Basic gear from mid-twentieth-century Italy: Cressi

[evandroairton]

Great posts!
Quite nice!

It's interesting to note that by the 70's a brazilian company started making many of these equipment here in Brazil using Cressi moulds, like, for example, Pinnochio and lince/ super lince (called puma/ super puma here), the snorkels and rondines
Some of these are still make

Cobra Sub | Produtos de mergulho e pesca submarina.

P.S. the site has italian, spanish and english, besides portugueses

Regards

b

As for fins...

Cressi Rondine
View attachment 597618
View attachment 597619

Cobra Rondine
View attachment 597620


Portuguese: "Nadadeira Cobra Sub Rondine. Nadadeira da família da Spinta, Rondine é a mais antiga nadadeira de borracha do mundo e sua fama também é internacional, assim como da sua irmã mais nova. Rondine é centímetros menor que a Spinta, mas sua fórmula também origina-se das seringueiras da Amazônia e sua durabilidade e conforto também são seus pontos fortes."
Rough translation: "Cobra Sub Rondine fin. Spinta's family fin, Rondine is the oldest rubber fin in the world and its fame is also international, as well as that of its younger sister. Rondine is centimetres smaller than Spinta, but its formula also originates from rubber trees in the Amazon and its durability and comfort are also its strengths."

The "Spinta" reference needs explaining. "Spinta" is Cobra sub's flagship all-rubber fin:
View attachment 597621
Portuguese: "Projetada na Itália, a nadadeira mergulho spinta é considerada por muitos especialistas como uma das melhores nadadeiras de pala média em borracha do mundo. Sua matéria prima é a nobre borracha natural da Amazônia, que torna essa nadadeira para mergulho um produto com muita durabilidade e propriedades mecânicas incomparáveis. Pala confeccionada em borracha natural com dimensões de aproximadamente 230 x 190 mm. Sapata fechada com reforço e abertura ovalada. Moldada em peça unica sem emendas, costuras ou fivelas. Perfeita para mergulho em geral, inclusive o autônomo e o snorkeling. Tamanho 42-44 - para pé tamanho 40 Tamanho 44-46 - para pé tamanho 42 Tamanho 46-48 - para pé tamanho 44."
Rough translation: "Designed in Italy, the Spinta dive fin is considered by many experts to be one of the best medium-sized rubber fins in the world. Its raw material is the noble natural rubber from the Amazon, which makes this diving fin a product with great durability and incomparable mechanical properties. Blade made of natural rubber with dimensions of approximately 230 x 190 mm. Closed shoe with reinforcement and oval opening. Molded in one piece without seams, seams or buckles. Perfect for diving in general, including scuba diving and snorkeling. Size 42-44 - for foot size 40 Size 44-46 - for foot size 42 Size 46-48 - for foot size 44."

This is a fin that I would be interested in adding to my collection, but I haven't figured out a way yet of ordering a pair sized 46-48 from Brazil to the UK. I'm curious about the mention of an "Italian design", because the Spinta (Spinta = Portuguese for "thrust") seems to have a quite different look from any model in the original Italian Cressi Rondine family of fins. It would also be interesting to own a fin made with rubber from the Amazon rain forest, which is where natural rubber was first discovered.

In fact, the Spinta was my first fin, back in 1990. It was confortable, and ok! Of course it doesn't have all the benefits of more modern designs.
In spite of the site claims it's not very used or popular these days for obvious reasons
You may be able to find it at www.mercadolivre.com.br (similar to ebay).
I can recall seing the spinta design on some Cousteau films. On the Piranha freediving sequence in "Cousteau Amazon: Journey to a Thousand Rivers", it's quite clear
There was a fin called "Jumbo" who clearly was the Rondine L, and a mask called Puma who was the Lince

 

[evandroairton]

It's interesting to note that Cobra Sub was founded by Americo Santarelli, who was spearfishing Champion and enthusiast, and one time freediving record holder, one of the first rivals of Enzo Mayorca.
There is a book called SupeSub, written by him who discusses diving techniques and tell some stories. A bit (in fact a lot) outdated but a fun reading. He was a big critic about the jetfin design.
AFAIK it's only available in portuguese

 

[David Wilson]

b

In fact, the Spinta was my first fin, back in 1990. It was confortable, and ok! Of course it doesn't have all the benefits of more modern designs.
In spite of the site claims it's not very used or popular these days for obvious reasons
You may be able to find it at www.mercadolivre.com.br (similar to ebay).
I can recall seing the spinta design on some Cousteau films. On the Piranha freediving sequence in "Cousteau Amazon: Journey to a Thousand Rivers", it's quite clear
There was a fin called "Jumbo" who clearly was the Rondine L, and a mask called Puma who was the Lince

Thanks for pointing me in the direction of a possible source for the Cobra Spinta. Having used all-rubber closed-heel fins since the 1960s, I find them not only very comfortable but also entirely compatible with the gentle snorkelling I do now I am retired. Their limitations I know well.

As for the Cobra Jumbo fin, I have several pictures in my collection:

Here, by way of comparison, is the Cressi "L":

They certainly resemble one another in terms of length for a time when long-bladed fins were still few and far between. A similar fin from the same era was the Mares Concorde, also made in Italy:

The Mares Concorde moulds ended up with Turkish fin manufacturer Adalilar Kauçuk in Istanbul, where they are still made:

 

[David Wilson]

It's interesting to note that Cobra Sub was founded by Americo Santarelli, who was spearfishing Champion and enthusiast, and one time freediving record holder, one of the first rivals of Enzo Mayorca.
There is a book called SupeSub, written by him who discusses diving techniques and tell some stories. A bit (in fact a lot) outdated but a fun reading. He was a big critic about the jetfin design.
AFAIK it's only available in portuguese

Thank you for this too. I wasn't aware that Americo Santarelli (above) founded Cobra sub.

 

[evandroairton]

Cobra Sub means COmpanhia BRAsileira de artigos Subaquáticos (brazilian company of SUBaquático gear), cobra also means snake in portuguese
Maybe the Jumbo could be an original design
The first Cobra logo is quite similar to the Cressi.
There is a guy in Brazil who maintain a great collection of vintage dive gear, a worldwide reference in Double Hose regulators.
His name is Adair, maybe he can clarify a few lacunes
His site: www.cg-45.com

 

[Compressor]

This whole series is simply amazing. Thank you @David Wilson for all the hard work.