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

[David Wilson]

Thanks for post, Pete. I've sent you a direct message.

On now to the historical Spanish diving equipment manufacturer Copino. Once again little information online and in print about this company, which was based in Palma de Mallorca (above), the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain, situated on the south coast of Mallorca on the Bay of Palma.

The man behind Copino was one Juan Comas Tous, described as an "entrepreneur and imaginative motorcycle mechanic". Between 1960 and 1990, he amassed an impressive list of patents protecting speargun and roofing inventions. His 1973 company catalogue listed a range of basic underwater hunting equipment including spearguns, fins, masks, snorkels, fins, suits and knives. It also offered rowing boats and motorboats.

 

[David Wilson]

Let us start with Copino diving masks available in the early 1970s. They had no product names, just stock numbers.

200

So a traditional non-compensator design. A stainless-steel band secured with a top screw around an oval lens. The mask skirt is reinforced with ribs. and the unsplit head strap is attached to twin buckles.

More Copino masks at the weekend.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, John.

More Copino diving masks. Here is the 220 model:

So a compensator mask with an oval window surrounded by a metal rim. A headstrap with twin buckles. This time I have found some real-life examples from the Spanish website Todocoleccion.

The embossed words read "MOD. 220", "Copino", "MADE IN SPAIN" and "P.MALLORCA" (Palma de Mallorca, where Copino was located).

 

[David Wilson]

On to the Copino 500 model diving mask:

Once again a compensator mask but with concertina-like bosses for nostril pinching. The oval lens has a flattened top and is surrounded by a metal rim with a top screw. The headstrap is kept im position not only by twin buckles but also by nubs on the surface. Altogether a better quality article. Here is an illustration of compensation with the 500 model:

I have some Todocollecion images of the 500 to display:

We shall take a look at another couple of Copino diving masks midweek.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the like, John.

Now for the Copino 800 model diving mask:

An oval lens, flattened top and bottom, surrounded by a metal rim with an elaborate top screw. The headstrap is attached with twin buckles, also of an elaborate design.

Some 800 model imagery:

 

[David Wilson]

And here is the Copino 900 model:

A replica of the 800 model, apart from the compensator.

Copino 900 model imagery:

One more Copino diving mask to review at the weekend, then we proceed to Copino breathing tubes.

​

 

[David Wilson]

Today's Copino diving mask is the 1001 model:

Spanish: "LENTE muy indicado para GRANDES INMERSIONES. Cristal inastillable - NOVEDAD".
Rough translation: "MASK very suitable for DEEP DIVES. Shatterproof glass - NEW PRODUCT".

So a kidney-shaped mask with a nose-piece for ear-clearing, closely resembling Cressi's Pinocchio model but without the metal wire.

1001 model imagery:

 

[David Wilson]

On now to Copino breathing tubes.

10 model

A child's valveless snorkel comprising a straight barrel with a keeper and a combined U-bend elbow and twin-lugged mouthpiece at the demand end.

15 model

An adult snorkel with a straight barrel, keeper and combination U-bend and mouthpiece. There is a rubber extension at the supply end to reduce shocks to the mouth if the top is entangled or comes in contact with a hard object such as a rock.

20 model

The same specifications as the 15 model, but without the top extension.

More Copino snorkels midweek.

 

[Popgun Pete]

I have long thought that this plethora of brands flourished in a market largely served by local suppliers. For example here we had early local brands, but they were soon bowled over by European imports because the local stuff was somewhat lacking in sophistication, but in Europe with larger populations to sell to and shorter distances one could see something very marketable on a cross border trip and then scurry home to make something similar in your own factory. The passage of time eventually crushed the smaller competitors as they gradually lost market share.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the post, Pete.

More Copino breathing tubes.

30 Model

A combination U-bend and twin-lugged mouthpiece at the demand end, a long barrel with a keeper for mask attachment and a cap valve at the supply end. The latter device performs the same function as its counterpart on a semi-dry modern-style snorkel. The inside of the cap valve will resemble the workings of the following British-made Typhoon T1 snorkel:

Air passes through the holes in the alloy barrel when the valve is above the surface and water will follow when it dips below the surface. The cap serves to keep out water splashes when the sea is choppy.

Here is an image from 1954 showing the "T1" in use underwater:

The picture shows air being expelled from the top of the snorkel while the swimmer is under water.