Basic gear from mid-twentieth-century Italy: Mares and Pirelli
- Thread starter David Wilson
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OP
David Wilson
Contributor
Thanks, everyone, for the positive feedback.
We left off the Pirelli Mirella snorkel-mask last time where the latter entered the 1960s.
1963
The description on the Italian-language catalogue page of that year simply identifies the Mirella as a plastic mask (maschera di plastica) with price tags of 1,000 lire and 530 lire respectively for the complete product and its breathing device.
Pirelli's English-language "Water Sports Equipment" catalogue of the same year had more to say about the Mirella:
MIRELLA. For children: made of extra-strong plastics, fitted with adjustable rubber strap. (Packed in a polyethylene bag). Full face mask with metallic mount. It is the latest Pirelli achievement in wide visibility masks. Weight: 0.3 Kg. (0.68 lbs.). Accessories for masks – snorkles. For MIRELLA. Weight: 0.05 Kg. (0.11 lbs).
1964
Italian: "MIRELLA®. Di plastica, con cinghiolo di gomma. Per ragazzi. L. 1.000."
Rough translation: "MIRELLA®. Plastic, with rubber strap. For youngsters. L. 1,000.
1965
Same caption, but a price rise to 1,100 lire.
We left off the Pirelli Mirella snorkel-mask last time where the latter entered the 1960s.
1963
The description on the Italian-language catalogue page of that year simply identifies the Mirella as a plastic mask (maschera di plastica) with price tags of 1,000 lire and 530 lire respectively for the complete product and its breathing device.
Pirelli's English-language "Water Sports Equipment" catalogue of the same year had more to say about the Mirella:
MIRELLA. For children: made of extra-strong plastics, fitted with adjustable rubber strap. (Packed in a polyethylene bag). Full face mask with metallic mount. It is the latest Pirelli achievement in wide visibility masks. Weight: 0.3 Kg. (0.68 lbs.). Accessories for masks – snorkles. For MIRELLA. Weight: 0.05 Kg. (0.11 lbs).
1964
Italian: "MIRELLA®. Di plastica, con cinghiolo di gomma. Per ragazzi. L. 1.000."
Rough translation: "MIRELLA®. Plastic, with rubber strap. For youngsters. L. 1,000.
1965
Same caption, but a price rise to 1,100 lire.
OP
David Wilson
Contributor
1966
An additional reference to the snorkel-mask's light-blue colour (azzurro).
1967
Italian: "MIRELLA® gomma. Con cinghiolo. Di colore azzurro. Per ragazzi. L. 1.400. MIRELLA® plastica. Con cinghiolo di gomma. Di colore azzurro. Per bambini. L. 1.100."
Rough translation: "MIRELLA® rubber. Light-blue colour. For youngsters. L. 1,400. MIRELLA® plastic. With rubber strap. Light-blue colour. For children. L. 1,100."
So now the previous plastic-skirted and rubber-strappped Mirella has also become available in a rubber-skirted version costing 300 lire more.
In the same year, the West German diving equipment company Barakuda imported carried the plastic-skirted version of the Pirelli mask:
German: "MIRELLA (ital.), blau. Kinderschnorcheltauchmaske aus Weich-PVC, verstellbar mit Sicherheitsscheibe. Best.-Nr. 181. DM 5,40."
Rough translation: "PIRELLI (Italian), blue. Children’s snorkel diving mask made of soft PVC, adjustable with safety lens. DM 5.40."
1968
No change from Pirelli's 1967 catalogue with the snorkel-mask available in two different materials.
An additional reference to the snorkel-mask's light-blue colour (azzurro).
1967
Italian: "MIRELLA® gomma. Con cinghiolo. Di colore azzurro. Per ragazzi. L. 1.400. MIRELLA® plastica. Con cinghiolo di gomma. Di colore azzurro. Per bambini. L. 1.100."
Rough translation: "MIRELLA® rubber. Light-blue colour. For youngsters. L. 1,400. MIRELLA® plastic. With rubber strap. Light-blue colour. For children. L. 1,100."
So now the previous plastic-skirted and rubber-strappped Mirella has also become available in a rubber-skirted version costing 300 lire more.
In the same year, the West German diving equipment company Barakuda imported carried the plastic-skirted version of the Pirelli mask:
German: "MIRELLA (ital.), blau. Kinderschnorcheltauchmaske aus Weich-PVC, verstellbar mit Sicherheitsscheibe. Best.-Nr. 181. DM 5,40."
Rough translation: "PIRELLI (Italian), blue. Children’s snorkel diving mask made of soft PVC, adjustable with safety lens. DM 5.40."
1968
No change from Pirelli's 1967 catalogue with the snorkel-mask available in two different materials.
OP
David Wilson
Contributor
And so we enter the 1970s with the Pirelli Mirella.
1974
Italian: "Mirella gomma / per ragazzi. 4) Di colore azzurro. Imballo di spedizione: scatole da 25 pezzi. Mirella plastica / per bambini. 5) Con cinghiolo di gomma. Di colore azzurro. Imballo di spedizione: scatole da 25 pezzi."
Rough translation: "Mirella rubber / for youngsters. Light-blue colour. Shipping packaging: boxes of 25 pieces. Mirella plastic / for children. 5) With rubber strap. Light-blue colour. Shipping packaging: boxes of 25 pieces."
And there we say goodbye to the Pirelli Mirelli snorkel-mask, except for a few auction pictures:
Italian eBay snorkel-masks often seem to have parted company with their breathing tubes during decades of use and storage. The erstwhile wearers may have deliberately removed the valved tubes at some point, plugging the sockets with corks or bungs to continue using them as conventional masks.
And here we finish for today. Back midweek with another snorkel-mask, the Pirelli Aretusa, which first saw the light of day in 1960. Until then, stay well and safe.
1974
Italian: "Mirella gomma / per ragazzi. 4) Di colore azzurro. Imballo di spedizione: scatole da 25 pezzi. Mirella plastica / per bambini. 5) Con cinghiolo di gomma. Di colore azzurro. Imballo di spedizione: scatole da 25 pezzi."
Rough translation: "Mirella rubber / for youngsters. Light-blue colour. Shipping packaging: boxes of 25 pieces. Mirella plastic / for children. 5) With rubber strap. Light-blue colour. Shipping packaging: boxes of 25 pieces."
And there we say goodbye to the Pirelli Mirelli snorkel-mask, except for a few auction pictures:
Italian eBay snorkel-masks often seem to have parted company with their breathing tubes during decades of use and storage. The erstwhile wearers may have deliberately removed the valved tubes at some point, plugging the sockets with corks or bungs to continue using them as conventional masks.
And here we finish for today. Back midweek with another snorkel-mask, the Pirelli Aretusa, which first saw the light of day in 1960. Until then, stay well and safe.
Looking at those masks with a modern eye, they do seem to be coming out the brain of a mad scientist ! 
I remember the early 70s : such masks were quite common, my dad had several, I borrowed them often. Nowadays, they would spook all beach goers I fear
I remember the early 70s : such masks were quite common, my dad had several, I borrowed them often. Nowadays, they would spook all beach goers I fear
OP
David Wilson
Contributor
Thanks to all for input and likes.
The Pirelli Aretusa is today's snorkel-mask for review. "Aretusa" is Italian for the female name "Arethusa". In Greek mythology, Arethusa (Greek: Ἀρέθουσα) was a nymph and daughter of Nereus (making her a Nereid), who fled from her home in Arcadia beneath the sea, emerging as a fresh water fountain on the island of Ortygia in Syracuse, Sicily. She is the subject of the 1802 painting above by Benjamin West. Pirelli was abiding by its tradition of naming its snorkel-masks after water nymphs from Hellenic mythology.
The Pirelli Aretusa first saw the light of day in 1960:
It appears on its own in the second row of the right-hand page of the 1960 catalogue page. The product description on the left-hand page simply reads "« ARETUSA » a gran facciale, con ghiera metallica", which roughly translates as "'ARETUSA', large faceplate, fitted with metal band". "Gran facciale" (large faceplate) is often period shorthand for "full-face", but this not always being the case, I have opted for a more literal rendering to retain the ambiguity. The metal band suggested quality, hence the mask's higher asking-price of 2,250 lire. The band justified its presence by reinforcing the security of the mask window.
1961
Italian: "Aretusa. Maschera con ghiera metallica. L. 2.250."
Rough translation: "Aretusa. Mask fitted with metal band. L. 2,250."
No reference to the lens size this time.
1963
Italian: "ARETUSA. A gran facciale, con ghiera metallica".
Rough translation: "'ARETUSA', large faceplate, fitted with metal band".
The "gran facciale" descriptor had returned.
1963: English-language Pirelli catalogue
ARETUSA. Full face mask with metallic mount. It is the latest Pirelli achievement in wide visibility masks. Weight: 0.7 Kg. (1.34 lbs.).
In this case, the Aretusa is explicitly identified as a full-face mask, presumably covering not only the eyes and the nose but also the mouth.
The Pirelli Aretusa is today's snorkel-mask for review. "Aretusa" is Italian for the female name "Arethusa". In Greek mythology, Arethusa (Greek: Ἀρέθουσα) was a nymph and daughter of Nereus (making her a Nereid), who fled from her home in Arcadia beneath the sea, emerging as a fresh water fountain on the island of Ortygia in Syracuse, Sicily. She is the subject of the 1802 painting above by Benjamin West. Pirelli was abiding by its tradition of naming its snorkel-masks after water nymphs from Hellenic mythology.
The Pirelli Aretusa first saw the light of day in 1960:
It appears on its own in the second row of the right-hand page of the 1960 catalogue page. The product description on the left-hand page simply reads "« ARETUSA » a gran facciale, con ghiera metallica", which roughly translates as "'ARETUSA', large faceplate, fitted with metal band". "Gran facciale" (large faceplate) is often period shorthand for "full-face", but this not always being the case, I have opted for a more literal rendering to retain the ambiguity. The metal band suggested quality, hence the mask's higher asking-price of 2,250 lire. The band justified its presence by reinforcing the security of the mask window.
1961
Italian: "Aretusa. Maschera con ghiera metallica. L. 2.250."
Rough translation: "Aretusa. Mask fitted with metal band. L. 2,250."
No reference to the lens size this time.
1963
Italian: "ARETUSA. A gran facciale, con ghiera metallica".
Rough translation: "'ARETUSA', large faceplate, fitted with metal band".
The "gran facciale" descriptor had returned.
1963: English-language Pirelli catalogue
ARETUSA. Full face mask with metallic mount. It is the latest Pirelli achievement in wide visibility masks. Weight: 0.7 Kg. (1.34 lbs.).
In this case, the Aretusa is explicitly identified as a full-face mask, presumably covering not only the eyes and the nose but also the mouth.
OP
David Wilson
Contributor
1964
Italian: "ARETUSA®. Con grande facciale trapezoidale e ghiera metallica. L. 2.250".
Rough translation: "ARETUSA®. Large trapezoidal faceplate and metal band. L. 2,250".
A geometric descriptor for the mask lens: "trapezoidal".
1965
Italian: "ARETUSA®. Con grande facciale triangolare e ghiera metallica. L. 2.400".
Rough translation: "ARETUSA®. Large triangular faceplate and metal band. L. 2,400".
A change in mask lens geometry from trapezoid to triangle.
1966
No change.
1967
Ditto.
1968
No change.
Italian: "ARETUSA®. Con grande facciale trapezoidale e ghiera metallica. L. 2.250".
Rough translation: "ARETUSA®. Large trapezoidal faceplate and metal band. L. 2,250".
A geometric descriptor for the mask lens: "trapezoidal".
1965
Italian: "ARETUSA®. Con grande facciale triangolare e ghiera metallica. L. 2.400".
Rough translation: "ARETUSA®. Large triangular faceplate and metal band. L. 2,400".
A change in mask lens geometry from trapezoid to triangle.
1966
No change.
1967
Ditto.
1968
No change.
OP
David Wilson
Contributor
And finally we come to the 1970s. The following Pirelli catalogue is from that decade but otherwise undated.
Italian: "2) ARETUSA. Con grande facciale triangolare e ghiera metallica. Consente una comoda e facile osservazione dalla superficie. Imballo di spedizione: scatole da 10 pezzi."
Rough translation: "2) ARETUSA. Large triangular faceplate and metal band. Allows comfortable and easy observation from the surface. Shipping packaging: boxes of 10 pieces."
And here is the Aretusa in an undated publication from the 1970s:
The caption is the same as the previous one.
So there we have it for today. The Aretusa, named after a Nereid from classical mythology drifted through the 1960s and 1970s with the superior feature of a metal mask lens retaining band and with a modicum of ambiguity about its shape (trapezoid or triangular?) and its facial coverage. Next time, at the weekend, we shall review the last of Pirelli's snorkel-masks: the Teti. Until then, stay well and keep safe.
Italian: "2) ARETUSA. Con grande facciale triangolare e ghiera metallica. Consente una comoda e facile osservazione dalla superficie. Imballo di spedizione: scatole da 10 pezzi."
Rough translation: "2) ARETUSA. Large triangular faceplate and metal band. Allows comfortable and easy observation from the surface. Shipping packaging: boxes of 10 pieces."
And here is the Aretusa in an undated publication from the 1970s:
The caption is the same as the previous one.
So there we have it for today. The Aretusa, named after a Nereid from classical mythology drifted through the 1960s and 1970s with the superior feature of a metal mask lens retaining band and with a modicum of ambiguity about its shape (trapezoid or triangular?) and its facial coverage. Next time, at the weekend, we shall review the last of Pirelli's snorkel-masks: the Teti. Until then, stay well and keep safe.
OP
David Wilson
Contributor
Thanks, as always, for the likes, guys.
Now for the Teti, the final model in this review of Pirelli snorkel-masks. Teti was the name of the first king of the Sixth Dynasty of ancient Egypt. The pocture above shows the ruins of Teti's pyramid at Saqqara where he was buried. Pirelli's choice of "Teti" for this product seems a little puzzling after so many snorkel-masks named after water spirits from classical mythology, so please do post any alternative explanation you may have for the name's origin.
Pirelli's Teti snorkel-mask made its début relatively late, in 1967 to be precise:
Italian: "TETI®, di gomma morbida, a facciale circolare con ghiera metallica. Perfetta tenuta ed adattabilità al viso. Lire 1.900."
Rough translation: "TETI®, soft rubber, circular faceplate with metal band. Perfect seal and fit for face. 1,900 lire."
So the mask top left above came with a circular faceplate surrounded by a metal retention band with a top screw. Its soft rubber skirt claimed to provide superior facial comfort and adherence. Its single snorkel with hinged-float shut-off valve was mounted on the left-hand side of the mask skirt.
1968
No change there.
Now for the Teti, the final model in this review of Pirelli snorkel-masks. Teti was the name of the first king of the Sixth Dynasty of ancient Egypt. The pocture above shows the ruins of Teti's pyramid at Saqqara where he was buried. Pirelli's choice of "Teti" for this product seems a little puzzling after so many snorkel-masks named after water spirits from classical mythology, so please do post any alternative explanation you may have for the name's origin.
Pirelli's Teti snorkel-mask made its début relatively late, in 1967 to be precise:
Italian: "TETI®, di gomma morbida, a facciale circolare con ghiera metallica. Perfetta tenuta ed adattabilità al viso. Lire 1.900."
Rough translation: "TETI®, soft rubber, circular faceplate with metal band. Perfect seal and fit for face. 1,900 lire."
So the mask top left above came with a circular faceplate surrounded by a metal retention band with a top screw. Its soft rubber skirt claimed to provide superior facial comfort and adherence. Its single snorkel with hinged-float shut-off valve was mounted on the left-hand side of the mask skirt.
1968
No change there.
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