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

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Sam, Jale and Angelo.

Up for review today is the Tigullio Marina snorkel-mask. Here it is in the 1960 catalogue:

Caption: "Art. 530 - « MARINA ». Full face polished blue rubber mask with built-in snorkel, new patented « CIGNO » automatic obturator and snap-on rim."

So what we have is a single-snorkel model with a snap-on rim rather than the traditional stainless-steel rim with a top screw. Note the unusual "Cigno" (=Swan[-neck]) float valve, which was patented (drawing below)

And here is the same product in 1961:

Italian: "Maschera « MARINA » con valvola brevettata che permette una chiusura ermetica in qualsiasi posizione si trovi il subacqueo."
Rough translation: "'MARINA' mask fitted with a patented valve enabling the diver to have a leak-tight seal in any position."

 

[David Wilson]

By 1962, the West German diving equipment manufacturer Barakuda had begun importing the Tigullio Marina. The firm provides a little more detail for their German customers:

German: "MARINA (ital.). Das gleiche Modell wie „MINORCA“, jedoch mit Schnorchel und Drehschwimmerventil, für Nasenatmung. Die Maskenmodelle der italienischen Firma „Tigullio“ zeichnen sich durch eine besonders gelungene eigenwillige Formgebung des Rahmens aus. Am bemerkenswertesten ist jedoch die gelungene Neukonstruktion des Schwimmerventils, durch welche gewährleistet wird, daß das Ventil in allen Lagen unter Wasser dichtet. Gelbfilter-Sicherheitsglasscheibe. Nr. 156. DM 17,85."
English: "MARINA (Italian). The same model as the “MINORCA”, but with a snorkel and a rotating float valve for nose breathing. The Italian “Tigullio” company’s mask models are renowned for their particularly successful unique rim design. The most remarkable feature, however, is the successful redesign of the float valve, which ensures that the valve seals under water in all positions. Yellow filter safety glass. No. 156. DM 17.85."

In their 1967 catalogue, Tigullio offered the Marina with captions in both Italian and English:

Italian: "ART. 530. MARINA con respiratore « CIGNO » e reggetta speciale brevettata.
English: "ART. 530. « MARINA » rubber mask with built-in snorkel « CIGNO » automatic obturator and patented snap-on rim."

That's all for today. At the weekend, we shall move on to the Tigullio Miami snorkel-mask, which came with twin breathing tubes. In the meantime, keep safe and stay well.

 

[David Wilson]

Thank you, Jale and Angelo, for the likes.

Today's Tigullio snorkel-mask is the Miami. This mask is probably named after the city in Florida (above), itself named after the Miami River, which the indigenous population called “Mayaimi” (which roughly translated as "Big Water"). The European settlers soon adopted the native name when the city emerged out of the early settlements. There are other theories about the origin of Miami’s name, some claiming that the city was named after a Native American tribe that inhabited the region. According to this theory, It is this tribe that was called Mayaimi and not the river. Others believe that Lake Okeechobee was called Mayaimi by the Native Americans in the region.

The Miami snorkel-mask appeared in the 1960 Tigullio catalogue:

Caption: "Art. 535 - « MIAMI ». Full face light blue rubber mask with two built-in snorkels, new patented « CIGNO » automatic obturator and snap-on rim."

So this model came with the company's patented float valve, which claimed to close when submerged in any position. It also sported two tubes in keeping with status as a full-face mask incorporating the mouth as well as the nose, enabling breathing both orally or nasally. The snap-on rim was another innovation at a time when stainless-steel rims with top screws were in vogue.

 

[David Wilson]

The Tigullio Miami stayed the course until the late 1960s. Here it is in a 1961 advertisement that is colourful in more than one sense:

Here is a monochrome advertisement appearing a year later, in 1962, in the Italian diving magazine Mondo Sommerso:

 

[David Wilson]

In 1962, the Tigullio Miami ventured northwards to the Feceral Republic of German, where it was imported by the Hamburg diving manufacturer Barakuda:

Italian: "MIAMI (ital.). Das gleiche Modell wie „MARINA“, jedoch mit Doppelschnorchel für Nasenatmung. Gelbfilter-Sicherheitsglasscheibe. Nr. 161. DM 22,85."
English: "MIAMI (Italian). The same model as the “MARINA”, but with double snorkel for nose breathing. Yellow filter safety-glass lens. No. 161. DM 22.85."

As usual, Barakuda provides more product detail for their clientèle. The Miami is identified as the same design as the Marina with the exception of having two tubes instead of one. It is interesting that the Miami mask is said here to enable nose breathing, while the 1960 Tigullio describes it as a "full-face mask" and hence presumably compatible with mouth breathing too. Note as well the description of the lens as "yellow filter safety glass", whichn was a regular option during the 1950s.

The Miami also appeared in the 1967 Tigullio catalogue:

Italian: "ART. 535 MIAMI con respiratori « CIGNO » e reggetta brevettati.
English: "ART. 535 « MIAMI » rubber mask with two built-in « CIGNO » snorkels, automatic obturator and patented snap-on rim."

The information here is a largely a repeat of what is said in the caption within the 1960 catalogue. I am inclined to conclude from the appearance of the Miami that the mask is a nose-breathing design only as the product seems to lack a chin-piece to cover the mouth.

And there we shall leave it for today. We'll address the Murena snorkel-mask midweek as well as a possible, but anonymous, Tigullio snorkel-mask, the Ombrina. Stay safe and keep well until then.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks, Jale and Sam. for the likes.

On to the Tigullio Murena snorkel-mask. "Murena" is Italian for "Moray eel" (above), a marine creature with a long body found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. The snorkel-mask named after the Moray eel was first marketed in the company's 1967 catalogue, which is much later than other Tigullio snorkel-masks:

Italian: "ART. 522. MURENA, taglia piccola con respiratore."
English: "ART. 522. « MURENA » rubber mask, children size with snorkel."

So a child-size rubber mask with a split strap, a round lens and a single built-in snorkel. No further details are forthcoming about this article.

 

[David Wilson]

The Ombrina snorkel-mask may or may not be a Tigullio product. The manufacturer's name is absent from the skirt, but the embossed lettering resembles what can be seen on other Tigullio products. "Ombrina" is Italian for "shi drum" (above), a species of marine fish from the warmer waters of the eastern Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.

There follow a few auction pictures of the Tigullio Ombrina snorkel-mask:

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A single-snorkel mask, therefore, with a thick plastic rim. Note the presence of the tube on the user's right side, while most snorkel-masks have the snorkel on the left.

That's today's contribution and there will be Tigullio fins for review at the weekend, post-Christmas. Let me take the opportunity to wish all my readers the compliments of the season. Until then, keep well and stay safe.

 

[David Wilson]

Compliments of the season to all and thanks to Sam, Jale and Angelo for the likes.

And now for the Tigullio range of fins, beginning with the models appearing in the company's 1960 catalogue. We shall start with the "minor" ones, leaving the then flagship model for another day.

First the Cita. I must admit this word was a "bit of a poser" when I attempted to find the meaning behind the name. The best I could do this "Boxing Day" morning was to suggest that "Cita" was Italian for "Cheeta", a chimpanzee character (above) that appeared in numerous Hollywood Tarzan films of the 1930s–1960s, as well as the 1966–1968 television series, as the simian sidekick of the title character, Tarzan. After all, Georges Beuchat, the Marseilles-based inventor of the Jetfin, had already used the name "Tarzan" as one of his company brand names. Here is the Tigullio Cita fin in the 1960 catalogue:

Caption: Art. 806-7 « CITA » fins, floating plastics fins, with adjustable heel strap, economical, very strong.

So a budget fin at a time when a pair of open-heel plastic fins was deemed to be terminally downmarket goods, while all-rubber ones, particularly full-foots, were considered to be the pinnacle of underwater quality and fashion. Two concessions were the adjustable heel strap and the open toe, both promising a better fit and more wearing comfort for the purchaser.

In 1963, Mondo Sommerso published the following price list:

So the Cita not only lasted for at least another three years but also sold for less than half the price commanded by the next Tigullio model I am about to review. Note the available sizing, suggesting that the fin was intended for children and adults alike.

 

[David Wilson]

Today's second Tigullio fin is the Rana. "Rana" is Italian both for "frog" and for the "breast stroke" style of swimming. I am inclined to consider the former meaning to be the likeliest in this context. Here is the fin in the 1960 Tigullio catalogue:

The caption is very hard to read due to the low resolution of the original source, but I can at least make out the fact that the Rana was as light as a feather, had an adjustable heelstrap, provided great thrust with minimum effort, was made of high quality glossy light blue rubber and came in a range of sizes from small to large.

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The sizing really covered the full range of childhood fittings up to all but the biggest men's sizes. Note too that the fins came with different left and right feet for a better fit and more wearing comfort, which was, and remains, an uncommon feature of fins due again to the "dismal science" of economics.

Enough for today: it's the Christmas weekend, after all. Next time, midweek, I shall move on to the Tigullio Manta, very much a flagship fin for the firm. In the meantime, keep safe and stay well.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Sam, Angelo and Jale.

On now to Tigullio Manta fins, which were a "flagship" model in their time. These fins are named after the manta ray (above). The name "manta" is Portuguese and Spanish for mantle (cloak or blanket), a type of blanket-shaped trap traditionally used to catch rays. Mantas are known as "devilfish" because of their horn-shaped cephalic fins, which are imagined to give them an "evil" appearance.

Here is the Manta fin in the 1960 Tigullio catalogue:

Caption: "Art. 305 to 312 - 305/G to 312/G « MANTA ». The most famous fins in the world. The 151 ft. deep record has been broken with MANTA fins. Designed by two world skin diving recordmen to permit the utmost effortless surface or underwater speed. Their smooth constructional characteristics eliminate the breaking action of the water eddies. Made of finest quality glossy jet light blue rubber. Full foot comfort. 8 models to fit all sizes. Floating and sea-floating models; available also in London smog and yellow colours."

So full-foot fins built for efficiency and designed by skin diving record holders. I have a pair in my collection and I can vouch for their relative comfort, which is down to the depth of their heel cups. They feel more secure on the feet than many other closed-heel fins because they enclose more of the heel and ankle. The only downside is the toe opening, which tends to rub against the toes if they protrude. A slightly longer foot pocket would have helped.

Here is the fin in a 1962 Tigullio advertisement:

Italian: "la pinna Manta - questa è la pinna Manta - la pinna ottima è Manta. MANTA è prestigiosa."
Rough translation: "the Manta fin - this is the Manta fin - the best fin is Manta. MANTA is prestigious."

And here in 1963:

Italian: "TIGULLIO. La nuova pinna 'MANTA' galleggianti da L. 2.100 a L. 3.600, normali da L. 1.900 a L. 3.150".
Rough translation: "TIGULLIO. The new floating 'MANTA' fin, from L. 2,100 to L. 3,600. Normal model from L. 1,900 to L. 3,150 ".

So a new, dearer, floating model to complement the existing non-floating Manta model. Note the image of the manta ray on the fin blade.