Basic gear from mid-twentieth-century Spain: Nemrod

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Angelo, Iowwall and Pressurehead. And for the post, Pete.

We start today with the Nemrod Granada diving mask, launched in 1979. Granada is is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of four rivers, the Darro, the Genil, the Monachil and the Beiro.

Here is the mask in the 1979 Nemrod catalogue:

Spanish: "GRANADA. 2021301. Nuevo diseño. Nemrod para deportistas muy exigentes. Todos los detalles estudiados al máximo para ofrecer alta visibilidad. Cristal templado. Doble faldón".
Rough translation: "GRANADA. 2021301. New design. Nemrod for very demanding sportsmen. All the details analysed to the maximum to offer high visibility. Tempered glass. double skirt".

So another kidney-shaped mask with a plastic rim, split headstrap, external compensator nosepiece and tempered glass lens. The rounded rectangular profile is associated with masks intended to maximise field of vision. Another image:

 

[David Wilson]

Our second Nemrod model is the Concha mask. "Concha" is Spanish for "seashell". Here is the mask in the 1969 Nemrod catalogue, where it was launched:

Spanish: "CONCHA. 2021901. Iguales características que la máscara GRANADA. Adaptabilidad suave y perfecta al contorno de la cara. Proyectada para profesionales. Cristal templado. Doble faldón".
Rough translation: "CONCHA. 2021901. Same characteristics as the GRANADA mask. Soft and perfect fit to the contour of the face. Designed for professionals. Tempered glass. double skirt".

So similar specifications to Nemrod Granada mask. Here are some images of the mask:

Enough for today. Back at the weekend with a couple more Nemrod masks from 1979. Stay safe and keep well.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Angelo and Luis.

Today we look at the Nemrod Golfo and Gomero diving masks. "Golfo" is Spanish for "gulf". A gulf is a large inlet from the ocean into the landmass, typically with a narrower opening than a bay, but that is not observable in all geographic areas so named. The term "gulf" was traditionally used for large highly-indented navigable bodies of salt water that are enclosed by the coastline. Many gulfs are major shipping areas, such as the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Finland, and Gulf of Aden. As for the mask, launched in 1979:

The Golfo is the seventh item from the top with the red rim and the black skirt. It has accordion-style compensator bosses on the inside. The two versions c/n and c/t may refer to "normal" and "tempered" glass as the lens materials.

Some further Golfo imagery:

 

[David Wilson]

Today's second Nemrod diving mask is the Gomera, probably named after La Gomera, one of Spain's Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. With an area of 370.03 km² (142.87 square miles), it is the third smallest of the eight main islands of this archipelago.

The Nemrod Gomero diving mask appears third and fourth on the 1979 catalogue page above with a rounded lens and a light blue skirt and headstrap. The difference between the Gomera and the Gomera-S is the presence of a stainless-steel rim in the latter.

More Gomera imagery:

So the Gomera was also available with a black skirt and headstrap.

Next time, probably midweek, we shall take a look at the Nemrod Sirena and Tossa diving masks. Until then, stay safe and keep well.

​

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Angelo and Luis.

We now come to Surena and Tossa, the final two Nemrod diving masks I have found from the vintage era and launched in 1979. "Sirena" is Spanish for "siren" or "mermaid", described as an aquatic creature with the head and upper body of a female human and the tail of a fish. Mermaids appear in the folklore of many cultures worldwide, including Europe, Asia, and Africa. Bronze statue of "sirena" above in the Spanish capital Madrid.

As for the Nemrod Sirena mask, here is an image of the model in the 1979 Nemrod catalogue, the fifth one down with the orange rim.

So a plastic-rimmed mask with concertina-style compensator bosses on the inside. More Sirena imagery below:

So now you know what is written on the metal device at the top of the rim!

 

[David Wilson]

On to the Nemrod Tossa diving mask. The product name "Tossa" may come from Tossa de Mar (above), a municipality in Catalonia, Spain, located on the coastal Costa Brava, about 103 kilometres north of Barcelona and 100 kilometres south of the French border. The mask was introduced in 1979, here in the catalogue of that year (second model down):

Spanish: "TOSSA. 2021801. Gran visión y muy pequeña cámara interna. Modelo muy aconsejado para especialistas. Cristal templado. Doble faldón".
Rough translation: "TOSSA. 2021801. Great vision and very small internal chamber. Model highly recommended for specialists. Tempered glass. double skirt".

More Tossa imagery:

Two varieties of the mask above. Can you spot the subtle difference between them?

That's all for today. Next time, at the weekend, we shall move on to vintage Nemrod snorkels. Keep safe and stay well.

 

[lowwall]

So....many....masks.

Were people buying masks like fashion accessories back then? "Have you seen the new fall mask? It's got a red rim and comes in two nose sizes. I simply must have one."

 

[David Wilson]

So....many....masks.

Were people buying masks like fashion accessories back then? "Have you seen the new fall mask? It's got a red rim and comes in two nose sizes. I simply must have one."

I agree, Nemrod was particularly prolific when it came to patents, product ranges or anything else. Hyperactive, determined to make money while the sun shone and people enjoyed seaside vacations with Nemrod gear to swim in the Mediterranean.

 

[Popgun Pete]

On to the Nemrod Tossa diving mask. The product name "Tossa" may come from Tossa de Mar (above), a municipality in Catalonia, Spain, located on the coastal Costa Brava, about 103 kilometres north of Barcelona and 100 kilometres south of the French border. The mask was introduced in 1979, here in the catalogue of that year (second model down):

View attachment 749097​

Spanish: "TOSSA. 2021801. Gran visión y muy pequeña cámara interna. Modelo muy aconsejado para especialistas. Cristal templado. Doble faldón".
Rough translation: "TOSSA. 2021801. Great vision and very small internal chamber. Model highly recommended for specialists. Tempered glass. double skirt".

More Tossa imagery:

View attachment 749098
View attachment 749100​

Two varieties of the mask above. Can you spot the subtle difference between them?

That's all for today. Next time, at the weekend, we shall move on to vintage Nemrod snorkels. Keep safe and stay well.

I remember a twin lens plastic frame mask like the “Tossa” being sold here, but I am pretty sure it had a different name as a “Tossa” would not have gone down so well here.

 

[David Wilson]

I remember a twin lens plastic frame mask like the “Tossa” being sold here, but I am pretty sure it had a different name as a “Tossa” would not have gone down so well here.

It would have had the same meaning here in the UK, Pete, although some British people might have been familiar with the name of the Costa Brava resort with the growth of foreign travel in the 1970s. Product nomenclature is supposed to be a serious business, with research done to ensure a chosen name in one language doesn't have an unfortunate meaning in another.

Reminds me of a story I read about a group of US troops during the Iraq war. They entered a home in Baghdad to search the premises and one soldier burst out laughing when he went into the kitchen and saw a packet of washing powder on a shelf. The brand name on the box (above) was "Barf".