Basic gear from mid-twentieth-century Greece

[David Wilson]

And here is the older version of the Balco sub Sport fin:

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A full-foot open-toe fin reinforced with side rails and a central rib on the blade.

 

[David Wilson]

Here is the new version of the Balco sub Sport:

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Though a full-foot open-toe fin, still a rather different design with thinner ribs on the blade and a non-slip heel tread.

Final two Balco sub fins at the weekend.

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[David Wilson]

Now for the last two Balco sub swim fin models. The Balco Sprint:

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The Sprint is not only available in several different colours but also one of Balco sub's most popular fin models, exported to other European countries. It is also one of the most comfortable fins I have ever worn. A full-foot open-toe fin with seven ribs on the top of the blade for reinforcement, just three underneath.

 

[David Wilson]

The final Balco sub fin model is the Superjet:

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A full-foot open-toe fin with a vented blade reinforced with three ribs and terminating in a sharp point.

At the beginning of this thread, I posted an image of pairs of Balco Superjet fins post-production at the factory in the mid-1990s:

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And French Jetfin manufacturer Beuchat knew about the Balco Superjet because the company included the model in the following publicity:

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Left-hand column, fourth fin down, marked with the Greek flag. As the caption says, the Beuchat Jetfin was copied world-wide. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" as the saying goes. Be aware, however, that the original Oscar Wilde source reads ""Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness." So there.

We shall proceed midweek to another Greek diving equipment manufacturer, probably Florida.

 

[David Wilson]

Another Greek basic diving equipment manufacturer: Florida.

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Florida is based in Kiato (Greek: Κιάτο), a town in the northern part of Corinthia in the Peloponnese, Greece. According to the web page at https://www.florida.gr/en/who.htm, "In 1958, the FLORIDA company made its appearance, with pioneering products for the time, masks and flippers. The manual mechanical equipment of that time does not deprive FLORIDA products of quality. With years of valuable experience, FLORIDA is today a modern, self-sufficient technological unit, with proprietary facilities and technological infrastructure. FLORIDA’s current mechanical equipment, modern, automated, with precision in product quality control, is a pioneer for Greek data. FLORIDA, with respect for the environment and European and international ecological standards, uses primary natural rubber, non-toxic and anti-allergic, as a raw material. The special synthetic X-RUBBER has the same properties and is recyclable. All FLORIDA products meet the right specifications and stand out for their finish, packaging and anatomical design. With the use of expensive materials, which are used for the first time in Greece, FLORIDA products have maximum performance and application, with special attention to weight reduction, for less fatigue. FLORIDA’s automatic production equipment allows the creation of quality products at low prices."

I shall illustrate the diving masks, the breathing tubes, the snorkel-mask and the swimming fins of natural rubber construction in the Florida range of diving and swimming goods over the decades since the company’s foundation. While maintaining one snorkel-mask and four breathing tubes with rubber parts in production, Florida now manufactures its other snorkels with silicone mouthpieces, both its swimming fin models in soft plastic and its entire range of diving masks with silicone skirts.

 

[David Wilson]

The Florida Caravelle diving mask:

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So a kidney-shaped rubber-skirted diving mask of the type common in the 1970s, fitted with a metal rim and factory-sealed purge valve. A Pinocchio-style nosepiece to enable the nostrils to be squeezed when ear-clearing.

More Florida masks at the weekend.

 

[stepfen]

Thank's a lot @David Wilson . Very nice and detailed presentation.
I was aware of Balco. My father used to spearfish with a pair of Hydrodyns and a 407 mask if not mistaken. I can't remember if his speargun was Balco too, probably not - all I remember is that it was and air gun (not with hoses) and he had to pump it up to the required preasure every time he was going to fish.

Probably he has got rid of all these as he stopped more than 25 years ago. I'll ask him though, just in case he has them laying around to have a look.

I was not aware at all of the Florida brand though. Nice find.
Congratulations and keep it up

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the post, Stepfen.

The Florida Falcon diving mask:

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So a kidney-shaped mask with a plastic rim, a rubber skirt and a nose pocket to enable the nostrils to be pinched when clearing the ears. A single headstrap with twin metal buckles.

 

[David Wilson]

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Today's second Florida diving mask is named after Hydra, a serpentine lake monster in Greek mythology and Roman mythology. The image above shows the second labour of Heracles, who confronted the Hydra, wielding either a harvesting sickle (according to some early vase-paintings), a sword, or his famed club. The Hydra diving mask:

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A rectangular diving mask, once again with a rubber skirt, a plastic rim and a single headstrap. The model comes with a compensator for ear clearing comprising twin bosses on the inside and finger wells on the outside to pinch the nostrils.

More Florida diving masks midweek.

 

[David Wilson]

Florida sub Isabelle diving mask:

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A rounded rectangular mask with plastic rim, rubber skirt and single headstrap. Model fitted with compensator bosses on the inside and finger wells on the outside for nostril pinching.