Info Aqualung Financial Troubles

[lowwall]

Air Liquide acquired Airgas in May 2016 and divested Aqua Lung to Montagu Private Equity in December. Aqualung has been owned by Barings LLC since December 2023.

Nice job on the trade names. The company officially changed its name from Aqua Lung International to Aqualung Group in 2021.

I've always been unsure whether it is Aqua Lung or Aqualung, so I did a little googling.

Here's a summary of the company names over its history.

1943-1945 - Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Air Liquide engineer Emile Gagnan create and patent a self contained open circuit demand regulator for underwater use.

1945 - Air Liquide - starts commercial production of this regulator which is named CG-45 after the names of its inventors and year of first production.

1946 - La Spirotechnique - company created as a division of Air Liquide to sell the CG-45. Cousteau is named as an executive and later given 1% of its shares, the rest are retained by Air Liquide. The company also uses "La Spiro" or just "Spiro" as a shorthand, including on regulator labels.

194? - Cousteau coins the term "Aqua-Lung" and "Aqualung" (he uses both at different times) to refer to a scuba regset as part of La Spiro's push to sell the regulator in English speaking countries. The original French term was scaphandre autonome ("autonomous diving set"). I couldn't find the exact year he did this, but ads using the term appeared as early as 1949.

1950 - Rene Bussoz of Rene Sports in Los Angeles, California negotiates a deal to become the exclusive distributor for La Spirotechnique in the United States. Rene later changes the name of his company to U.S. Divers Co. and also trademarks the term "Aqua-Lung" and "Aqua Lung" in the US. The regulator becomes so popular that Rene negotiates a royalty deal with La Spiro and begins manufacturing them in the US.

1956 - U. S. Divers - Air Liquide purchases U.S. Divers from Rene Bussoz. It decides to keep it as a separate company handling sales in English-speaking countries - and later Japan - rather than combine it with La Spirotechnique. Over time, both companies will produce new products which will normally be adopted in the other's product line, although product names may differ.

1986 - La Spiro introduces a regulator called the "Aqualung".

198? (maybe 1990) - Aqua Lung International - The corporate name "La Spirotechnique" is changed to "Aqua Lung International", although the product line continues to be sold under the La Spiro brand.

1998 - Aqua Lung - all of the Air Liquide scuba product lines - including La Spiro, U.S. Divers, Technicsub, and Sea Quest - are consolidated into one Aqua Lung International. All brand names are also consolidated under the "Aqua Lung" brand.

2021 - Aqualung Group - "Aqua Lung International" renamed as "Aqualung Group". Brand name follows suit.

main sources for the above:

Aqualung: History of a leading Scuba Diving Brand

Explore the rich history of our dive brand, pioneers in scuba diving products since 1943, and our journey of innovation and excellence in diving gear.

us.aqualung.com

Aqua-Lung - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Aqua Lung/La Spirotechnique - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Double Hose Regulators - US Divers

REGULATORS SINGLE HOSE | spiro-vintage

Chronologie et typologie des détendeurs simple tuyau de la spirotechnique

en.spiro-vintage.com

 

[scubadada]

Hi @lowwall

Ha, I didn't think anyone would notice. You and I have some things in common other than having played water polo

 

[tursiops]

Nice job on the trade names. The company officially changed its name from Aqua Lung International to Aqualung Group in 2021.

I've always been unsure whether it is Aqua Lung or Aqualung, so I did a little googling.

Here's a summary of the company names over its history.
1943-1945 - Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Air Liquide engineer Emile Gagnan create and patent a self contained single stage demand regulator for underwater use.

1945 - Air Liquide - starts commercial production of this regulator which is named CG-45 after the names of its inventors and year of first production.

1946 - La Spirotechnique - company created as a division of Air Liquide to sell the CG-45. Cousteau is named as an executive and later given 1% of its shares, the rest are retained by Air Liquide. The company also uses "La Spiro" or just "Spiro" as a shorthand, including on regulator labels.

194? - Cousteau coins the term "Aqua-Lung" and "Aqualung" (he uses both at different times) to refer to a scuba regset as part of La Spiro's push to sell the regulator in English speaking countries. The original French term was scaphandre autonome ("autonomous diving set"). I couldn't find the exact year he did this, but ads using the term appeared as early as 1949.

1950 - Rene Bussoz of Rene Sports in Los Angeles, California negotiates a deal to become the exclusive distributor for La Spirotechnique in the United States. Rene later changes the name of his company to U.S. Divers Co. and also trademarks the term "Aqua-Lung" and "Aqua Lung" in the US. The regulator becomes so popular that Rene negotiates a royalty deal with La Spiro and begins manufacturing them in the US.

1956 - U. S. Divers - Air Liquide purchases U.S. Divers from Rene Bussoz. It decides to keep it as a separate company handling sales in English-speaking countries - and later Japan - rather than combine it with La Spirotechnique. Over time, both companies will produce new products which will normally be adopted in the othe's product line, although product names may differ.

1986 - La Spiro introduces a regulator called the "Aqualung".

198? (maybe 1990) - Aqua Lung International - The corporate name "La Spirotechnique" is changed to "Aqua Lung International", although the product line continues to be sold under the La Spiro brand.

1998 - Aqua Lung - all of the Air Liquide scuba product lines - including La Spiro, U.S. Divers, Technicsub, and Sea Quest - are consolidated into one Aqua Lung International. All brand names are also consolidated under the "Aqua Lung" brand.

2021 - Aqualung Group - "Aqua Lung International" renamed as "Aqualung Group". Brand name follows suit.

main sources for the above:

Aqualung: History of a leading Scuba Diving Brand

Explore the rich history of our dive brand, pioneers in scuba diving products since 1943, and our journey of innovation and excellence in diving gear.

us.aqualung.com

Aqua-Lung - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Aqua Lung/La Spirotechnique - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Double Hose Regulators - US Divers

REGULATORS SINGLE HOSE | spiro-vintage

Chronologie et typologie des détendeurs simple tuyau de la spirotechnique

en.spiro-vintage.com

Nice. Thanks. You have too much time on your hands.

 

[lowwall]

Hi @lowwall

Ha, I didn't think anyone would notice. You and I have some things in common other than having played water polo

I can't help but notice details. I wish I could selectively turn it down a notch or two in certain real world situations,

such as when my wife is driving.

 

[scubadada]

I can't help but notice details. I wish I could selectively turn it down a notch or two in certain real world situations,

such as when my wife is driving.

I have learned to keep certain things to myself over the years

 

[lowwall]

Nice. Thanks. You have too much time on your hands.

Too true unfortunately. I was stuck at home with COVID. Mild, but I didn't want to expose anyone at work.

 

[tursiops]

Too true unfortunately. I was stuck at home with COVID. Mild, but I didn't want to expose anyone at work.

Good use of unwanted time....

 

[evandroairton]

Nice job on the trade names. The company officially changed its name from Aqua Lung International to Aqualung Group in 2021.

I've always been unsure whether it is Aqua Lung or Aqualung, so I did a little googling.

Here's a summary of the company names over its history.
1943-1945 - Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Air Liquide engineer Emile Gagnan create and patent a self contained single stage demand regulator for underwater use.

1945 - Air Liquide - starts commercial production of this regulator which is named CG-45 after the names of its inventors and year of first production.

1946 - La Spirotechnique - company created as a division of Air Liquide to sell the CG-45. Cousteau is named as an executive and later given 1% of its shares, the rest are retained by Air Liquide. The company also uses "La Spiro" or just "Spiro" as a shorthand, including on regulator labels.

194? - Cousteau coins the term "Aqua-Lung" and "Aqualung" (he uses both at different times) to refer to a scuba regset as part of La Spiro's push to sell the regulator in English speaking countries. The original French term was scaphandre autonome ("autonomous diving set"). I couldn't find the exact year he did this, but ads using the term appeared as early as 1949.

1950 - Rene Bussoz of Rene Sports in Los Angeles, California negotiates a deal to become the exclusive distributor for La Spirotechnique in the United States. Rene later changes the name of his company to U.S. Divers Co. and also trademarks the term "Aqua-Lung" and "Aqua Lung" in the US. The regulator becomes so popular that Rene negotiates a royalty deal with La Spiro and begins manufacturing them in the US.

1956 - U. S. Divers - Air Liquide purchases U.S. Divers from Rene Bussoz. It decides to keep it as a separate company handling sales in English-speaking countries - and later Japan - rather than combine it with La Spirotechnique. Over time, both companies will produce new products which will normally be adopted in the othe's product line, although product names may differ.

1986 - La Spiro introduces a regulator called the "Aqualung".

198? (maybe 1990) - Aqua Lung International - The corporate name "La Spirotechnique" is changed to "Aqua Lung International", although the product line continues to be sold under the La Spiro brand.

1998 - Aqua Lung - all of the Air Liquide scuba product lines - including La Spiro, U.S. Divers, Technicsub, and Sea Quest - are consolidated into one Aqua Lung International. All brand names are also consolidated under the "Aqua Lung" brand.

2021 - Aqualung Group - "Aqua Lung International" renamed as "Aqualung Group". Brand name follows suit.

main sources for the above:

Aqualung: History of a leading Scuba Diving Brand

Explore the rich history of our dive brand, pioneers in scuba diving products since 1943, and our journey of innovation and excellence in diving gear.

us.aqualung.com

Aqua-Lung - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Aqua Lung/La Spirotechnique - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Double Hose Regulators - US Divers

REGULATORS SINGLE HOSE | spiro-vintage

Chronologie et typologie des détendeurs simple tuyau de la spirotechnique

en.spiro-vintage.com

Real beautiful history! Nobody touches my streamair, royal mistral, aquamaster and, of course, my kraken!

 

[Luis H]

Nice job on the trade names. The company officially changed its name from Aqua Lung International to Aqualung Group in 2021.

I've always been unsure whether it is Aqua Lung or Aqualung, so I did a little googling.

Here's a summary of the company names over its history.

1943-1945 - Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Air Liquide engineer Emile Gagnan create and patent a self contained single stage demand regulator for underwater use.

1945 - Air Liquide - starts commercial production of this regulator which is named CG-45 after the names of its inventors and year of first production.

1946 - La Spirotechnique - company created as a division of Air Liquide to sell the CG-45. Cousteau is named as an executive and later given 1% of its shares, the rest are retained by Air Liquide. The company also uses "La Spiro" or just "Spiro" as a shorthand, including on regulator labels.

194? - Cousteau coins the term "Aqua-Lung" and "Aqualung" (he uses both at different times) to refer to a scuba regset as part of La Spiro's push to sell the regulator in English speaking countries. The original French term was scaphandre autonome ("autonomous diving set"). I couldn't find the exact year he did this, but ads using the term appeared as early as 1949.

1950 - Rene Bussoz of Rene Sports in Los Angeles, California negotiates a deal to become the exclusive distributor for La Spirotechnique in the United States. Rene later changes the name of his company to U.S. Divers Co. and also trademarks the term "Aqua-Lung" and "Aqua Lung" in the US. The regulator becomes so popular that Rene negotiates a royalty deal with La Spiro and begins manufacturing them in the US.

1956 - U. S. Divers - Air Liquide purchases U.S. Divers from Rene Bussoz. It decides to keep it as a separate company handling sales in English-speaking countries - and later Japan - rather than combine it with La Spirotechnique. Over time, both companies will produce new products which will normally be adopted in the other's product line, although product names may differ.

1986 - La Spiro introduces a regulator called the "Aqualung".

198? (maybe 1990) - Aqua Lung International - The corporate name "La Spirotechnique" is changed to "Aqua Lung International", although the product line continues to be sold under the La Spiro brand.

1998 - Aqua Lung - all of the Air Liquide scuba product lines - including La Spiro, U.S. Divers, Technicsub, and Sea Quest - are consolidated into one Aqua Lung International. All brand names are also consolidated under the "Aqua Lung" brand.

2021 - Aqualung Group - "Aqua Lung International" renamed as "Aqualung Group". Brand name follows suit.

main sources for the above:

Aqualung: History of a leading Scuba Diving Brand

Explore the rich history of our dive brand, pioneers in scuba diving products since 1943, and our journey of innovation and excellence in diving gear.

us.aqualung.com

Aqua-Lung - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Aqua Lung/La Spirotechnique - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Double Hose Regulators - US Divers

REGULATORS SINGLE HOSE | spiro-vintage

Chronologie et typologie des détendeurs simple tuyau de la spirotechnique

en.spiro-vintage.com

Thanks for the post.

It is always good to look back at the history.

One minor comment/ correction is about the first regulator being single stage. That was not the case for the first few regulators: the Gasone (AFAIK that was the name of the very first one), the rectangular regulator, and finally the CG-45 were all two stage regulators.

I am not sure where you got that information and maybe it is a technicality, in that someone may be only referring to the demand valve as the regulator, but even in the very old pictures you can clearly see a pressure reducing first stage.

In the CG-45 is actually not as obvious.

The first single stage regulator from US Divers was the “Over-Pressure” regulator (introduced around 1955). It was later followed by the “Jet-Air” and finally the “Mistral” (the vintage “Mistral”).



BTW, the original patent is kind of interesting. It has been a while since I looked at it, but the patent is not about the demand valve, but mostly about the exhaust routed in front of the demand valve diaphragm, with a duckbill. This was a key feature, to avoid free-flow, due to pressure differential between the demand valve and the mouthpiece, in some positions.

 

[lowwall]

One minor comment/ correction is about the first regulator being single stage. That was not the case for the first few regulators: the Gasone (AFAIK that was the name of the very first one), the rectangular regulator, and finally the CG-45 were all two stage regulators.

I am not sure where you got that information and maybe it is a technicality, in that someone may be only referring to the demand valve as the regulator, but even in the very old pictures you can clearly see a pressure reducing first stage

You are correct and I should have caught it. It's too late for me to edit it. But I will ask a mod to correct it for me.

I believe it would be better to refer to it as "a self contained open circuit demand regulator" to differentiate it from what was available at the time: surface supplied, oxygen rebreathers, and Le Prieur's constant flow system.

Yves Le Prieur - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Mod Edit: the correction suggested by @Luis H in post #489 was made in post #481 by @lowwall. Post #481 is a very nice reference.