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

[David Wilson]

Second mask of the day is the GSD Coronado, probably named after the resort city of Coronado (above) in California. Just the one image of this model:

So what the Chinese would call a "pignose" mask to highlight the large drain valve at the front. The name of the mask is embossed on the top of the skirt, while "GSD" is visible on the side just above the strap buckle. The yellow writing on the lens identifies the material as tempered glass. The snap-on stainless-steel rim keeps it firmly in place.

And there we have the range of masks offered by GSD. Next time, at the weekend, we shall move on to a snorkel and a pair of GSD fins. Until then, keep safe and stay well.

 

[David Wilson]

My thanks to Angelo, Iowwall, Pete and Akimbo for the likes.

We are now approaching the end of our review of GSD basic diving gear. Just one snorkel and one pair of fins to go.

Here is the snorkel:

This breathing tube falls into the L-shaped category. It may be recalled - or not - that the L-shaped snorkel is an refinement of the J-shaped version, eliminating the usual depth of tubing below head level. The shallow draft reduces water drag, aids in expelling water and reduces resistance to breathing. Note the lateral mouthpiece with the 90º bend in its stem and the eyelet a little further up the barrel to receive a lanyard that would be secured around the wearer's neck to prevent loss. The lanyard also permitted the breathing tube to be suspended from a hook during storage. No valves, just a keeper to secure the barrel to the mask strap.

 

[Angelo Farina]

Nice to see my first pair of fins, Samoa, used during the first course in 1975, alongside with the snorkel. My mask indeed was the Malibu.
All this stuff was made of an excellent quality of rubber, soft and elastic. They did also last several years...
The fins were simple, not very long, and not very powerful: good for doing exercises in the swimming pool, but in the sea, with heavy steel double tanks and no BCD they revealed to be not powerful enough, so I quickly bought a pair of Beuchat Jetfin (possibly the better rubber fins I owned in all my life, far superior to the later Scubapro version).
I continued using the GSD mask and snorkel for several years. Only problem of the mask was the strange angle of glass, which made it easy to "look up", but gave very poor field-of-view downwards, making it impossible, for example, to see my weight belt. Such a strange angle of vision was nice for swimming horizontally while looking forward, without the need of arching up the head.
The mask was also equipped with a purge valve below the nostrils, but I did never cut the rubber, making it operational. This was forbidden for the mask to be used during diving courses, as the student had to show the capability of free diving to the bottom of the pool, fit fins, mask and snorkel, evacuate the mask, ascend and evacuate the snorkel. This test was called "vestizione subacquea" (underwater dressing).
During my exam, in July 1975, the mask had a problem; the strap went loose during the exercise, and I lost it just after having evacuated it. So I had to reach for it again on the bottom, fix the strap inside the stainless steel fixture, evacuate again, and ascend. It resulted in a free dive of more than 90 s, and the examiner was impressed that I managed to complete the exercise despite the problem with the mask strap...
I still have these fins, mask and snorkel stored somewhere in my father's old house.

 

[David Wilson]

And now for those GSD fins. Just one pair this time, the Samoa model named after Samoa (image above), officially the Independent State of Samoa and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabited islands (Manono and Apolima), and several smaller, uninhabited islands, including the Aleipata Islands (Nu'utele, Nu'ulua, Fanuatapu and Namua).

As for the fins themselves, here is a detail from a 1968 Mondo Sommerso issue:

Italian: "6 Samoa: pinne modello blu galleggiante e modello nero da competizione, inclinazione e profilo della pala studiati in vasca idrodinamica."
Rough translation: "6 Samoa: Blue floating model and black competition model fins. Blade angle and profile studied in hydrodynamic tank."

Here is a more detailed account of the fins published the same year and in the same source. Transcription and translation below of the first two paragraphs and the last:

Italian: "G.S.D.: «UNA STAGIONE SENZA LIMITI». «Il mondo subacqueo è indubbiamente in grande espansione e i sub cercano sempre qualcosa di nuovo che noi, entro i limiti delle nostre forze, cerchiamo di dar loro». Gatti, Stradella e Daniele: G.S.D. della nuova casa di Recco proseguono: «Molti sono i programmi in corso diretti alla realizzazione di novità, di cui però non vogliamo anticipare nulla finché non ci siamo assi curati sulla loro perfetta validità. Abbiamo latto miracoli, perchè abbiamo soltanto un anno di contatti con i negozianti, ai quali siamo stati in grado di fornire una gamma che speriamo di completare entro un anno. Già nel corso di questo primo anno abbiamo esportato in molti Paesi. Le richieste sono state più elevate di quanto previsto; ora la stagione subacquea sembra non avere più limiti precisi; tanto per fare un esempio, gli speleosub l'hanno estesa anche all'inverno e richiedono particolari attrezzature. «Tra i nostri prodotti dobbiamo sottolineare il successo di pubblico ottenuto dalla linea Samoa che oltre alla maschera, già presentata, annovera anche la pinna molto semplice, liscia, a scarpetta, con un'angolazione accentuata: la scarpa ha una comoda bombatura sul collo del piede, la pala finisce diritta. Le calzate vanno dal 34-36 al 44-46 e saranno estese, l'anno venturo, fino al 26-28 e 46-48. Ricordiamo che le nostre maschere vengono consegnate con garanzia e con una pellicola protettiva sul vetro dopo che questo è stato trattato con speciale antiappannante». Sotto: la maschera «Simbad» a V e la fiocina smontabile; in alto: la pinna «Samoa» e una muta «Piel» in trixavyil."
Rough translation: "G.S.D.: "A SEASON WITHOUT LIMITS". “The underwater world is undoubtedly undergoing a great expansion and divers are always looking for something new that we, within the limits of our ability, try to give them”. Gatti, Stradella and Daniele, G.S.D. of the new company in Recco, continues: “There are many ongoing programmes aimed at creating new products, of which however we do not want to anticipate anything until we have ensured that they are perfectly valid. We have worked miracles, as we only have one year of contact with retailers, to whom we have been able to supply a range that we hope to complete within a year. During this first year, we have already sent exports to many countries. The requests were higher than expected; now the diving season no longer seems to have more precise limits; just to give one example, cave divers have also extended it to winter, requiring special equipment. "Among our products we must highlight the public success achieved by the Samoa line which as well as the mask already presented also includes the very simple, smooth, full-foot fin, with an accentuated angle: the shoe has a comfortable camber on the edge of the feet, the blade has a straight tip. The range of sizes from 34-36 to 44-46 will be extended next year to 26-28 and 46-48. We remind you that our masks are delivered with a warranty and with a protective film on the glass lens after the latter has received special anti-fog treatment”. Below: the V-shaped “Simbad” mask and the detachable harpoon; above: the «Samoa» fin and a “Piel” trixavyil suit."

Here is an ad for the GSD Samoa line from 1969:

Italian: "Samoa, quanto basta per anticipare il futuro. Una gomma sempre nuova di qualità unica. Una linea dinamica che imprime maggiore velocità di qualunque altra pinna. Una panoramica a «lunga gittata» che nessun altra maschera ha. Ecco perchè sono iper la maschera e le pinne Samoa. L'ipermaschera è a «23 pollici» (vedi in mare come in un monitor). Le iperpinne hanno quello «spunto» in più (sono più dinamiche, più veloci, più resistenti). A Samoa non importa avere altro, ha già quanto basta per precorrere il futuro. SAMOA maschere: Sono caratterizzate da volume interno ridotto e visuale panoramica. Tempered glass e gomma morbidissima con sagoma anatomica del viso. Disponibili in 3 misure diverse. SAMOA pinne: Sona disponibili nei colori giallo e blu (tipo galleggiante), nero (non galleggiante), grigia (da competizione, non galleggiante)."
Rough translation: "Samoa: sufficiently future-proof. An ever-new, unique-quality rubber. A dynamic line delivering greater speed than any other fin. A "long-range" panoramic view no other mask has. This is why Samoa mask and fins are hyper. The hypermask is "23-inch" (vision in sea as in a monitor). Hyperfins have that extra "kick" (they come with greater dynamics, speed, strength). No matter what else Samoa may have, it is already sufficiently future-proof. SAMOA masks: They feature low internal volume and a panoramic view. Tempered-glass lens and very soft rubber skirt with anatomical shape for face. Available in 3 different sizes. SAMOA fins: Colours available: yellow and blue (floating type), black (non-floating), grey (competition, non-floating)."

So the Samoa fins in the GSD Samoa snorkelling set came with enhanced dynamics, speed and strength and in a range of colours to indicate purpose (grey=competitive finswimming) or buoyancy (floating yellow or blue; non-floating black or grey).

 

[David Wilson]

GSD Samoa fins were also exported to other countries. Here is the relevant entry in the 1972 catalogue of British importer Spartan:

And we finish off today with a few auction pictures of GSD Samoas:

I can speak with some personal experience about these fins as I have a black pair sized 46-48 that I have worn in the sea over a vintage drysuit. They are among the most comfortable fins I have ever worn and their stiff blades deliver all the propulsion necessary even in choppy waters. I love their classic design, elegant style and clean lines.

I shall leave it there for today. Back midweek with a new Italian manufacturer, probably Technisub. Until then, stay well and keep safe.

 

[David Wilson]

Today we move on to Technisub, company logo above, company founder Luigi Ferraro below.

I found two potted histories of the firm, reproduced below:

1. On October 13th 1962, Luigi Ferraro and his friend Carlos Reinberg, set up Technisub, his diving equipment factory, aiming to conquer the international market. Innovation and quality are the key words for Ferraro, who has always wanted to offer advanced products and smart ideas for fins, masks, wet suits, spearguns and accessories. A yellow fish and compass on a black background symbolise the company's philosophy: Technology applied to diving. Nowadays, flicking through the historical collection in Technisub catalogues is like running through the history of the evolution of diving equipment. But his philosophy is not just centred on technology. Ferraro follows the principles of an enlightened entrepreneur, who was ahead of his time. His intention was to base his relations with suppliers and final consumers on utmost seriousness and correctness by applying, at the beginning of the 60s, what will be later known as “customer satisfaction”. The same ethic is applied both in external relations with suppliers and in internal relations with staff. Profit is not the objective but one of the consequences of correct behaviour. The close collaboration between Technisub and the French multinational La Spirotechnique, owned by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, enables Ferraro's company to extend its commercial network and simultaneously to continue his important commitment in the experimentation field. This collaboration also develops on a financial level as the French company represents part of Technisub's share capital. Ferraro directs it until 1982, when he decides to retire. His son, Paolo Ferraro is nominated President the same year and expands the Company, obtaining outstanding technical and financial results. He diversifies the Company's activities by creating a new company, Aqua Spere, which specializes in the swimming sector. He remains President until 2007, when he resigns for personal reasons.
Entrepreneur | Luigi Ferraro

2. At the end of 1950, the age of pioneers is almost finished, diving is moving into a new season, where scientific progress and technology leave less space to the myths of the past. In this scenario, Technisub fits perfectly with its compass and fish logo, symbol of technique applied to the sea devices, that speaks by itself. It was founded by Luigi Ferraro in Genoa, in October 1962 together with his son Italo, Carlos Reinberg and Paolo Ruggero. Ferraro joined the Gamma team of X Mas; he came back from war with honors for his isolated actions of Navy seal, for which he was decorated with the Gold Medal for Military Valour. At the end of 1940, he begins to cooperate with Egidio Cressi and, shortly, the Pinocchio revolutionary mask and the even more innovative Rondine fins are born from his genius. These credentials allow Technisub to conquer immediately the trust of the market and, in the following decade, it presents a series of very original products: Caravelle fins with detachable blade, the boot to walk on rocks, Jaguar gun completely dismountable by hand, Sirio light, precursor of Vega. At the beginning of the ‘70s, it is the turn of the Raid streamlined double tank system, followed by the new cyclic oxygen rebreather and the Inject regulator on “offer”, based on the Venturi effect and with the injection setting command, all of this inexistent until this time. The headquarter transfers then to its historic address in Kennedy square, near the sea while Ferraro’s friendship with Jean-Jacques Cousteau brings to a close cooperation with Spirotechnique, and Technisub becomes its exclusive dealer in Italy. During the years, La Spirotechnique, which will than become Aqua Lung, obtains the control of Technisub. In 1982, Luigi Ferraro retires, and Aqua Lung appoints his son Paolo as President, which manages it for the next 25 years, bringing it to the current size and importance and diversifying its production, by creating the Aqua Sphere division, dedicated to swimming. The current headquarter is in via Gualco 42 in Genoa. TECHNISUB | BluTimeScubaHistory

Two factors to be taken into account when reviewing this company is the central role of Luigi Ferraro in the development of Technisub. Before starting up his firm in 1962, Ferraro had served in Italy's wartime combat swimmer unit and designed the iconic Cressi Rondine fins and Cressi Pinocchio mask, both classics of diving equipment production and endlessly imitated as such. Technisub was an opportunity to find out whether Ferraro would become as good an entrepreneur as he had proved himself to be as an inventor with patents to his name.

Another consideration is the close collaboration between Technisub and Jacques-Yves Cousteau's French company La Spirotechnique, the European counterpart of US Divers. When comparing Technisub and La Spirotechnique catalogues, it is often difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish which products are Technisub and which are La Spirotechnique in origin with rare exceptions. So I expect to find myself duplicating what I wrote about La Spirotechnique in my thread about mid-twentieth-century basic diving equipment manufacturing in France.

 

[David Wilson]

The following example of Technisub-La Spirotechnique cooperation appeared in a 1964 issue of Mondo Sommerso:

There are two masks in this "Spiro-Technisub" line, Naso and Minimar, and we shall be looking at the Naso model today. "Naso" is Italian for "nose". Here is another 1964 ad:

Italian: "NASO. La nuova maschera con cristallo unico sagomato. MASSIMO CAMPO VISIVO."
Rough translation: "NASO. The new mask with unique shaped lens. MAXIMUM FIELD OF VIEW."

In 1965, a bit more detail:

Italian: "Naso. La nuova maschera con cristallo unico sagomato - Massimo campo visivo - Ridottissimo volume interno - Naso anatomico per facilitare la compensazione - Gomma antiallergica - Cerchietto di metallo cromato con reggifibbio brevettato. Art. 405 - 00."
Rough translation: "Naso. The new mask with unique shaped lens - Maximum field of vision - Very low internal volume - Anatomical nosepiece to facilitate compensation - Antiallergenic rubber - Chromed metal rim with patented buckle holder. Art. 405 - 00.

The resemblance between the Naso and the original Ferraro-designed Cressi Pinocchio can hardly be coincidental!

 

[David Wilson]

Even more detail about the Naso mask in 1968:

Italian: "NASO. La maschera Technisub di maggior pregio che distingue i subacquei migliori - con naso anatomico per facilitare la compensazione e membrana interna di tenuta - in neoprene antiallergico, antiozono, indeteriorabile - cerchietto di metallo inossidabile lucidato e cromato - reggifibbia brevettato - vetro temperato - colore nero: professionale - volume interno cmc. 200 - superficie cristallo cmq. 121,43 - peso gr. 350. art. 405. L. 3.600."
Rough translation: "NASO. The most prestigious Technisub mask that distinguishes the best divers - with anatomical nosepiece to facilitate compensation and internal sealing membrane - in antiallergenic, antiozone, non-perishable neoprene - polished and chromed stainless metal rim - patented buckle holder - tempered glass - black colour: professional - internal volume 200 cm³ - lens surface area 121.43 cm² - weight 350 gr. art. 405. L. 3,600.

The Naso outlived the 1960s, lasting at least until 1973, when it was also available in a junior version:

NASO art. 101900
Italian: "Maschera subacquea di tipo professionale con naso anatomico per facilitare la compensazione e membrana interna di tenuta - ampio campo visivo - neoprene antiallergico, antiozono, indeteriorabile - cerchietto cromato - vetro temperato - Colore: nero".
English: "With anatomical designed nose to facilitate pressure equalization - double-edged-seal - ozone-proof neoprene - chromed rim - tempered lens - colour: black".
French: "Avec nez anatomique qui permet un bon équilibrage - double lèvre de tenue - néoprène indéteriorable - cerclage chromé - verre trempé - couleur: noire".

NASO JUNIOR art. 100900
Italian: "La famosa e collaudatissima NASO realizzata in dimensioni ridotte per adattarsi al viso dei
giovanissimi".
English: "The professional mask for youngsters and for smaller faces - a miniature version of the famous NASO."
French: "Le masque professionnel pour les enfants et les visages plus petits - une version en miniature du fameux NASO".

So much for the Naso. We shall take a look at another Technisub mask midweek, perhaps the Minimar model. Stay safe and keep well until then.

 

[David Wilson]

Thank you, Luis, Angelo, Jale and Iowwall for the likes.

Now for more Technisub diving masks, bearing in mind that they may also be La Spirotechnique or even US Divers models as the three companies rarely if ever make a distinction in their provenance. We shall start with the Minimar, which I have not seen in either a Spiro or a US Divers catalogue, so it may be said to be a truly Technisub mask. The "Mini" in the name "Minimar" may refer to the mask's low internal volume, while "mar" may be a nod in the direction of the Latin expression "Mare Nostrum", which means "Our Sea" and was the name the Romans once gave to the Mediterranean Sea. Here is an early mention of the Minimar from 1964:

The Minimar entry reads "Minimar - MASCHERA con ottima visibilità - minimo volume interno - corpo in gomma antiallergica - cerchietto in moplen - L. 900" and roughly translates to "Minimar - MASK with excellent visibility - very low internal volume - antiallergenic rubber body - moplen rim - L. 900".

The 1965 Technisub catalogue provided an image of the Minimar:

The caption is virtually identical to the 1964 version except for the addition of the word "leggerezza", meaning "lightweightedness".

A 1966 issue of Mondo Sommerso introduced a different picture of the Minimar as well as a different caption:

Italian: "MINIMAR - La maschera TECHNISUB per tutti - in gomma antiallergica - colori verde e bianca avorio - L. 900".
Rough translation: "MINIMAR - The TECHNISUB mask for everyone - antiallergenic rubber - green and ivory-white colours - L. 900".

The 1968 Technisub catalogue picture and caption below:

Italian: "miniMar - La maschera Technisub per tutti - corpo in gomma antiallergica - cerchietto in materiale sintetico - colori assortiti - volume interno cmc. 260 - superficie cristallo cmq. 103,27 - peso gr. 200 - art. 404 - L. 900".
Rough translation: "miniMar - The Technisub mask for everyone - antiallergenic rubber body - synthetic material rim - assorted colours - internal volume 260 cm³ - lens surface area 103.27 cm² - weight 200 g. - article no. 404 - L. 900".

So the Minimar is billed as a "universal mask", presumably designed to fit (almost) any face. Note the subtle changes in the mask's morphology over the mid-1960s, not least the evolution of its lens from an oval to a rectangular shape with rounded corners. Note too the plastic frame securing the edges of the skirt and the lens at a time when a stainless-steel rim with top screw still exuded quality in a diving mask. Low internal volume and an antiallergenic skirt demonstrate how the product designer was aware of what would become the mask selling points of future decades. The inclusion of numerical data about internal volume, lens area and overall weight in the final caption is also a glimpse of things to come, considering the growing modern trend to provide such measurements in basic gear descriptions.

 

[David Wilson]

1964 also saw the début of the Equirama model in the Technisub range of masks. Here it is in a Mondo Sommerso product review:

Italian: "Equirama - La nuova maschera panoramica a visione totale - cristallo unico di massima superficie - gomma antiallergica - cerchietto di metallo cromato con reggifibbia brevettato - minimo volume interno - costruzione speciale per facilitare la compensazione".
Rough translation: "Equirama - The new full vision panoramic mask - single lens with maximum surface area - anti-allergic rubber - chromed metal rim with patented buckle holder - minimum internal volume - specially designed feature for easy compensation".

So the Equirama mask claimed to provide its users with the broadest possible field of vision and the wherewithal to pinch their nostrils and clear their ears at depth with the greatest of ease.

Curiously enough, the Equirama was conspicuous by its absence from later Technisub trade literature. In 1966, US Divers brought out a mask called the "Equi-Rama", but it came with an oval lens and not a rectangular one with rounded corners as the Technisub Equirama did:

That must suffice for today. More Technisub (or, perhaps accidentally, Spiro/US Divers) masks some time midweek. I am minded to start with the Technisub Aquarama mask. Keep safe, stay well.