, two (2) by Bill Barada & Lloyd Bridges, two (2) by Dr. Terry Mass, two (2) by Francis "Doug" Fane and (6) six by Sir Arthur C.Clarke, six (six) by Dr. Hans Hass, five (5) by Lotte Hass, seven (7) by Clive Cussler and seven (7) by J.Y. Cousteau
I also maintain a number of extensive historic files.
The dive flag; it's history, development, subsequent litigations and finally world wide acceptance
The American retailer, Sears, Penny's and Wards early involvent in the diving industry
Guy Gilpatric, his books and his life and death.
I have a bound edition of James Dugan's 1948 "First of the menfish" which introduced J.Y. Cousteau and self contained diving to the US
In May 1996 I organized and hosted the very first US diving bibliophile meeting. It was attended by diving bibliophiles from the western US and via telephone from throughout the US.
Upon my demise the entire collection with be inherited by my son Dr. Sam IV, who is a NAUI (life) PADI instructor, Pro 5000 and a qualified ER & Hyperbaric doctor.
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