Basic gear from mid-twentieth-century Spain: Nemrod

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Angelo, Akimbo, Jale and Luis. And for the post, Pete. Sportsways "pig-nose" mask below:

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On to the Nemrod Bali mask, named, of course, after the Indonesian island of Bali:

Facebook's Nemrod Museum distinguishes as many as five stages in its evolution. Here is Type 1, in production between 1964 and 1968:

So an oval mask fitted with a metal rim, a purge valve and a nose-pinch compensator for ear clearing.

Here it is in 1964:

1965

1966

 

[David Wilson]

Type 2 lasted from 1969 to 1978:

Noticed any difference? The absence of the screw atop the metal band and its replacement with a snap-on rim.

Type 3 was marketed between 1979 and 1982.

Note the addition of an internal flange to enable the mask to fit a wider range of facial profiles and to achieve a more watertight seal.

 

[David Wilson]

Nemrod Bali mask Type 4 (1983-1987):

More of a cosmetic change, namely the yellow line along the circumference of the tempered-glass lens.

Type 5 (1988-1999) was the final version of the Nemrod Bali mask, which in all remained in production for over three decades.

The model name "Bali" is no longer engraved in the rubber.

So much for the development of Nemrod's most enduring and popular dive mask. The model made it as far as the USA, if this newspaper ad in the 21 June 1972 issue of the South Idaho Press is to be believed:

Enough for today. Up for review midweek is Nemrod's Colombo mask. Stay safe and keep well.

 

[Popgun Pete]

The “Bali” dive mask was sold here in Oz for decades and was a staple of the dive scene along with the Peche Sport-Beuchat “Compensator” which was a very similarly styled mask. These oval masks fitted a wide range of facial shapes and were the most commonly stocked until twin lens masks became more popular. As for the names the choice may have started with well-known holiday spots for dive oriented vacations.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, JMBL, Luis H, Jale and Iowwall, and for the post, Pete.

Today's Nemrod mask is the Colombo. Colombo is Spanish for "dove", although we should also remember perhaps that Nemrod named one of its masks after Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), whose capital is Colombo.

The Colombo went through two versions. Type 1 was in production from 1964 to 1968.

Here is the mask in the 1966 Seamless catalogue:

So a traditional oval mask without a compensator but with a split strap and a top screw. The American catalogue pitches the model at younger users, which may mean a budget price or a smaller facial fit.

Here is the mask on sale in a 1967 Florida newspaper:

 

[David Wilson]

The Type 2 Nemrod Colombo dive mask was marketed between 1969 and 1981:

The principal difference between Type 1 and Type 2 is the snap-on rim replacing the metal rim with its adjustable top screw.

1975

Here are some more images of the model.

We shall move on to the Nemrod Tarraco mask next time, at the weekend. Until then, keep well and stay safe.

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[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Akimbo, Angelo and jale.

Now for the Nemrod Tarraco diving mask. Tarraco (see above) is the ancient name of the current city of Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain). It was the oldest Roman settlement on the Iberian Peninsula. It became the capital of the Roman province of Hispania Citerior during the period of the Roman Republic, and of Hispania Tarraconensis following the latter's creation during the Roman Empire. In 2000, the archaeological ensemble of Tarraco was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The Nemrod Tarraco mask made its début in 1967. Here it is in a Florida newspaper cutting published that year:

The Fort Lauderdale News ad describes the Tarraco as a "youth model", which probably means that it sits at the budget end of the range, unenhanced with features such as a top screw, a split strap or compensator bosses.

1975

Undated

So the Tarraco came in red and light blue. Red was an uncommon colour for the rubber skirts of diving masks.

 

[David Wilson]

Let us move on to the Nemrod Valencia mask, which first appeared in 1968. This model is named after the capital of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third-most populated municipality in Spain (see above), with 789,744 inhabitants. It is located on the banks of Turia, on the east coast of the Iberian Peninsula, at the Gulf of Valencia, north of the Albufera lagoon.

1968

So a rounded rectangular mask, a lens shape that claimed to have the widest field of vision.

1969

Two more versions eventually appeared:

Type 2

Type 3

I'll finish here and return midweek with another Nemrod mask, probably the Toledo. Keep safe and stay well until then.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Jale and Angelo.

Today's Nemrod dive mask is the Toledo, named after a city and municipality of Spain (above), capital of the province of Toledo and the de jure seat of the government and parliament of the autonomous community of Castilla–La Mancha. Toledo was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive monumental and cultural heritage.

The Toledo mask was launched in 1969:

So a mask with a nose pocket for compensation and a metal band around the kidney-shaped lens of the type characteristic of the late 1960s and the early 1970s, building on the heritage of the Cressi Pinocchio mask launched as far back as the early 1950s.

Facebook's Nemrod Museum dusplays a second version of the Toledo:

As you can see, the difference is largely cosmetic with a yellow line around the circumference of the lens.

 

[David Wilson]

Second Nemrod mask of the day is the Denia. Denia is a historical coastal city in the province of Alicante, Spain, on the Costa Blanca halfway between Alicante and Valencia, and the capital and judicial seat of the comarca of Marina Alta. Denia's historical heritage has been influenced by Iberian, Greek, Roman, Islamic, Napoleonic and Christian civilizations. As of 2014, it had a population of 41,672,[2] although this is more than doubled by tourism during the summer months.

The Denia also came out in 1969:

A three-window mask for all-round vision along with all the benefits and features of the Toledo. US Divers has a similar "Wraparound" mask but with silicone skirts that can still be purchased nowadays:

That's it for today. We shall return at the weekend to take a closer look at the Nemrod Cadiz mask. Stay safe and keep well.