Basic gear from mid-twentieth-century Britain: Britmarine (W. W. Haffenden)

[David Wilson]

There were two further models in the Haffenden-Richborough range of diving masks, both of them intended for younger people.

C.108 Seanymph

The catalogue caption reads: "C108 Sea Nymph Junior Mask. A mask designed for the young beginner, fitted with plastic lens for tough use, and fully adjustable headstrap." It came without a separate plastic or stainless-steel rim to secure the lens, relying instead on a groove in the rubber skirt along the circumference of the plastic lens. The absence of an additional rim may have led Haffenden-Richborough to state: "(Clipper) masks ... are made to British Standard 4532 (except C108).

Non-conformity to the above British Standard may also have led to the removal of the C.108 Seanymph model from the company's mid-1970s catalogue.

The third Clipper range mask to be reviewed is the Sea Piper Junior mask.

C.137 Sea Piper Junior mask

Catalogue caption: "C137 Sea Piper Junior Mask. Acrylic lens. Stainless steel clamp." It also came with a split strap. Unlike the C.108 Seanymph. the Sea Piper met the requirements of the 1969 British Standard on snorkels and face masks.

We'll tackle the Britmarine range of 1970s diving masks in a few days' time. There were many models in the Britmarine range.

 

[David Wilson]

The Britmarine diving mask range of the 1970s had numerous models. We'll focus today on five of them designed for children and young people.

B107 Bermuda Junior Mask

The catalogue caption simply reads: "B107 Bermuda Junior Mask. Acrylic lens." My verdict on the appearance of this mask with its plastic rim is that it seems to belong in Haffenden-Richborough's economy Clipper range instead of the more professional-looking Britmarine range. Incidentally, that "Swim Hints" sheet can be seen in the third image:

 

[David Wilson]

In this posting we'll revew a couple of Junior models coded "B109" in the 1970s Britmarine range of diving masks. These were relative latecomers to the Britmarine range.

B109 Caribbean Junior Mask

The catalogue caption reads as follows:
B109 Caribbean Junior Mask
• Tempered glass lens.
• Double flange.
• Fluorescent orange clamp.
• Contoured compensator.

In Haffenden-Richborough's mid-1970s catalogue this mask changed its clamp colour from orange to yellow and its name from "Caribbean" to "Splendido" while retaining its stock code:

B109 Splendido Junior Mask

This model was doubtless inspired by the Cressi Pinocchio designed by Luigi Ferraro more than half a century ago and endlessly copied since around the world:

The Cressi Pinocchio is still in production nowadays.

 

[David Wilson]

Today's final posting centres on the Britmarine Sharky Junior mask coded B125 and available in two versions, plain and compensator.

B125 Sharky Junior Mask (Plain)

The cataloge caption read: "B125 Sharky Junior Plain Mask. A feather edge mask designed exclusively for the Junior enthusiast and fitted with plastic lens for rugged use and added safety. Stainless steel band with strong adjustable strap." Readers may have noticed that the model closely resembles the C106M Sealion in the 1970s Clipper range:

They may indeed be the same product, but Haffenden-Richborough may have thought that a steel-rimmed mask belonged in the Britmarine range instead of the cheaper Clipper range. Anyway, the plain B125 Sharky was eventually replaced by a compensator model.

B125M Sharky Junior Mask (Compensator)

The catalogue caption reads:
B125 Sharky Junior Compensator Mask
• Acrylic lens
• Easy pinch compensator
• Stainless steel clamp.
Note that the later version lost its stainless steel clamp, hence the absence of the "M" for "metal" at the end of the stock code number.

I'll leave it there for today. In a few days' time we'll move on the adult diving masks in the n1970s Britmarine range.

 

[Sam Miller III]

David
I always look forward to your informative historical posts-- Keep them coming they are appreciated by all

Sam Miller, 111

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks again for your support and encouragement, Sam. It means a lot. We have now reviewed the three masks in the 1970s Clipper range and the three masks in the 1970s Britmarine range intended for children and young people. So let's move on to the adult models in the 1970s Britmarine range of diving masks. There were thirteen of them and for the sake of convenience and manageability I am going to divide them into two groups based on the criterion of shape. The first group covers older, traditional mask designs with oval or rounded rectangular lenses. The second group brings together newer, goggle-type mask designs with kidney-shaped lenses. Today we'll focus on the first group, beginning with the B104, which was known as the "Stingray" when it first came out with an exhaust valve and as the "Otter" when it came without.. In later catalogues, the B104 came with an exhaust valve as standard with "Otter" as the product name.

B104E Stingray Compensator Mask (with exhaust valve)

B104 Otter Compensator Mask with exhaust valve

The catalogue caption reads "B104 Otter Mask. Double flange. Large tempered glass lens. Easy pinch compensator. Stainless steel clamp."

Here are some other views of the mask, which was also available in black:

Note the label on the lens in the second image above certifying that this mask complied with the requirements of British Standard 4532 of 1969:

Another couple of older-style adult masks in the 1970s Britmarine range to come.

 

[David Wilson]

While the B104 Britmarine adult Stingray/Otter mask was dubbed the "Compensator Mask" at its 1970s launch, the B119 Coraldive in the same range was given the name "Double Flange Mask" although it too came with a "dual easy-pinch compensator".

B119 Coraldive Double Flange Mask

The catalogue caption reads: "B119 Coraldive Double Flange Mask. Incorporating two soft feather edge skirts for positive comfortable seal. Dual easy pinch compensator. Wide angle tempered glass lens and fully adjustable double head strap. Stainless steel band with heavily plated brass adjustable locking screw." Note, as in the case of the Stingray/Otter mask, how Haffenden-Richborough had the production description translated into French and German as the UK approached entry to what was then the European Common Market and is now the European Union.

So the main selling point of the B119 Coraldive mask was its double feather edge, or flange, skirt. However, the model only appeared in the earliest 1970s Britmarine catalogue. Here are further views of the mask and the carton it came in:

Two further traditionally-styled adult masks appeared in Haffenden's earliest 1970s catalogue, their principal feature being the breadth of the field of vision. We'll tackle these models next.

 

[David Wilson]

The B122 Salamander mask was dubbed Haffenden-Richborough's "Panoramic Mask" when it was first marketed in the 1970s.

B122 Salamander Panoramic Mask

The catalogue caption read along the following lines: "B122 Salamander Panoramic Mask. Three piece tempered glass lens designed to give 180° visibility without distortion. Easy pinch compensator for equalising pressure. Strong stainless steel clamps with plated brass fittings; stainless steel buckles incorporating dual strap-lock. Twin feathered edge and fully adjustable double headstrap to ensure perfect fit." This three-lens mask was intended to offer the widest view possible and must have required skilled operatives to assemble it. Other views of the mask below.

US Divers has a similar "Wraparound" mask but with silicone skirts that can still be purchased nowadays:

That's enough for today. I'll introduce the three remaining models in the 1970s adult Britmarine range of traditionally styled diving masks in a few days' time.

 

[David Wilson]

So Haffenden-Richborough's 1970s Britmarine range of four traditionally styled adult diving masks were each identified by a distinctive feature. We've now reviewed the B104 Stingray/Otter Compensator Mask, the B119 Coraldive Double Flange Mask and the B122 Salamander Panoramic Mask. Today we take a look at the B123 Mermaid Wide View Mask.

B123 Mermaid Wide View Mask

The catalogue caption read: "B123 Mermaid Wide View Mask. Wide view acrylic lens. Feather edge for complete seal. Compensator. Stainless steel band with straplocks." So the main selling point of the Mermaid was declared by the manufacturer to be the breadth of vision it offered the wearer. For me, though, the most distinctive feature of the mask is the unusual V-shaped compensator used to pinch the nostrils for ear-clearing purposes.

 

[David Wilson]

Three more 1970s Britmarine traditionally styled diving masks to go. These were introduced after the B123 Mermaid without singling out the key feature of each model. First up is the B133 Manta Mask.

B133 Manta Mask

Catalogue caption: "B133E Manta Mask. Purge valve. Tempered glass lens. Easy pinch compensator. Stainless steel clamp." The "E" in "B133E" stood apparently for "exhaust valve", which came with the model as standard. And speaking of standards, note the pride the Haffenden company took in their compliance with British Standard 4532, "Specification for snorkels and face masks".