Aqua-Lung non-magnetic

[bakodiver391]

So a recent thread made me take a closer look at an old dh reg that has been kicking around the shop for decades. Turns out it is a second-generation non magnetic, unfortunately missing the sticker but has the stamp on body and yoke. It seems to be in good condition other than the hoses, and likely other soft parts. Is this a good candidate for rebuilding and occasional use? I see they are somewhat rare but without the sticker it likely has little collector's value. I've rebuilt hundreds of regs but never a dh, and I don't want to rip into it if it is not a good candidate for rebuilding or has value as a collectable. Thoughts please?

 

[bakodiver391]

Picture of the non-magnetic stamp on body.

 

[Luis H]

The sticker is missing on most of them.

It is definitely a collector item, but you could still carefully rebuild it or recondition it.

It is an Aqua Master, so it is definitely a good diving regulator, but if the finish is truly in reasonable condition it may be better as a display unit. That are a bit rare, but they are around.

More pictures would help.


I would like to know how that regulator made it to the Marshal Islands.

 

[herman]

If it's a complete non-mag it is something you could rebuild but I wouldn't. Without the hookah ports it's a bit of a pain to set up and does not allow you any LP accessories, not a problem for vintage divers but you may want them. The HP parts are gold plated, removing them hurts is value but at least the HP seat should be replaced if you intend to dive it.

If it were mine and I did not want to keep it for display, I would sell it making sure it sold as a non-mag. Odds are you could get enough out of it to buy and fully restore a DA or RAM. You may can find a collector that would trade you for a rebuild reg.

 

[Luis H]

Yes, I forgot that it would not have a hookah port. Good point.

 

[John C. Ratliff]

If this is truly a non-magnetic DA Aquamaster, the interior parts are gold-plated, not chromed. So don’t do anything to remove those gold-plated parts. If someone has already gotten into the regulator, it may not have the original gold-plated parts still inside. But if it is original, they are there. Keep that in mind.

Two USS photos by John Ratliff, on Flickr
The black regulators in this photo are non-magnetic. Photo of the U.S. Naval School for Underwater Swimmers, 1967.

SeaRat

 

[John C. Ratliff]

If it's a complete non-mag it is something you could rebuild but I wouldn't. Without the hookah ports it's a bit of a pain to set up and does not allow you any LP accessories, not a problem for vintage divers but you may want them. The HP parts are gold plated, removing them hurts is value but at least the HP seat should be replaced if you intend to dive it.

If it were mine and I did not want to keep it for display, I would sell it making sure it sold as a non-mag. Odds are you could get enough out of it to buy and fully restore a DA or RAM. You may can find a collector that would trade you for a rebuild reg.

One way around this is to set up doubles with a manifold with two posts. I now have two of these, one by Sherwood and one by Scubapro. That way, I can use my vintage regulators, and put up a single hose regulator with a safe second, LP and HP ports for an inflator and SPG/Computer.

fullsizeoutput_29b5 by John Ratliff, on Flickr

IMG_1696 by John Ratliff, on Flickr

SeaRat

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Here is the parts diagram from the U.S. Navy Diving Manual, 1975 (I believe) for the DA Aquamaster.

Aquamaster & tools001 by John Ratliff, on Flickr

 

[bakodiver391]

Thanks for all the info. The inlet nozzle looks gold shiny and has a groove machined into the circumference. I don't see any evidence that this was ever opened up. Sorry for the crappy photo, only a GoPro at the moment.

 

[happy-diver]

Did you get the DIE onto one of your threads John C. Ratliff