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

[David Wilson]

From the end of the 1960s, our information about the Technisub Tahiti and Tahiti Special is largely gleaned from the company's catalogues, but here is a full-page ad from 1969:

Italian: "maschera tahiti special. Cerchietto metallizzato, cromato a spessore - cristallo temperato - corpo in neoprene - minimo volume - massima visibilità. Il neoprene è la più pregiata delle gomme sintetiche, è imputrescibile, inattacabile degli ogni agenti atmosferici, l'unica gomma che resiste agli minerali. E la gomma sintetica di grande durata. La tahiti è una maschera tecnica."
Rough translation: "tahiti special mask. Metallic, chrome-plated rim - tempered glass - neoprene body - minimum volume - maximum visibility. Neoprene is the finest of synthetic rubbers, it is rot-proof, impervious to atmospheric agents, the only rubber that resists all minerals. And the synthetic rubber of great durability. The Tahiti is a technical mask."

Here is the catalogue image of the Tahiti Special from 1969:

Italian: "tahiti special - la più elegante delle maschere standard - con naso anatomica e membrana interna di tenuta - neoprene antiallergico, antiozono, indeteriorabile - cerchietto cromato - vetro temperato - colore nero. ART. 412. L. 2.500."
Rough translation: "tahiti special - the most elegant of the standard masks - with anatomical nose and internal sealing membrane - antiallergenic, antiozone, non-perishable neoprene - chromed rim - tempered glass - black colour. ART. 412. L. 2,500.

And the basic Tahiti from the same catalogue year:

Italian: "tahiti in gomma antiallergica con naso anatomica per facilitare la compensazione e membrana interna di tenuta - cerchietto in materiale sintetico a colore assortiti - nei colori: bianco avorio - nero - azzurro. ART. 411 - L. 2.000."
Rough translation: "tahiti in antiallergic rubber with anatomical nose to facilitate compensation and internal sealing membrane - synthetic material rim in assorted colours: ivory-white - black - light blue. ART. 411 - L. 2,000."

Finally, from 1973:

Italian: "tahiti special - la più elegante delle maschere standard - volume ridotto, naso anatomica e membrana interna di tenuta - neoprene antiallergico, antiozono, indeteriorabile - cerchietto cromato - vetro temperato - colore nero."
English: "Anatomical designed nose for easy pressure equalization - double edged seal - black neoprene - chromed rim - tempered lens."
French: "Avec nez anatomique pour faciliter la compensation et double lèvre inférieure - en néoprène indétériorable - couleur noire - cerclage chromé - verre trempé."

Enough for today. Back at the weekend. Until then, keep safe and stay well.

 

[WeRtheOcean]

It appears that "ivory-white" as a color is a characteristic of these masks in particular -- I only began seeing references to it in the last three pages.

 

[Popgun Pete]

I had a white Florida mask which was thrown in with a sharkskin wetsuit purchase, I did not want it but the shop were giving them away, so I took it. It was devoid of surface texture stippling like some masks have and appeared somewhat formless until you put it on. I never really used it, but kept it as a spare and eventually threw it out. Wearing a white mask with a black rim was an odd look and you don't want lens reflection inside a mask, so the Florida went unloved. Plus white rubber would be short lived in our climate!

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for letting us know what you noticed, WeRtheOcean, and for relating your experience with white masks, Pete. I get the impression from reading early 1960s catalogues that any example of ivory-white basic gear was regarded as a luxury item back then. On the other hand, I've noticed that white trim on black rubber footwear often turns yellowish brown after a while. This said, the white Japanese-made Mew fins I have in my collection have remained white over many years, so the change isn't necessarily inevitable.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Angelo and Jale.

And now for today's mask, the Technisub Falco. I am in a bit of dilemma when offering an explanation of the product name here, because "Falco" may be Italian for "hawk", a bird of prey famous for its keen eyesight (hence the expression "hawkeye"), but it is also the surname of Albert Falco, the French scuba diving veteran and champion of underwater conservation. A name with enough connotations to be getting on with, therefore.

Let us begin with a page from a 1969 issue of Mondo Sommerso:

Italian: "FALCO technisub - la maschera che "VEDRETE" di più - la prima delle novità technisub 1969 - la maschera "a contatto" - CAMPO VISIVO DI MASCHERA TRADIZIONALE - CAMPO VISIVO DELLA "FALCO" - VISIONE MAGGIORATA - VOLUME INTERNO MINIMO - INGOMBRA RIDOTTISSIMO - NASO DI FACILISSIMA PRESA - DOLCE SUL VISO ED ERMETICA - VERSIONE NORMALE VERSIONE OTTICA - COMPRATE FALCO E AVRETE IN REGALO UN PEZZO DI MARE IN PIÙ".
Rough translation: "technisub FALCO - the mask you will "SEE" the most with - the first of the technisub innovations of 1969 - the "contact" mask - FIELD OF VIEW OF A TRADITIONAL MASK - FIELD OF VIEW OF THE "FALCO" - GREATER VISION - MINIMUM INTERNAL VOLUME - VERY DOWNSIZED - NOSE VERY EASY TO GRIP - KIND TO FACE AND LEAKTIGHT - NORMAL VERSION - OPTICAL VERSION - BUY FALCO AND YOU WILL GET AN ADDITIONAL PIECE OF THE SEA AS A GIFT".

So the Falco's main selling point was its combination of minimum internal volume and panoramic vision. Easy nose pinching for ear-clearing purposes was a further bonus.

And now for the optical version of the Falco in the 1969 Technisub catalogue:

Italian: "falco - la maschera a contatto !! Lenti separate vicinissime alla pupilla per un campo visivo eccezionale - volume interno quasi nullo - la maschera ideale per apneisti e per l'applicazione di lenti correttive - neoprene antiallergico - doppio cerchietto colorato - colore: nero. ART. 418. - L. 3.400".
Rough translation: "falco - the contact mask !! Separate lenses very close to the pupil for an exceptional field of vision - almost zero internal volume - the ideal mask for freedivers and for fitting corrective lenses - antiallergenic neoprene - two-tone rim - colour: black. ART. 418. - L. 3,400".

This model reminds me of this equally ultra-low-volume Mares Vedo from 1964:

 

[David Wilson]

The Technisub Falco dive mask survived until the mid-1970s. Here it is in the 1973 catalogue:

Upper caption:
Italian: "FALCO art. 102900. La maschera occhiale ideale per chi ha bisogno di una visuale subacquea ampia e perfetta. Lenti complanari vicinissime alla pupilla per un campo visivo eccezionale. Volume interno praticamente nullo, per esaltare le prestazioni in apnea, Aderenza al viso assicurata dal profilo anatomico - Corpo in neoprene antiallergico, antiozono, indeteriorabile di colore nero - Cerchietto grigio perla. Montatura: rossa - gialla - nera".
English: "Two separated lenses close to eyes provide an exceptionally wide vision - comfortable fit and minimum inside volume - the ideal diving mask that can be fitted with corrective lenses - pearl grey rim - black neoprene - frames: red - yellow - black".
French: "Deux verres separés très près de la pupille donnent un champ de vision exceptionnel - volume interne presque nul - le masque idéal pour apnéiste ou pour montage de verres correcteurs - néoprène antiallergique noir - cerclage gris perle - montures: rouge - jaune - noire".

Lower caption:
Italian: "FALCO OTTICA. Con lenti oftalmiche per la correzione di qualsiasi ametropia. Listino a parte".
English: "OPTIC FALCO. With gradated lenses to correct any defective eye - instructive leaflet on request".
French: "FALCO OPTIQUE. Masque optique - verres correcteurs - dépliant d'instructions sur demande".

And this from 1976:

Upper caption:
Italian: "FALCO OTTICA. Occhiale per impiego subacqueo disponibile con lenti per la correzione di qualsiasi difetto della vista. E l'unica nel quale la distanza delle lenti dall'occhio è la stessa esistente negli occhiale normali. Documentazione a parte".
English: "OPTICAL FALCO. Diving glasses with lenses for correction of all sight defects. The only one with the best distance eye-lens like in the normal spectacles. Literature on request".
French: "FALCO OPTIQUE. Lunette de plongée disposantes de verres pour la correction de tout défaut de la vue. Les seules ayant une distance optimale oeil-verres, comme dans les meilleures lunettes pour hors de l'eau. Documentation sur demande".

Lower caption:
——————— FALCO OTTICA - OPTIC FALCO - FALCO OPTIQUE
------------------ALTRI OCCHIALI - OTHER GOGGLES - AUTRES LUNETTES

Italian: "Campo visivo dell'occhiale FALCO OTTICA confrontato con quelle di altre occhiali subacquei".
English: "Field of vision of OPTIC FALCO goggles compared with that of other diving goggles".
French: "Champ visuel des lunettes FALCO OPTIQUE comparé avec ce d'autres lunettes de plongée".

I'll leave it there for today. Some time midweek I shall return to vintage Technisub dive masks. Until then, stay safe and keep well.

 

[jale]

This Falco looks quite cool

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the posting and the likes, Jale, Angelo and Iowwall. They are appreciated.

The Universal is the last of the Technisub range of masks available during the 1960s. The model appeared first in the 1969 catalogue:

Italian: "universal - la maschera Technisub per tutti - corpo in gomma antiallergica - cerchietto di metallo cromato - nei colori: nero e azzurro. ART. 420 - L. 1.200".
Rough translation: "universal - the Technisub mask for everyone - antiallergenic rubber body - chromed metal rim - available colours: black and blue. ART. 420 - L. 1,200".

So a traditional oval mask complete with stainless-steel rim, top screw and split headstrap. This launched at a time when mask design was changing, not least at Technisub itself. The sole concession to the passage of time is the use of "antiallergenic rubber", probably neoprene. The Universal mask was conspicuous by its absence from subsequent catalogues.

 

[David Wilson]

Next up is the Technisub Globo mask, which made its début in 1972. You have probably already deduced that "globo" is Italian for "globe" (above). Here is the Technisub Globo mask from a 1972 issue of Mondo Sommerso:

Italian: "TECHNISUB: MIGLIORATA LA «GLOBO» - Presentata al Salone di Genova la versione definitiva della maschera «Globo» adatta per i principianti e per le immersioni non impegnative".
Rough translation: "TECHNISUB: THE IMPROVED 'GLOBO' - The definitive version of the 'Globo' mask suitable for beginners and for undemanding diving was presented at the Genoa Boat Show".

The caption implies that the "Globo" mask must have been around for a while if an "improved" and "definitive" version is already in prospect. What appears clear, however, is that the model is designed for casual, unchallenging underwater swimming rather than serious, committed diving. The very name "Globo" probably suggests that this is a "global" mask for all and sundry, not a specialist accoutrement for the experienced diver.

Here is the mask again in 1973:

This coloured catalogue image has no caption other than the stock number. No evidence either that the Globo survived in production beyond 1973.

That will suffice for today, as the remaining half-dozen Technisub masks to be reviewed arrived on the scene no earlier than the late 1970s. We shall examine some of these at the weekend. Until then keep well and stay safe.

 

[Angelo Farina]

Interesting how at beginning of seventies these masks without nose-pinching capabilities were still in production here in Italy. And people were using them, even for diving (or free diving) at depths where equalizing the ears is absolutely necessary.
How was this possible? It was because many divers (me included) did learn diving with these oval masks, and equalizing manoeuvres such as Valsalva or Frenzel were unknown to us, self-taught free divers.
What we did learn spontaneously is the equalizing method later been known as BTV (béance tubaire volontaire) or VTO (voluntary tubal opening - in English).
More info here: How to Do Hands-Free Equalization (BTV/VTO) - OpenWaterHQ
The method was formalised in France in the nineties, but, as proven by the existence and widespread usage of these oval masks, it was actually known since decades.
It is one of the best equalization methods. Definitely my favourite one.
And, in this sense, these oval masks were a great didactical tool, as they did force new divers to learn one of the best equalization techniques, which appears to having been later discarded in "modern" training, where divers are given a modern mask with nose-pinching capabilities, and introduced to Valsalva as the sole method, despite its inherent risks and poor effort-to-result ratio.
They were also great for learning how to evacuate water from the mask: when you can evacuate a mask with a 500cc internal volume and while free diving, you are capable of evacuating ANY kind of mask, even a full-face...
For this reason, in my diving club, we had a number of these Globo masks. They were used only for the exercise of mask evacuation. Some years later their rubber degradated, and we replaced them with four of the very first transparent silicone masks, the H/T oval model made by Scubapro:

These indeed were equipped with nose-pinching capability.