Basic gear from mid-twentieth-century Italy: Other manufacturers

[David Wilson]

Thanks, Jale and Angelo, for the likes.

The above Tigullio Palomar ad from a 1963 issue of Mondo Sommerso.

Though perhaps Tigullio's flagship model during the early 1960s, the Palomar was not the only mask then in the range. Another model back then was the Mizar, named after the celestial body above. Mizar is a second-magnitude star in the handle of the Big Dipper asterism in the constellation of Ursa Major. It forms a well-known naked eye double star with the fainter star Alcor, and is itself a quadruple star system. The whole system lies about 83 light-years away from the Sun.

Here is the Mizar in a 1960 Tigullio catalogue:

Sorry about the low resolution of the original scan from which this is a detail. The English-language caption reads: "«MIZAR». Professional diving mask in light blue rubber, especially designed for great depth, wide field of vision, with new patented snap-on rim."

And here is the same, though misspelled, mask from an ad in a 1961 issue of Mondo Sommerso:

Italian: "Maschera «MIZZAR» in gomma con reggetta a clips aderente campo visivo ottimo."
Rough translation: "«MIZZAR» rubber mask with snap-on rim, snug fitting, excellent field of vision."

 

[David Wilson]

Like the Palomar, the Mizar was around from 1960 until 1963 or even later. I shall finish today with some auction images of the Mizar:

So a plain blue mask with no compensator but a snap-on rim dispensing with the traditional top screw.

We'll leave things there for today and return, probably in a week's time, for another Tigullio mask featured in the 1960 Tigullio catalogue from the three remaining models: Mayorca, Minorca and Malta.

Until then, keep safe and stay well.

 

[David Wilson]

Thank you, Angelo and Bob DF, for the likes.

And now back again to Tigullio diving masks of the early 1960s. We shall begin today with the Mayorca model, sometimes spelled "Maiorca", which first appeared in the company's 1960 catalogue. The name Mayorca/Maiorca derives from "Mallorca", which is the largest island in the Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain and located in the Mediterranean (see above). As for the mask:

Caption: "Art. 521. «MAYORCA» - a large size, very soft, light blue rubber mask, wide vision, with patented snap-on rim."

So a plain mask without a compensator with a split head strap. Here it is again in 1961:

Italian: "Maschera «MAIORCA» con reggetta a clips adatta per tutte le profondità."
Rough translation: "'Maiorca' mask with snap-on rim suitable for all depths."

And here is the same model in 1963:

Italian: "Maschera 'MAYORCA' particolarmente morbida, grande campo, reggetta in acciaio con chiusura automatica (brevettata)."
Rough translation: "Particularly soft 'MAYORCA' mask, large field, steel rim with automatic closure (patented)."

The main characteristics are again highlighted: the softness of the rubber skirt and strap, the breadth of vision and the patented snap-on steel rim.

 

[David Wilson]

On the right-hand side of the map above, Spain's Balearic Islands can be seen, including Mallorca (Latin: Insula Maior = Larger Island) and Minorca (Latin: Insula Minor = Smaller Island). Like the two isles, the derived names of Tigullio's Maiorca/Mayorca and Minorca/Menorca masks are contrasted in size. Here is the Minorca mask in the company's 1960 catalogue:

Caption: "Art. ???. «MINORCA» - Soft normal (size), polished blue rubber mask, wide vision, with patented snap-on rim."

So the Minorca/Menorca mask differs from the Mayorca/Maiorca model in size, the former "normal" fitting, the latter "large" fitting; otherwise the product descriptions seem identical.

Here is the Minorca in 1961:

Italian: "Maschera «MINORCA» con reggetta a clips resistentissima."
Rough translation: "'MINORCA' mask with very strong snap-on rim."

And here is the same model in 1963:

Italian: "Maschera «MINORCA» per grandi profondità grande campo reggetta brevettata aderisce al viso delicatamente."
Rough translation: "'MENORCA' mask for greater depths, large field (of vision), patented rim, adheres delicately to the face."

Enough for today. I shall continue at the weekend, when I propose to review the remaining models in the Tigullio 1960-1963 mask range, namely the Malta, Mimosa and Mostella. Stay safe and keep well.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Sam and Angelo.

We shall start with a postcript to my last offering. The Maiorca and Minorca diving masks, which we reviewed last time, also made it into the 1967 Tigullio catalogue, so here we go:

Tigullio Maiorca/Mayorca mask 1967

Tigullio Minorca mask 1967

 

[David Wilson]

And now for the promised models of the day, the Tigullio Malta, Mimosa and Mostella. Have you noticed the common naming factor so far? Yes, the recurrent initial "M". So first the Malta, named of course after the Mediterranean island nation-state.

Tigullio Malta mask 1960

Caption: "Art. 523 «Malta». A low-priced light blue rubber mask, small size, without rim."

So a plain, small-sized rim-less mask designed for the budget-minded.

Tigullio Mimosa mask 1960

Caption: "Art. 303-304. «Mimosa». - High style at lowest price. Easy to fit., comfortable. Great shape. Stainless steel rim. Shatterproof glass or plastic safety glass, tested for leakage, recommendable for children and teenagers. Finest quality glossy light blue rubber. Children and adult sizes. No. 304 also in London smog and yellow colours."

So another Tigullio mask in a small size and hence suitable for young people. The reference to "London smog" as a colour option, presumably a shade of grey, certainly relates thia product to a bygone age in the the UK capital, where annual "pea-soupers" had peaked in the 1952 Great Smog of London in the death of 12,000 people. Bu the way, the name "Mimosa" is borrowed from a plant with small flowers and fern-like leaves that close when touched (also called sensitive plant). Apologies for the low-resolution source.

Tigullio Mostella mask 1960

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Caption: "Art 301. «MOSTELLA». - Facial fit with wide view. Oval shape. Top comfort. Available in glossy, light blue rubber, with normal glass, plastic safety glass or hardened safety glass. Also in London smog and yellow colours."

"Mostella" is Italian for the "forkbeard" (above), a species of phycid hakes, whose species name "Phycis" derives from Greek, "phykon" meaning "seaweed", as these fishes usually live hidden among seaweeds.

That's it for today. More early 1960s Tigullio masks some time midweek, probably the "Mitile", "Baby Boy" and "Murima". Until then, keep safe and stay well.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks again, Sam and Angelo.

First up today is the Tigullio Mitile, here in the company's 1960 catalogue:

Caption: "Art. 508 «MITILE». Plastic material, close face-fitting mask in light blue colour. With normal glass or plastic safety glass."

So a plain mask with a plastic skirt and a choice of normal glass and plastic safety glass for the lens. The emphasis seems to be on the needs of the budget-minded, hence the use of cheaper plastic instead of dearer rubber for the mask body. As for the product name, "Mitile" is Italian for "Mediterranean mussel" (Mytilus galloprovincialis), whose shell is pictured above. The Mediterranean mussel is a species of bivalve, a marine mollusc in the family Mytilidae and an invasive species in many parts of the world as well as an object of aquaculture.

 

[David Wilson]

The Tigullio "Baby Boy" mask is pictured below:

Caption: "Art. 508 «BABY BOY». Exceptional very economical plastic mask for «young» children. In light blue colour."

So one more Tigullio mask in the same vein, a product also made from cheaper plastic to attract budget-minded parents of younger children.

Finally for today, the Tigullio Murima mask below:

Caption: Art. 512 «MURIMA». A French type mask. Oval shape, rustproof metal rim, adjustable split head-band, «feathered» edges, comfortable fit on the most sensitive faces. Available in glossy, light blue rubber, also in London smog and yellow colours. With normal, plastic or hardened safety glass."

No luck with the meaning of the product name "Murima". That "London smog" colour has made a return, however.

We shall move on to to a later era of Tigullio masks at the weekend, focusing particularly on the company's new "flagship" model, the Smeralda. Until then, keep well and stay safe.

 

[WeRtheOcean]

The Tigullio advertisements below dating from 1960 are the earliest publicity I have found for the company so far

Looks like I fell behind by three or four sessions. Oh, well; I'm caught up now. Since no translations were offered for those 1960 advertisements, I'll try my hand at the one with the woman in the black swimsuit.

I don't speak Italian. But I do speak Spanish and Portuguese, which are Romance languages, hence related to Italian. From my knowledge of those, I get the words across the picture as:
25 meters - Francesca Borra - Tigullio mask and fins - new depth record in female breathhold

And down below in the white space:
The indisputable quality of "Tigullio" products is [per tutti] and underwater [che pescano] at great depth, absolute guarantee
Words in brackets are the ones I don't know.

 

[David Wilson]

Looks like I fell behind by three or four sessions. Oh, well; I'm caught up now. Since no translations were offered for those 1960 advertisements, I'll try my hand at the one with the woman in the black swimsuit.

I don't speak Italian. But I do speak Spanish and Portuguese, which are Romance languages, hence related to Italian. From my knowledge of those, I get the words across the picture as:
25 meters - Francesca Borra - Tigullio mask and fins - new depth record in female breathhold

And down below in the white space:
The indisputable quality of "Tigullio" products is [per tutti] and underwater [che pescano] at great depth, absolute guarantee
Words in brackets are the ones I don't know.

Thanks for the translation of the ad caption, @WeRtheOcean. My own knowledge of Romance languages is limited to basic secondary school Latin and university degree level French, which also enable me to have a stab at languages such as Italian, Spanish and Portuguese when the texts in these languages relate to subject matter I know about. That proficiency helps me arrive at rough English renderings here such as "25 metres - Francesca Borra - Tigullio mask and fins - New women's breath-hold depth record" and "The undeniable quality of "Tigullio" products is for everybody and underwater (hunters) spearfishing at great depth. Absolute guarantee."