Basic gear from the mid-twentieth-century Federal Republic of Germany

[David Wilson]

As promised, we'll move on now to West Germany's other basic diving equipment companies, Tauchtechnik and Dräger (Anglicised as "Draeger").

First Tauchtechnik. My main source for this firm was a couple of catalogues, accessible at:
http://www.sukellusmuseo.fi/esitteet/tauchtechnik.pdf
TAUCHTECHNIK Catalogo 1969 | BluTimeScubaHistory
http://www.cg-45.com/downloads/download.php?file=Catalogs/TAUCHTECKNIK/Tauchtechnik1.pdf

A little background information about the company can be found at Double Hose Regulators - Tauchtechnik, and I quote: "Tauchtechnik. The company from Eckernförde originally has started under the name "Tauchtechnik Grütter" as importer of products from "La Spirotechnique". Tauchtechnik (German for "Diving Technology") was a former diving equipment manufacturer trading, in the 60s, at Niewark 10, 233 Eckernförde, a German town in Schleswig-Holstein on the coast of the Baltic Sea approximately 30 km northwest of Kiel. Their products included single hose regulators and double hose regulators, which were also offered by Barakuda."

If you are interested in double-hose regulators, you will find plenty of photographs of the same on this web page. Our purpose here, however, is to review the fins, masks and snorkels available from Tauchtechnik. This task is rendered more difficult by the fact that Tauchtechnik was an importer of diving products. My reading of the two catalogues leads me to the conclusion that most, or even all, of the basic equipment featured in them was "carried", as distinct from manufactured, by the German firm.

We'll start with Tauchtechnik diving masks Scuba Vision and Baltica II:

1. Scuba Vision:

German: "SCUBA VISION. Luxus Tauchmaske mit besonders großem Sehfeld. Hochwertige Gummiqualität, einwandfreie Paßform. Securitscheibe. Leicht zugängliche Einbuchtungen für den Druckausgleich. Farbe schwarz. Bestell-Nr. 130 DM 29,80."
English: "SCUBA VISION. Luxury diving mask with a particularly large field of view. High quality rubber, perfect fit. Safety-glass lens. Easily accessible finger wells for compensation. Colour black. Order no. 130 DM 29.80."

Note the word "TAUCHTECHIK" embossed on the mask strap in the image. At that time (1969), "Scuba Vision" was the name of a Marin-branded diving mask manufactured in France:

The Marin and the Tauchtechnik versions of the "Scuba Vision" appear to be identical except for the word "Tauchtechnik" on the strap. The Nice-based Marin brand is known to be an original equipment manufacturer for other firms, notably Typhoon in the UK. The Marin Scuba Vision was also imported to Germany by Barakuda. My tentative conclusion is that the Tauchtechnik strap is simply a case of rebranding an imported French diving mask.

2. Baltica II

German: "BALTICA II. Druckausgleichsmaske. Eine neue TAUCHTECHNIK-Maske von ausgezeichneten Eigenschaften: Gut abdichtender Gummikörper erstklassiger Qualität mit ausgearbeitetem Nasenerker. Polierter Metallrand ohne störende Mittelklammer. Natürlich Sicherheitsglas. Großes Sehfeld bei denkbar geringem Innenraum. Doppeltes Nackenband. Zum Druckausgleichen ist die Nase von außen bequem erreichbar. Jetzt doppelter Dichtrand! Bestell-Nr. 110 schwarz DM 19,80. Bestell-Nr. 111 gelb DM 19,80."
English: "BALTICA II. Compensator mask. A new TAUCHTECHNIK mask with excellent properties: Well-sealing rubber body of first-class quality with elaborated nose recess. Polished metal edge without the annoying clamping screw at the centre. Safety glass, of course . Large field of view with a minimum internal volume. Double head band. The nose is easily accessible from the outside for compensation purposes. Now with a double sealing edge! Order No. 110 black DM 19.80. Order No. 111 yellow DM 19.80."

This model has better credentials to be considered a genuine Tauchtechnik diving mask rather than a rebranded import. The name "Baltica II" seems to suggest a local provenance, as the Baltic Sea was Tauchtechnik's closest body of water. Unless anybody knows different... I am not suggesting that the design is particularly original in the light of Luigi Ferraro's early-1950s Pinocchio mask, which was revolutionary at the time.

I quite like the look of the yellow version of the Baltica II, but German eBay very seldom features auctions of older German basic gear, so I'm not expecting to be in the bidding business soon!

 

[David Wilson]

On to the snorkels in the Tauchtechnik catalogues:

German: "TUBA. Einfacher Standardschnorchel aus gelbem PVC-Rohr, mit querliegendem Gummi-Mundstück. Sehr leichtes Ausblasen . Bestell-Nr. 101 DM 2,80."
English: "TUBA. Simple standard snorkel made from yellow PVC tubing, with a transverse rubber mouthpiece. Blowing water out is very easy. Order no. 101 DM 2.80."
"Tuba" is French for "snorkel". Note the lanyard worn around the neck and intended to provide extra security against snorkel loss.

The TUBAFLEX model represented a more sophisticated version of the TUBA in material and price:
German: "TUBAFLEX. Schwarzer Gummischnorchel für Gerätetaucher. Weich genug, um nicht zu drücken, hart genug, um nicht zu knicken. Drehbares Gummimundstück, querliegend. dadurch geringstmögliche Pendelatmung. Unverlierbar durch Nylonhalsband. Hygienisch verpackt in Plastikbeutel. Bestell-Nr. 102 schwarz DM 6,80."
English: "TUBAFLEX. Black rubber snorkel for scuba divers. Soft enough not to exert pressure, hard enough not to kink. Rotatable rubber mouthpiece, transverse. therefore the minimum possible pendulum breathing. Hard to lose, thanks to the nylon lanyard. Hygienically packed in plastic bags. Order no. 102 black DM 6.80."
Explanation of "pendulum breathing": "The so-called pendulum breathing occurs when you use a snorkel that is too long. Then a part of the air you breathed out remains in the snorkel and you breathe it in again (pendulum air). This can present an earnest health hazard. Because the content of carbon dioxide in your snorkel increases more and more, until it reaches a critical value. Then you can lose consciousness." (What is Pendulum Breathing and how do I aviod it? | rateyourdive.com)

This model shares the name "Tubaflex" with a Cavalero Champion breathing tube:

The Champion breathing tube comes with an eye to thread through a neck lanyard, but otherwise the designs have different shapes. The Tauchtechnik Tubaflex is perhaps more reminiscent of a couple of La Spirotechnique models:

Like the Tauchtechnik Tubaflex, the Spiroflex was an all-rubber product, but it came with a flexible-hose mouthpiece. Both Tauchtechnik snorkels were an L-shaped design and appear to have been manufactured by Tauchtechnik.

 

[David Wilson]

And so we come to the fins in the Tauchtechnik catalogue. In this case, the provenance is clear.

German: "MARIN Schwimmflossen. Schwimmflosse klassischer Form mit 18° ebgewinkeltem Fiossenblatt und weichem Schuhteil. Erstklassige Paßform. Ungewöhnlich hochwertige Gummiqualität, schwimmend, Farbe: schwarz. Nr. 227 Gr. 35-38 DM 33,—. Nr. 227B Gr. 38-40 DM 37,—. Nr. 228 Gr. 40-42 DM 37,—. Nr. 229 Gr. 43—45 DM 39,—.
Nr. 229B Gr. 46-48 DM 44,—."
English: "MARIN swim fins. Classic-style fin with 18 ° angled fin blade and soft foot pocket. First-class fit. Unusually high- quality rubber, floating, colour: black. No. 227 Gr. 35-38 DM 33. -. No. 227B Gr. 38-40 DM 37.-. No. 228 Gr. 40-42 DM 37. -. No. 229 Gr. 43-45 DM 39.-. No. 229B Gr. 46-48 DM 44, -.
German: "JETFIN Schwimmflossen. Größte Revolution seit der Erfindung der Schwimmflossen. Ungewöhnlich schnelles Wettkampfmodell für kräftige Schwimmtaucher. Verstellbares Fersenband. Auch mit Füßlingen tragbar. Nr. 251 Gr. 42-44 DM 5, —. Nr. 250 Gr. 43-48 m. Fersenband DM 38,80."
English: "JETFIN swim fins. Greatest revolution since fins were invented. Unusually fast competition model for strong swimmers and divers. Adjustable heel strap. Can also be worn with booties. No. 251 size 42-44 DM 5, -. No. 250 size 43-48 m. Heel strap DM 38.80."

If you want further information about these fins, I refer you to my thread about French basic gear of the mid twentieth century. The important matter here is that these Marin and Beuchat fins were imported from France and not made by Tauchtechnik.

That's your lot for today and for Tauchtechnik. I'll move on to Dräger next time.

 

[David Wilson]

On to the Lübeck-based company Dräger, spelled Draeger in the English-speaking world.

Throughout its history, this company had many "irons in the fire" outside the world of diving equipment manufacturing in general and the more specialised world of rebreathers and divers' jelmets. If you are interested in the firm's range of products and involvement in historic events such as the first ascent of Everest, the company's website has plenty of documentation to satisfy your curiosity.
Dräger history
Draeger.Web WWW - Draeger Master
Draeger.Web WWW - Draeger Master
Draeger.Web WWW - Draeger Master
https://www.draeger.com/Corporate/Content/the_history_of_draeger.pdf
https://www.draeger.com/Corporate/Content/the_history_of_draeger_2.pdf
https://www.draeger.com/Corporate/Content/draeger_review_106_72dpi.pdf
https://www.divinghelmet.nl/1899-draegerwerk.html
Draeger - Ocean Recon
Index Draegerwerk, Lübeck

Scans of Dräger's 1956, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1977 and 1978 catalogues are available for viewing and download on the websites below. I will be relying on these online resources when I explore the basic underwater gear marketed by Dräger.
Dräger catalogues
www.sukellusmuseo.fi
https://personal.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8d6d638a5f6075b5a46a
CG-45 - Downloads /downloads/Catalogs/
Cataloghi Completi | BluTimeScubaHistory
VSC - sbírka potápěčské techniky
Catalogues - Google Drive

 

[David Wilson]

Dräger referred to basic gear such as fins and masks as "Tauchzubehör" or "accessories to diving", which may explain their absence from many of the company's catalogues. When they did appear, these fins and masks were clearly other companies' products. This from the 1961 catalogue:

The fins are labelled as Barakuda Originals:

So Dräger did not make these fins, but "carried" models made by Barakuda of Hamburg to complement the suits and breathing equipment Dräger did manufacture. Non-adjustable open-heel Barakuda Original fins appeared in Dräger's 1961 and 1967 catalogues.

By way of contrast, here is a page from the 1962 Dräger catalogue:

The fins showcased above are Barakuda Gigants, which Barakuda launched in 1962 and and maintained in production until at least the early 1980s. Here's a clearer image of them alongside a pair of Barakuda Originals:

Both models were primarily designed for the use of military combat swimmers. They may have last appeared in Dräger's 1969 catalogue:

 

[David Wilson]

A mask also appears as an "accessory for diving" in Dräger's 1961 catalogue:

This mask with its different strap arrangement reminds me of this Soviet Respirator mask:

It isn't the same model, of course, but I haven't been able to match it with a particular Barakuda mask. It seems likely that it was manufactured by Dräger itself, if the following image is to be believed:

It appears in Dräger's 1961, 1962 and 1967 catalogues. In Dräger's 1971 sport diving catalogue, a different mask appears:

The captions reads: "Single-window mask. With pinch recesses for compensation." So a compensator mask of unknown provenance.

That's enough for today and this will be my last postion about West German fins, masks and snorkels from the vintage era. I'm minded to proceed to a thread about basic gear from Austria. It will be a relatively short one.

 

[Akimbo]

These weights were very well designed and crafted... pretty expensive though. They easily clipped onto a strap with a hinged thin stainless piece of sheet metal with a simple but secure rectangular clip at the top. They stayed in place even when clipped to a vertical strap on a harness.

They made it much easier for divers locking out of a bell to quickly adjust their buoyancy. Very slick but hard to cost-justify for recreational diving. I wish I held on to a few.

We could still get them in the mid-1970s.