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

[David Wilson]

Model 1016

Another J-shaped snorkel with a lugged mouthpiece at the demand end and a snorkel keeper on the barrel for attachment to a diving mask.

I am afraid the catalogue has no explanation of what the Heath-Robinson-style contraption is at the supply end. The rubber tube attached at the top may be an extension to cushion shocks if the supply end collides with a rock, but I cannot hazard a guess about the purpose or function of what look like metal fittings. Here is the catalogue illustration of the device as separate replacement parts:

Any ideas about the purpose or function of these items? Answers on a postcard... Or better still, post a message on this thread.

 

[David Wilson]

Model 1021

We finish today with another curious breathing tube. The design closely resembles the following Parra patent we reviewed recently:

1 — mouthpiece; 2 — connector; 3 — side branch; 4 — barrel; 5 — rear; 6 — front; 7 — rubber valve; 8 — three cuts; 9 — flexible rubber tube.

The main difference is the novel mouthpiece in the case of the River snorkel.

On to the Industrias River snorkel-mask at the weekend.

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Model 1016

View attachment 811826​

Another J-shaped snorkel with a lugged mouthpiece at the demand end and a snorkel keeper on the barrel for attachment to a diving mask.

I am afraid the catalogue has no explanation of what the Heath-Robinson-style contraption is at the supply end. The rubber tube attached at the top may be an extension to cushion shocks if the supply end collides with a rock, but I cannot hazard a guess about the purpose or function of what look like metal fittings. Here is the catalogue illustration of the device as separate replacement parts:

View attachment 811827​

Any ideas about the purpose or function of these items? Answers on a postcard... Or better still, post a message on this thread.

I’m going to venture an educated guess on this apparatus. Take the wire, and place it inside the rubber cone, with the long end pointed up. The pingpong ball would be a float, which would swing that arm down when in air, but would float it up in water. The rubber (weighted???) stopper would then swing down and plug the snorkel’s main tube when underwater. This wouldn’t work well when in a current, or swimming fast underwater, but that seems to be the engineering that would make this adapter work (sort of).

SeaRat

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks, John, for your insight in the operating mechanism of the snorkel valve.

Today we look at the Industrias River snorkel-mask 7001:

The catalogue description neatly calls this device an "internal respiration mask" or a "internal breathing mask". The model comes with a round viewing window but no metal rim to secure it in the groove within the rubber body, which is reinforced with thick ribs. The breathing tube emerges from a socket top centre with a ball-type shut-off valve at the supply end. A harness attached to the snorkel-keeper retains the breathing tube in a position parallel to the head while securing the mask itself to the back of the head.

 

[David Wilson]

On Facebook's Beltrán Museum, the following image of the model 7001 has been posted:

The placement of the snorkel-mask on the mannequin suggests that this model was designed to be a full-face mask enclosing the mouth as well as the eyes and nose. Note how this configuration results in the vertical strap fitting tightly and without the possibility of adjustment onto the top of the head. It is also conceivable that the snorkel-mask might have been worn further up the forehead, freeing the mouth while still permitting nasal breathing.

We shall explore the range of Industrias River swimming fins some time midweek.

 

[Popgun Pete]

Model 1016

View attachment 811826​

Another J-shaped snorkel with a lugged mouthpiece at the demand end and a snorkel keeper on the barrel for attachment to a diving mask.

I am afraid the catalogue has no explanation of what the Heath-Robinson-style contraption is at the supply end. The rubber tube attached at the top may be an extension to cushion shocks if the supply end collides with a rock, but I cannot hazard a guess about the purpose or function of what look like metal fittings. Here is the catalogue illustration of the device as separate replacement parts:

View attachment 811827​

Any ideas about the purpose or function of these items? Answers on a postcard... Or better still, post a message on this thread.

At a guess I think the upper tube is soft and can kink, the idea is the float swings up as the snorkel body descends and causes the top section to buckle over creating a partial closure of the air tube, more as a splash entry protector rather than as a dry snorkel. The top section being softer probably deteriorates faster, hence it is a spare, the ball float and its wire arm may be bent, hence also a spare. The best course of action for the user would be to throw these parts in the bin immediately.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the post, Pete.

We now move on to Industrias River swimming fins. Just a couple of models. First, the Model 101:

The catalogue description simply says that this is a men's swimming fin. What we have here is a semi-closed fin with a twin buckle adjustable heel strap and an extended foot platform with a heel tab at the back to aid donning. The blade is reinforced with five ribs, including the side rails. The tips of the blade suggest that this might be an asymmetric fin.

 

[David Wilson]

The second Industrias River fin of the day is the model 107:

The catalogue caption tells us that this is a ladies and youngsters' swimming fin. Like the 101, the blade is reinforced with five ribs, including the side rails. The foot pocket has a toe opening, while an unusual strap arrangement at the heel secures the fin on the foot. This fastening design resembles, but is not identical to, the strapping on the French-made Kent Submarine Tiki fin:

The Jopen Match Super fin was also made in France with similar strapping:

At the weekend, I shall proceed to another Spanish diving equipment manufacturer, probably Safari sub.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks, John, for the likes.

We move on today to Safari sub, which remains in business to this very day. The firm operates from calle Cartón, 11, 03690 Sant Vicent del Raspeig, Alicante in Spain. The image above shows a view of the city harbour with the Castle of Santa Bárbara in the foreground.

According to Safari sub S.L., Safari Sub is a wholesaler, importer and manufacturer of beach items that provides service through its delivery fleet to more than 5,000 retailers throughout Spain. They are dedicated to the manufacture and marketing of all kinds of beach items and souvenirs for retailers. They have offices in different points of the Spanish coasts. Its delegations are distributed throughout Alicante, Catalonia, Menorca, Mallorca, Ibiza and the Canary Islands. Safari Sub has different brands of beach products. Among them are Safari Beach, Sunway, Nemrod and Carla Rossi. These firms stand out for being all related to the world of the beach, the sea and the ocean. Among its products you can find beach toys, mats, beach bags, diving goggles, floats and many more.

The company premises:

The company logo:

​

 

[David Wilson]

The banner above traces Safari sub back to 1969. The first catalogue is dated 1968-1969:

Here is an undated item of company publicity:

The item identifies Safari, as it was previously known, as active in the fields of underwater fishing, diving and swimming equipment. It also mentions that the company defends the safety of practitioners of these activities, sacrificing other interests.

Another milestone in the company history. After the demise of Nemrod during the 1990s, Safari sub took over the company's assets including the brand name.

That's all for today, but I shall return midweek to start a review of historical Safari sub diving masks.