Basic gear from mid-twentieth-century Argentina

[David Wilson]

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Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of 2,780,400 km² (1,073,500 sq mi), making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourth-largest country in the Americas, and the eighth-largest country in the world. It shares the bulk of the Southern Cone with Chile to the west, and is also bordered by Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Brazil to the northeast, Uruguay and the South Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Drake Passage to the south. Argentina is a federal state subdivided into twenty-three provinces, and one autonomous city, which is the federal capital and largest city of the nation, Buenos Aires.

As for the country's former and current diving equipment manufacturers, I have located three of them: Pino, Plaf and Rossi. I shall review their basic underwater swimming products in the same alphabetical order, starting with Pino sub, whose logo is posted below.

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More about Pino sub at the weekend.

 

[David Wilson]

Little information is forthcoming about the Argentinian swimming and diving products manufacturer Pino sub. The following posts illustrate the breathing tube and the swimming fins of natural rubber construction in the Pino range of diving and swimming products from the mid twentieth century to the present.

Pino breathing tube.

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L-shaped snorkel design intended to reduce the amount of residual water in the tube when submerged. Offset lugged mouthpiece at the demand end, snorkel keeper attached to barrel. The red part at the air supply end may be a splash cap valve. The latter device performs the same function as its counterpart on a semi-dry modern-style snorkel. The inside of the cap valve will resemble the workings of the following British-made Typhoon T1 snorkel:

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Air passes through the holes in the alloy barrel when the valve is above the surface and water will follow when it dips below the surface. The cap serves to keep out water splashes when the sea is choppy.

Here is an image from 1954 showing the "T1" in use underwater:

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The picture shows air being expelled from the top of the snorkel while the swimmer is under water.

 

[David Wilson]

Pino Antenal long-blade swimming fins:

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Closed-heel, open-toe fins with elongated freediving-style blades, which are reinforced by side rails. Thin centre ribs on top of blade only. Straight-cut blade tips.

Further Pino fin models midweek.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the like, John.

Pino Antenal vented-blade swimming fins:

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Argentina's Jet Fins. Adjustable open-heel model.

 

[David Wilson]

Pino Rondine standard-blade swimming fins:

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Closed-heel fins modelled on Cressi Rondine design with open toes. Note the swallow pattern on the blade to acknowledge the original Italian-designed Rondines, as does the Oceanways Aquapro in the USA:

One more Pino item at the weekend and then we move on to another Argentinian manufacturer.

 

[David Wilson]

Pino Antenal fin grips.

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For anyone not in the know, these three-way rubber straps are worn over the ankle, heel and instep to secure full-foot fins in choppy waters. They were first patented by Paul Beuchat in 1960.

 

[David Wilson]

On now to another Argentinian diving equipment manufacturer: Plaf. My main source here was the advertisement above in a mid-1950s football (soccer) magazine purchased on eBay. I also found the Plaf advertisement below online listing some of the company's products:

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Spanish: Llegue a lo más profundo con este regalo “plaf”. Nadar es un placer con equipo PLAF para natación submarina. · Aletas libres y modelo italiano · Orejeras · Manoplas· Tubos de inmersión · Antiparras standard y profesionales · Máscaras simples · Máscaras “Narigoma” y de uno o dos tubos. EQUIPOS PLAF para natación submarina ¡Únicos con garantía de uso! En venta en los principales comercios de artículos para deportes, artículos de goma y jugueterías de toda la República.
English: Reach the deepest depths with this "plaf" bargain. Swimming is a pleasure with PLAF underwater swimming equipment. · Free and Italian model fins · Ear cups · Webbed gloves · Underwater breathing tubes · Standard and professional goggles · Simple masks · "Narigoma" masks with one or two snorkels. PLAF UNDERWATER SWIMMING EQUIPMENT. Unique with usage warranty! On sale in the main stores where sports articles, rubber articles and toys are sold throughout the Republic.

We shall take a look at Plaf swimming goggles and diving masks some time midweek.

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Pino Rondine standard-blade swimming fins:

View attachment 871970
View attachment 871971 View attachment 871972
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Closed-heel fins modelled on Cressi Rondine design with open toes. Note the swallow pattern on the blade to acknowledge the original Italian-designed Rondines, as does the Oceanways Aquapro in the USA:

View attachment 871975​

One more Pino item at the weekend and then we move on to another Argentinian manufacturer.

These look like the Cressi fins too. When were these produced?

SeaRat

 

[David Wilson]

These look like the Cressi fins too. When were these produced?

SeaRat

The Pino Rondines did not appear in the 1955 soccer magazine advertisement, but they are on sale today. Cressi Rondine clones have been produced around the world since the late 1950s. My own first full-foot fins were Rondines made in England by E. T. Skinner (Typhoon) from the late 1950s onwards. So far I have been unable to date the introduction of the Pino Rondines in Argentina.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, John, lowwall and Guille G. And for the post, John.

Plaf goggles.

"Camarero uses them... and wins! The world-famous Argentine swimmer - winner of the CAPRI-NAPOLES race twice in a row - used them for his training classes and the crossing itself."

Alfredo Camarero (1931-2012) was an Honour Swimmer from Argentina who was inducted in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 1978.
Professional Marathon Swimming Career

Camarero twice swam the English Channel
He won the 1959 Billy Butlin Cross Channel International Swim from France to England in 11 hours 43 minutes in 1959
He won the 1960 English Channel race from France to England in 12 hours 23 minutes
He won the 33 km professional Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli in 1955 in 8 hours 45 minutes
He won the Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli in 1956 in 11 hours 53 minutes
He won the 36 km (22.5-mile) Around The Island Swim in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA in 12 hours 17 minutes in 1957 over Tom Park and Greta Andersen
He finished third in the 1954 36 km Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli in Italy.
He finished second in the 1957 36 km Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli in Italy.
He finished second in the 1958 36 km Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli in Italy.

Spanish: ANTIPARRAS “PLAF” con VISUALES IRROMPIBLES de concepción anatómica y protectora de la acción del agua, cloro o cualquier otro elemento de piscinas, rio o mar.
English: “PLAF” GOGGLES with UNBREAKABLE VIEWPIECES, anatomically designed and protective against the action of water, chlorine or any other element of swimming pools, rivers or sea.

Rubber swimming goggles designed for surface use.