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

[David Wilson]

The excerpt above from the 1966 Barakuda catalogue shows we are now back to three versions of the Bonito: The Bonito, which came in black, the Bonito-Super in blue and the Bonito-Super-Luxus in yellow. The distinctive feature of the Bonito-Super was the superiority of the rubber blends used in its construction, while the Super-Luxus was made from positively buoyant rubber and pitched at the "ladies" within the diving community.

The three-model Bonito range continued during 1967:

and 1968:

No change there, other than a few price hikes. Here are examples of blue and yellow fins in the Bonito range:

 

[David Wilson]

We're on the home-straight now so far the Bonito line is concerned. The basic Bonito came in black or blue (non-floating) during 1969, while the Super version came in superior floating blue rubber. By 1963, we are down to one Bonito model in black:

The reduction in options seems to run counter to the caption extolling the Bonito as Barakuda's best-known, favourite fin. It survived intact the Mares-initiated mid-1970s "tupperware" revolution in composite fin design, though, to appear thus in the 1978 catalogue:

However, like many items of diving equipment, the Bonito was eventually outsourced from Hamburg to Malaysia as globalisation took hold and western manufacturers sought to reduce labour costs. Here are the markings of Bonito fins made in Germany:

The German instructions require the swimmer to wet or powder the fins before putting them on and to avoid running with them on. And here is the information embossed on a fin made in Malaysia:

No instructions to wet or powder the fins before they are donned or to avoid running after they are donned. Just an allusion to special quality (rubber blend?), to the manufacturing and commissioning countries and to the inner length and width (245mm and 95mm respectively) of the foot pockets as specified by German Standard DIN 7876.

Sadly, Bonitos are no longer in production nowadays because Barakuda itself is no longer in the diving equipment manufacturing business. We'll move on to another Barakuda fin next time, most likely the open-heel "Gigant", whose name means "giant" in German.

 

[David Wilson]

On to the Barakuda Gigant. This open-heel fin was released in the early 1960s and remained in production until the early 1980s at least. Here it is in the Hanburg company's 1962 catalogue:

"Gigant" means "Giant" in German. The caption translates roughtly as follows: "The fin with the highest degree of efficiency. Very hard blade, adjustable heel strap. This fin is only recommended for trained sports divers and is used with neoprene socks where possible. Gigant is the type of fin designed for combat swimmers in many nations. Sizes: 41-47.

The fin appeared in all subsequent 1960s catalogues with identical captions except for price variations. It was also exported to other countries. In my collection, I have an Aqua-Marine Sports catalogue from 1966, when I joined my university branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club. You can view the contents at https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bw7z_4bLjOOERUZLbFpoRmIwMEU because I decided a while ago to scan and post online all the catalogues I collected back then or have purchased since then. Wouldn't it be nice if everybody else followed suit to share these important historical sources of information with today's and tomorrow's researchers?

Anyway, here's the relevant page in the Aqua-Marine Sports catalogue:

The upshot is that you could get Barakuda fins in the English city of Bradford in Yorkshire in 1966. You've already met Bonito and Original earlier in this thread and Gigant is on offer too, captioned "A big broad-fitting fin".

 

[David Wilson]

In the early 1970s, Barakuda changed the caption for Gigant fins:

The above is extracted from the 1973 edition. While the first paragraph left of the picture remains the same, the second is new and translates roughly: "Heel strap fin, non-floating, very good quality rubber". The text on the extreme left draws attention to the fact that spare straps and buckles could be bought for this model.

Later catalogues from the 1970s published coloured images of the fins without explanatory text, e.g. from 1977:

Barakuda got back on track during the early 1980s:

The 1981 captions identify the Gigant as having seen long-term service with the combat swimmers and the mine divers of the Bundeswehr (West German Defence Forces). The straps on this version of the fin come with heel tabs to aid donning, particularly when ice diving.

And, finally, here is a picture of a an actual pair of Gigants:

Interesting to make comparisons with examples of other European countries' military fins:

France

UK

USSR

The common factors appear to be open heels and very stiff blades. That's it for today and I'll be back with another Barakuda fin that made its début in 1962, the Standard, another open-heel fin.

 

[David Wilson]

As promised, on to the Barakuda Standard fin. This model first appeared in 1962:

The caption translates roughly as follows: "Standard black. An inexpensive rubber fin delivering good performance. A symmetrical rib-reinforced blade, a snug fit and an adjustable strap are distinguishing features of this Barakuda fin, which is one of the most popular fins of its kind, thanks to its sturdy design. Notwithstanding its low price, good swimming performances are achievable with the Standard fin. Considered to be an absolutely full-featured and versatile swimming fin".

This description graced the fin for as long as it appeared in Barakuda catalogues. The final year of its appearance was 1969:

Note the price drop and the added child-sized version. The 1960s was a decade in fin development with a simpler hierarchy of designs within Europe. Adjustable open-heel fins were pitched at the beginners' or leisure market and priced accordingly for the budget-conscious. Closed-heel full-foot fins were considered more "serious-looking" and therefore higher-priced fins back then to be adopted more readily by SCUBA trainees or by any breath-hold underwater swimmers who dived all year round. Note too the absence of an extended foot platform to protect the heel. These fins would still have been worn barefoot, but the beaches of the North Sea tended to be sandier and therefore easier on naked feet than the stony beaches of the Mediterranean would have been. Compare these similar models from the contemporary UK diving equipment brands Typhoon and Britmarine respectively:

 

[David Wilson]

A fin called "Torpedo" appeared in the 1973 Barakuda catalogue:

Somehow familar? Yes, indeed, the Barakuda Standard model renamed and relaunched as "the fin for the whole family with an adjustable heelstrap". The same range of three sizes, but now a choice of colours: black or blue. The Torpedo model is absent from the 1978 Barakuda catalogue.

Sadly, the demise of the Barakuda Standard/Torpedo is symptomatic of the decline of a whole category of swimming fin, namely the rubber swim fin fitted with an adjustable heel strap and designed to be worn barefoot. Such fins tended to be cheaper, lighter and made from thinner and more comfortable material than modern adjustable open-heel fins, which are supposed to be worn over neoprene socks or boots. Pricing of open-heel and closed-heel fins has changed over the years, the former becoming more expensive than the latter as the labour costs are higher.

Our next port of call will be the Barakuda Dorado full-foot fin. Stay tuned!

 

[David Wilson]

Right, back to basic gear in general and to the Barakuda Dorado fin in particular. The name "Dorado" derives from Spanish, where it means "golden" or "gold-plated" when used as an adjective and a "golden-coloured fish" when used as a noun. The word will also be familiar from the toponym "El Dorado" denoting a "legendary lost city of gold". Take your pick of these and other meanings when deciding why the following full-foot fin was dubbed "Dorado".

The image above is from the 1966 Barakuda catalogue where this model first appeared. It came in standard black and super yellow versions.

Here's a rough translation of the caption accompanying the standard version: "Barakuda high-performance fin. Enables a fast start without muscle cramps. The distinctive streamlined shape, sharp angulation and starting point of the blade are all protected by the Patent Office and match up with experiences collected at Barakuda diving schools in 1964 and 1965."
As well as coming in yellow to match the "Dorado" name, the Dorado-Super floated in water. It differed from the standard model in being constructed from "particularly high-grade, positively buoyant rubber". Both versions were available in four fittings covering a range of shoe sizes from EU 37 to EU 44.

Note the high side rails, the high and broad toe openings, the high insteps and the way the blade of the fin on the right appears to "fold" in use. The blade tips also command attention because of their sharp points and angles. I am reminded of "Swimtails", an early Desco fin design:

The product above was based on one of the patents of Charles H. Wilen, whom we met during the French basic gear thread as a partner of Alex Kramarenko:

All I can say is that the sharpness of the blade tips would probably result nowadays in bans on "Health and Safety" grounds and in litigation from other water users who sustained injury after brushing against them.

 

[David Wilson]

Over the years, Barakuda Dorados underwent a little retweaking. Here's how they appeared in the 1967 catalogue:

The captions remained identical except for the addition of a smaller size, EU 35-36, to the range of fittings available for the standard and super models. Presumably this addition came as the result of further consultations during 1966. Note the changes to the blade, however, which are not mentioned in the captions. First, those sharp angles and points have gone and more rounded edging substituted. Secondly, the side rails have been replaced with thin ribs in close proximity to the sides of the blades. This blade design is reminiscent of the ribs reinforcing Russia's Alfaplastic Dolphin fins:

In 1969, the size range of the standard and super models expanded to include two smaller sizes (EU 29-31 and EU32-24) and one larger size (EU 45-47), making eight fittings in all, so there were Dorados then to accommodate every family member:

Curiously enough, the Dorado-Super was now available in black or blue but no longer in yellow.

The final appearance of Barakuda Dorado fins was probably in the 1973 catalogue or shortly afterwards:

Once again a change of colour with the standard available in black or blue, while the super version came in orange. Note the subtle change in the blade tip geometry from a deeper to a shallower concave.

Next time we'll move on to the Barakuda adjustable open-heel Forelle fin.

 

[David Wilson]

Today's instalment focuses on a Barakuda fin made of plastic. Back in the day, plastic fins were generally considered to be downmarket fare and unfit for serious underwater swimming activities, which may have somewhat coloured my own judgement when it comes to modern fins constructed from the same or similar material.

Anyway, the Barakuda fins I am showcasing today were named "Forelle", the German noun for "trout". This name raises interesting cultural connotations. There's a Russian full-foot fin still in production and dubbed "Форель" (Transliteration: Forel'. Translation: Trout):

The Russian fin is an unusual design and represents one of Russia's attempts to emulate the vented-blade design of the Beuchat Jetfin and its many imitations.

Returning to the Barakuda Forelle, the inspiration behind the name may well have been Schubert's Trout Quintet as much as it might have been the fish itself:
After all, it's a pretty familiar and popular piece of German classical music.

 

[David Wilson]

I began today's postings with an image of the Barakuda Forelle (above). It's an extract from the 1959 Barakuda catalogue, where this model made its début. As you can see, this is an adjustable open-heel fin for barefoot use. The blade is reinforced with two side-rails and four centre ribs. The caption reads roughly in English: "Forelle (Trout), blue. Simple, symmetrical fin made of flexible plastic with adjustable heel strap. A fin for children and beginners to play and to bathe with." It came in just one size.

The 1960 catalogue more or less duplicated what was said in the 1959 catalogue:

Barakuda did introduce a smaller size, however, presumably to cater for children.

The 1961 catalogue retained the status quo, but supplied an image revealing the true nature of the heel strap:

These fins are attached to the feet with a plastic strap secured with loops and buttons instead of a conventional buckle. Note how the number of ribs has halved on the blade, while the side rails have thickened.

The 1962 catalogue came with a much longer caption:

Here's a rough translation: "Forelle, blue. A plastic fin from Barakuda with an adjustable heel strap. It is particularly suitable for children and beginners who want to learn how to swim with fins through play. In spite of the relatively simple design, however, the "Forelle" should not be regarded as a toy but as a fully usable swim fin. The plastic fin is particularly light and flat, so you can take it with you at any time."

The "Forelle" made its final appearance in Barakuda's 1964 catalogue:

The caption is worth translating because the original German should probably have been better proofread: "Forelle, blue. A plastic fin with an adjustable heel strap. Particularly (suitable) for children and beginners who want to learn how to swim with fins through play. In spite of the relatively simple design, however, the "Forelle" should not be regarded as a fully usable swim fin." Spotted the proofreading error perpetrated by somebody tasked with editing the 1962 caption for publication in the 1964 catalogue? Perhaps this error led to the premature demise of the "Forelle", foiling Barakuda's plans to raise the model's profile.

For comparative purposes, here is a plastic fin made during the 1960s in the USSR:

The heel strap comes with the same buttonhole fastening design as the Forelle. One of my Soviet diving books describes the fin thus: "The main advantages of this semi-open and semi-hard plastic-fin from the Leningrad ‘Sports’ plant are low weight and cost. Good hydrodynamic shape and contours have led to successful use of this fin in the early stages of swim training with fins, especially with children. Because of several shortcomings, this fin is unsuitable for competitive swimming." So this anonymous Soviet fin targeted the same users as the Barakuda Forelle.

Here's the equivalent British fin from the same period, the Britmarine Clipper:

I started snorkelling as a teenager with these fins and they did the job perfectly before I graduated to Cressi Rondine lookalikes when I joined my university sub-aqua club. The multi-rib blade reinforcement is certainly reminiscent of the Barakuda Forelle, but the soft rubber foot pockets and proper metal buckles marked these Clippers out as being relatively superior in the comfort stakes.

That's it for today and for the Barakuda Forelle. Another Barakuda fin next time, probably the Barakuda-Longo.