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

[Popgun Pete]

A kinking rubber tube valve does not seem a promising idea which is what the patent is talking about. Most ball valve snorkels the ball rides up and down in a cage to open and close the air path. These gadgets can vibrate the snorkel on diving down and ascending which is why experienced divers chopped them off.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Luis, and for the post, Pete.

Beltrán breathing tube 1502:

Like the 1503 model discussed last time, the 1502 came with a double-flange lugged mouthpiece at the demand end and a keeper mid-barrel for attachment to a mask strap. Unlike the 1503, however,the 1502 was J-shaped and featured a cap valve or "splash cap" at the supply end. This 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.

 

[David Wilson]

Beltrán snorkel 1504:

So a conventional single-flange lugged mouthpiece ar the demand end and a cap valve to resist water entry at the supply end. The 1504 was a "frontal" snorkel of the kind now used by competitive swimmers.

How the breathing tube was secured to the head is unclear from the illustration. One possibility is the device attached to the following Typhoon T3 frontal breathing tube:

Since the breathing tube was positioned at the front rather than the side of the swimmer's head, it could not be retained by the mask strap in the same way as conventional breathing tubes were. The "attachment bracket" seen halfway along the barrel not only served served to anchor the snorkel to the top screw of a mask fitted with a metal rim but also functioned as a fulcrum enabling the snorkel to tilt backwards when the mouthpiece was released.

Here is a photograph from the 1956 publication Underwater sport on a small income by Barry J. Kimmins:

Apparently, there was a preference among mid-1950s British snorkellers for frontal snorkels long before such devices became a component of the competitive swimmer's kit.

More Beltrán snorkels to come at the weekend.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the like, Luis. Today's Beltrán breathing tubes are numbered 1520 and 1525.

1520

This model has a conventional single-flange lugged mouthpiece at the demand end, while the supply end is fitted with a ball-type shut-off valve. The barrel is J-shaped with an additional angle in the lower half and a keeper for attachment to a diving mask strap.

 

[David Wilson]

1525

The 1525 model is perhaps the simplest design. It consists of a straight open-ended barrel with a combined mouthpiece and elbow at the demand end. The mouthpiece itself is lugged and single-flanged.

1525A

I am somewhat uncertain whether the code number 1525A here refers to the snorkel keeper or to the entire snorkel. Assuming the latter, the barrel of the breathing tube is straight and fitted with a dufferent kind of keeper. The supply end is provided with a flexible rubber extension, which would have softened any shock experienced in the mouth if the tip had come into contact with a hard object like a rock. At the bottom there is a combined mouthpiece and U-bend elbow. The mouthpiece is lugged and single-flanged. At the centre of the elbow is a drain valve for expulsion of residual water. An altogether more elaborate offering.

More Beltrán snorkels midweek.

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Thanks for the likes, Luis, and for the post, Pete.

Today we start on the Baltrán masks proper, having reviewed the goggles last time. The main issue in doing so is the paucity of information available about these models.

Let us begin with the model numbered 1705:

View attachment 787880
View attachment 787881​

Spanish: "Gafas natación cristal circular, tamaño normal, un modelo muy práctico n.° 1.705".
Rough translation: "Circular lens swimming mask, normal size, a very practical model no. 1,705".

So an adult diving mask with a round window. The adjective "practical" may describe the article's versatility when undertaking a variety of underwater activities. No metal rim securing the lens, but the mask's skirt had a wide flange to ensure a leaktight seal on the face and reinforcing ribs to counter pressure at depth.

I found the following image of a Beltrán mask online a while ago without any additional information about it. It may or may not be a 1705 model:View attachment 787887
There is no number code to confirm whether this is a 1705 or not, but the product has received a name, "Nova", Spanish for "New".

I tried a mask like this as a kid snorkeling before getting into scuba (probably a Voit mask) with those confounded temple buckles, and did not like it at all. It hurt my temples.

SeaRat

 

[John C. Ratliff]

DRW,

Enclosed is a publication I wrote in 1988 as Finswimming Director for the Underwater Society of America. I think you'll find all the articles interesting (including my longest-ever swim). But the article by Dr. Arh. Lioulias & Professor Vas. Grammaticos, taken from the CMAS Finswimming Manual, talks about the monofin, and shows how to make one. At that time, there were very few (if any) actual manufacturers of monofins for finswimming competition. So the swimmers and their clubs made them themselves. When we went to the U.S. Olympic Committee, trying to get finswimming considered as a separate sport, the representative we met was amazed that we were using home-made monofins and front-mouted snorkels. I'll see whether I actually have the CMAS Finswimming Manual, and if so, will also post it here.

I tried to make one myself of fiberglass, and I figured I needed a sheet metal reinforcement. This led to a major embarrassment when, in a California finswimming competition, I was on the blocks and at the sound of the gun, made my racing dive. Or, at least I tried; my feet slipped on the sheetmetal, going through the heel straps, and I simply tumbled into the water back-first with my feet dangling through the leg straps of my home-made monofin. That was a complete failure, but made me really appreciate the workmanship that went into making a home-made monofin.

SeaRat

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, John and Jale. And for the two posts, John. The posting of the first edition of "Fin Swimming News" is much appreciated.

Now for more Beltrán snorkels.

1526

Spanish: "Respirador Beltrán con bola modelo n.° 1.526".
Rough translation: "Beltrán snorkel with ball (valve) model no. 1.526".

So this breathing tube came with a straight barrel fitted with a keeper for attachment to a mask strap. At the supply end, a ball valve enabling the open end to be shut off when submerged. At the demand end, a rubber U-bend terminating in a single-flange lugged mouthpiece. One of the first models made by Beltrán.

 

[David Wilson]

1527

This breathing tube also came with a shut-off valve at the top, but this time the moving part was a hinged float when submerged. Once again a straight barrel fitted with a different kind of keeper for attachment to the mask strap. The U-bend at the demand end is fitted not only with a single-flange lugged mouthpiece at the open end but also a drain valve at the bottom for the evacuation of residual water.

Another couple of Beltrán snorkels at the weekend.

 

[dmaziuk]

The following image of a snorkel with a double-flange mouthpiece is from a Soviet diving manual. I have added a translation of the Russian legend:

Minor nitpick: it's Ukrainian, or at least the USSR version thereof.