Aqualung Conshelf VI and vintage rig questions

[John C. Ratliff]

Nemrod,

Nice photo from the 1960s. I always enjoy that kind of stuff.

I've included a photo of me with the parascuba gear on from about 1973. That is why we never went to the SPG for the military diving I did. I remember in 1968 diving with my USAF buddies on an Okinawa reef, completely inside the coral through coral caves. We did that using twin 72s, with only a J-reserve valve. We did not think much about it, although it was an "overhead environment," a term which had not yet been coined. It was so "overhead" that one of the group had to be pulled down as he ascened toward a ceiling, as he almost hit a lion fish twice before being socked in the arm after being annoyed because Billy R. Smith kept pulling him away from the fish. When he realized what had happened, he was pretty happy about being pulled down. That's what buddies are for.

Bill, concerning the Cousteau patent, I only mention it because it was in the patent that gauges were not nocessary. The patent date was October 18, 1949 (filed March 10, 1947), and the prior art was not mentioned in the pages I have (but my patent appears incomplete). I have 4 pages of it, with the diagrams.

Nemrod, Skin Diver Magazine ran an article on the Sportsways Waterlung Sea-View Gauge in their October 1968 issue. I have a copy of that article, and will get it scanned and posted soon. I just found it in a file with the patents I have collected.

John

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Nemrod and all,

I did find this article, which is dated October 1968, about the SeaView gauge. It was written by Jack McKenney, who I believe was one of the editors of SDM. In it he discusses the older method of calculating the air consumption rate that I mentioned before, and gives the formula used. He also said that he checked through seven books on diving instruction published in the 1960s, and only one mentioned the gauge, and then "in a negative manner because of its expense--approximately $24.00."

This enclosed article, in PDF format, gives a very good overview of the SeaView gauge, and its practical use for all divers. Sportsways also received a U.S. Patent for the gauge, #3,528,290, which may explain why it took a bit longer to really catch on.

Concerning Bill Herder of Deep Sea Bill's, I remember him being very unhappy when the Scubapro Stabilization Jacket came out. I don't recall exactly when that was, but Scubapro did publish their dates of innovative equipment in one of their catalogs. I'm trying to find it, but so far, no luck.

John

 

[DarthWader]

Hello everyone,

Based upon what I've been researching, vintage SCUBA (single or double hose) is generally considered before 1975. I came across an Aqualung conshelf vi, and it's in excellent shape. I've heard that getting a conshelf serviced is fairly easy because the modern conshelf is very similar in design. I have a few questions for the guys who have been around, if I may:

- What year/year range was the conshelf VI made?

- A typical diver during this period may have utilized a plastic backpack (as in not a BP/W or a BC), a first and second stage regulator, and a SPG. Correct me if I'm wrong, but many divers did not use octos during this period. I'd like to construct a full setup consisting of a single hose two stage regulator, back pack, tank, SPG, mask, and full-foot fins that are typical of the period. I'm pretty sure the mask and fins will be repro, because I am not having ANY luck finding useable vintage masks and fins that aren't trashed. Does this sound about right?

I will admit that this is not my era, but growing up all the guys I saw on TV were using 70's gear. I always thought it would be cool to dive a rig like that, and it seems more challenging than doing it the more modern way. I'm not saying that I'm going to use this rig all the time, but I'd like to link up with a few other folks whom dive vintage and help keep this part of SCUBA alive. What do you guys think?

Slonda

sounds like scuba reenacting to me

your post struck a chord with me. I picked up a conshelf VI second stage off of ebay for next to nothing and got hooked. I immediately started thinking about all the contemporary pieces I'd need to do a "period dive."
I now have the plastric back pack (cheap PoS from LP) and am trying to find catalogs and literature from the sixties to flesh out my kit.

Good Luck!

 

[captain]

sounds like scuba reenacting to me


I now have the plastric back pack (cheap PoS from LP) and am trying to find catalogs and literature from the sixties to flesh out my kit.

Good Luck!

But it isn't vintage. You need something like a U S Divers Cam EZ backpack.

 

[DarthWader]

But it isn't vintage. You need something like a U S Divers Cam EZ backpack.

I didn't know that. I thoght that style dated from the late sixties.
what I really want is that military harness that, IIRC you had mentioned in a previous post.

is that pack period at all?

 

[Slonda828]

I didn't know that. I thoght that style dated from the late sixties.
what I really want is that military harness that, IIRC you had mentioned in a previous post.

is that pack period at all?

Dude, ask this as Vintage Double Hose and all will be revealed. By the way, now I have a conshelf VI, XI, XII, XIV, and 22, all of which work great. I'm telling you man, VDH is a wealth of information. The aforementioned military harness is sold there as well. Keep in mind, period correct means that it came from the period, so anything sold on leisurepro would not be period correct. I bought a lot of vintage (and not so vintage) stuff. If I could only have one method of rigging my tank to my back, it would be the military harness.

 

[captain]

This is a true vintage style 60's backpack. This one is aluminum, some were plastic. The one you have is a a mid 70's style commonly found in early jacket BC's. The only issue with the true vintage packs is they all had metal tank bands sized for the steel 72 and the AL 80 and other larger diameter tanks may not fit.

Vintage Sportsways Backpack Back Pack Double Hose Era - eBay (item 110398522443 end time Jul-04-09 04:04:20 PDT)

 

[DarthWader]

Dude, ask this as Vintage Double Hose and all will be revealed. By the way, now I have a conshelf VI, XI, XII, XIV, and 22, all of which work great. I'm telling you man, VDH is a wealth of information. The aforementioned military harness is sold there as well. Keep in mind, period correct means that it came from the period, so anything sold on leisurepro would not be period correct. I bought a lot of vintage (and not so vintage) stuff. If I could only have one method of rigging my tank to my back, it would be the military harness.

I've been to the mountain, and you're right, I was enlightened. didn't mean to derail your post. I was mistaken when I said I had a Conshelf VI, it's actually an XI. it's actually become moot however because I now have an Aqualung DA Aquamaster that I need to get outfitted for. that's why I popped over to VDH.

And Captain, appreciate you info. I do want a good period hareness. Ironically, right after I bought my backpack (off of ebay), I did another search and found a few original packs.

 

[Slonda828]

I've been to the mountain, and you're right, I was enlightened. didn't mean to derail your post. I was mistaken when I said I had a Conshelf VI, it's actually an XI. it's actually become moot however because I now have an Aqualung DA Aquamaster that I need to get outfitted for. that's why I popped over to VDH.

And Captain, appreciate you info. I do want a good period hareness. Ironically, right after I bought my backpack (off of ebay), I did another search and found a few original packs.

No worries man, you aren't derailing anything. I'm pretty well versed on the conshelves at this point, I have about 9 of them in my dive locker, plus a hydrolung supreme and a nonmag. If you need any help, I'd be happy to help you out. That's one of the things about the vintage community, we're a lot more helpful than most.

 

[DarthWader]

No worries man, you aren't derailing anything. I'm pretty well versed on the conshelves at this point, I have about 9 of them in my dive locker, plus a hydrolung supreme and a nonmag. If you need any help, I'd be happy to help you out. That's one of the things about the vintage community, we're a lot more helpful than most.

thanks. Slonda I'll take you up on the
that conshelf I bought was a fluke. I picked it up for $10.00 (2nd stage only) and was planning on disecting it. thought about maybe even doing a cutaway until it arrived. couldn't believe how sturdy it was. Now all I want is to restore it, and find more!