Basic gear from mid-twentieth-century Spain: Nemrod

[emoreira]

Though not "basic" gear, I've found this dry manometer in a box in the dive school and put back to work.

I've changed the glass, made a ring for the front face, and made a new relief valve. white parts are 3D printed.

 

[David Wilson]

Thank you for the likes, jale, Angelo, undrwater and JMBL. And for the post, emoreira.

Today we look first at the Nemrod Cadiz diving mask. Cádiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the Province of Cádiz, one of eight that make up the autonomous community of Andalusia. Cádiz, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe, with archaeological remains dating to the 12th century BC, was founded by the Phoenicians. In the 18th century, the Port in the Bay of Cádiz consolidated as the main harbor of mainland Spain, enjoying the virtual monopoly of trade with the Americas until 1778. It is also the site of the University of Cádiz.

And now for the Cadiz mask itself:

Spanish: "NOTA: Nuestros fabricados de goma, contienen un producto químico especial que los hace más duraderos. Dicho producto puede en determinados casos, aflorar a la superficie de la pieza fabricada presentando un aspecto céreo de color blanquecino. En su proprio interés hemos renunciado a una mejor presentación, a fin de podar ofrecer a Ud. un producto más duradero. Todos nuestros fabricados están garantizados. En caso de reclamación, le rogamos tenga a bien incluir esta etiqueta de control".
Rough translation: "NOTE: Our rubber products contain a special chemical product that makes them more durable. Said product can, in certain cases, appear on the surface of the manufactured part, presenting a whitish waxy appearance. In your own interest we have renounced a better presentation, in order to be able to offer you a more durable product. All our products are guaranteed. In the event of a claim, please include this control label".

So a rounded rectangular mask with a snap-on metal rim, compensator bosses and a split strap:

 

[David Wilson]

Second Nemrod mask today is the Marbella. Named after the city and municipality of Marbella (above) in southern Spain, belonging to the province of Málaga in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is part of the Costa del Sol and is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, between Málaga and the Strait of Gibraltar, in the foothills of the Sierra Blanca.

As for the mask, launched in 1970:

The 1970 catalogue image caption says that this model made its début in 1970 and is available in white, light blue and orange. From what we can see, the mask is kidney-shaped with a snap-on rim and a split strap, not untypical of many models of the time.

Here is some auction imagery of the Marbella.

We shall leave matters there for the moment. Midweek we shall resume with a look at the Rosas and Canaris in the Nemrod mask range. Stay well and keep well.

​

 

[NothingClever]

Fantastic historical work @David Wilson . Thank you for your diligence and for your honorable contributions to the Board.

 

[David Wilson]

I'm grateful for the likes, Angelo and Jale. And thank you so much for your encouraging feedback, NothingClever, which sustains my research and postings.

Today's brace of Nemrod masks comprises the Rosas and Canaris models. The former is named after Rosas (harbour above), a municipality located on the Costa Brava, Catalonia, Spain. The mask made its début in 1971:

So the Rosas mask came with a tempered glass lens, a snap-on plastic rim, a split head strap and a nose pocket for compensation. According to the product description in the 1971 Seamless catalogue, it was designed not only to minimise weight, size and internal volume but also to maximise field of vision. The unique feature of this mask was an ability to fit an accessory with corrective lenses for those with impaired eyesight.

There was a choice of frame colour:

 

[David Wilson]

Our second Nemrod mask today is the Canaris. "Canaris" may derive from "Canarias", the Spanish name for the Canary Islands (Gran Canaria capital city Las Palmas above). This mask was also launched in 1971:

So an oval mask targeting the snorkelling market, fitted with a stainless-steel rim around a tempered glass lens but apparently without a compensator facility or a split head strap.

The Canaris then appears to have left the scene. We shall look at the Marino and Palmas masks next time, at the weekend. Until then, keep safe and stay well.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Angelo and Luis.

Today we look at Nemrod Marino and Palamos diving masks. In Spanish, "marino" means "marine", "sailor", "pertaining to the sea". As for the mask, launched in 1972:

So an oval mask with a metal snap-on rim and a flanged skirt for a better facial seal.

1973

The above from a catalogue targeting the US market. The envisaged end-user is subject to a budget, young and will probably be deploying the mask in a swimming pool rather than open water.

More Marino imagery:

 

[David Wilson]

Palamós (above) is a town and municipality in the Mediterranean Costa Brava, located in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. The Nemrod Palamos mask was also introduced in 1972:

So another budget mask, this time fitted with compensator bosses for ear clearing.

More Palamos mask imagery:

So the mask changed shape over time from traditional steel-rimmed oval to rounded rectangular with plastic frame.

We shall return midweek to take a closer look at the Nemrod Palma mask. Until then, keep safe and stay well.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Luis, Jale and JMBL.

Let us start today with the Nemrod Palma mask, introduced in 1973. This model is likely named after Palma (de Mallorca), the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain (above). It is situated on the south coast of Mallorca on the Bay of Palma. The Cabrera Archipelago, though widely separated from Palma proper, is administratively considered part of the municipality.

Image above from the 1973 Nemrod catalogue. The French caption draws attention to the "mini size" of the model, its security rim, its compensation facility and its purge valve.

More Palma imagery:

So a binocular dive mask with low internal volume and a nose pocket for ear-clearing.

 

[David Wilson]

Also appearing in 1973 was the Nemrod Alicante dive mask, named after the the capital of the province of Alicante and a historic Mediterranean port (above). The population of the city was 337,482 as of 2020, the second-largest in the Valencian Community.

And here is the mask from the same 1973 French Nemrod catalogue:

The caption mentions the wide field of vision, a luxury model, a double skirt, a stainless-steel rim, tempered glass lens, ear-clearing facility, streamlined buckle and purge valve.

Some Alicante imagery:

So a rectangular mask, which was supposed to provide wider vision for the user.

Next time, at the weekend, we shall move on to the Nemrod Lux and Super Lux models. Keep safe and stay well.