Dacor Clipper C-3 double hose

[John C. Ratliff]

Here are my Dacor regulators, all of which are ready to dive.

Dacor Double Hose Regulators by John Ratliff, on Flickr
The one on the left is actually a Clipper that I converted to an R-4.

IMG_0604 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
Here is a Dacor R-3 Dial-A-Breath regulator. It has a small, rotating vane that can “feather” the Venturi to make it breath harder. Really old timer divers didn’t like easy breathing regulators, as they thought the ease of breathing caused them to use air more quickly.

IMG_8668 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
Here is my Clipper, ready to dive. I put U.S. Divers Company hoses on the Dacor mouthpiece, and I had to wrap the mouthpiece with electrical tape to increase the diameter to get it to fit the USD hoses.

IMG_8525 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
Here is one view of the second stage lever system from the side.

IMG_8524 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
And here’s the lever system, top view. Note it includes the “Dial-A-Breath” vane, as Dacor kept that feature for some time.

IMG_1458 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
Here is the Dacor R-3 with the “Dial-A-Breath” feature noted on top.

IMG_1759 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
Here’s the Dacor duckbill inside the bottom box.

Dacor R-4001 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
Here’s the Dacor ad for the Dacor R-4 double diaphragm. The Clipper is the same, without the double diaphargm.

SeaRat

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

So sad to me, I started diving in 2002 but still appreciate the vintage gear that was once used. One of the regs I got is a working aqualung 2 stage “aqua master”, I plan to use it for some shallow dives just to get an appreciation for how it was once done and the skills required. Much respect to the pioneers of scuba as we know it. I have a steel 72 and harness, an old mask that will be a challenge to use, and maybe I can pick up some fins. I’m old enough that I learned photography with film so my plan is to do a few dives with vintage gear and have a buddy take some pictures just for the experience.
I guess at some point vintage becomes antique and creates a new sense of wonder. It’s just sad to me people don’t appreciate the older things that required more craftsmanship than the machine made things of today. Same is true for furniture, houses, tools, guns, and so many other things. I guess I’m an old soul

If it makes you feel any better, I'm a sign painter by trade and still make my living painting signs by hand. I was around when computers took over and everyone bought into the new technology. I really don't like computers and I think digitally generated signs have no soul and are sterile. I'm stubborn and said if I can't make it hand lettering then I'm not doing it at all!
At one point it did dry up so I started a marine business. Then the great recession hit and everything took a crap. Somehow I survived off cheap beer to sooth my soul and went back to hand lettering and pinstriping jobs for people who wanted something on their Harley to make themselves feel better. It was tough times!
Then out of nowhere the truckers found out about me and now I'm so busy hand lettering and pinstriping rigs that I'm going crazy! (in a good way).
I'm also doing very high end hand striping on Packards and other classic cars for the Concourse D'Elegance shows at Pebble Beach. There is no one left doing it now except for me. I stuck to my guns back then and now I'm in extreme demand.
So know and feel good about the fact that some traditional things are still alive and well!
Dive gear, well?
You can do what I do and practice minimalist diving the old way except with modern gear. Get and old plastic pack, a steel 72 with a J valve (you can still get parts), a simple reg with only one second stage ( can be anything new doesn't matter), a watch and depth gauge or a computer in gauge mode and go do New School minimalist diving with no BC.
It's a hoot!

 

[jbarry_underwater]

Here are my Dacor regulators, all of which are ready to dive.

Dacor Double Hose Regulators by John Ratliff, on Flickr
The one on the left is actually a Clipper that I converted to an R-4.

IMG_0604 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
Here is a Dacor R-3 Dial-A-Breath regulator. It has a small, rotating vane that can “feather” the Venturi to make it breath harder. Really old timer divers didn’t like easy breathing regulators, as they thought the ease of breathing caused them to use air more quickly.

IMG_8668 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
Here is my Clipper, ready to dive. I put U.S. Divers Company hoses on the Dacor mouthpiece, and I had to wrap the mouthpiece with electrical tape to increase the diameter to get it to fit the USD hoses.

IMG_8525 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
Here is one view of the second stage lever system from the side.

IMG_8524 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
And here’s the lever system, top view. Note it includes the “Dial-A-Breath” vane, as Dacor kept that feature for some time.

IMG_1458 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
Here is the Dacor R-3 with the “Dial-A-Breath” feature noted on top.

IMG_1759 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
Here’s the Dacor duckbill inside the bottom box.

Dacor R-4001 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
Here’s the Dacor ad for the Dacor R-4 double diaphragm. The Clipper is the same, without the double diaphargm.

SeaRat

Wow! That’s quite the collection of working regs and great information. I looked, too bad you’re on the opposite side of the country or I’d love to do a dive with you

 

[USdiver1]

Just got back from a week in Bonaire, and I see that "SeaRat" John Ratliff has covered the topic very well. Dacor double hose innards are fairly indestructible but the rubber hose circuit is unavailable, so use Voit/USD silicone replacements. Diaphragms are another hard to find item. I am currently working on a Dial-a-Breath, which I hope to have diving this summer. As per purchase price, it is a limited market with even more limited parts availability. Dacor double hose durability/reliability is among the best, but that doesn't translate to modern pricing. I would think that most unrestored/non-working Dacor DH regulators would be in the $50 - $125 range, with $250 - $450 for working examples. A USD DA AquaMaster is a much better option if you want to dive your DH as parts and improvements are available.

 

[jbarry_underwater]

Just got back from a week in Bonaire, and I see that "SeaRat" John Ratliff has covered the topic very well. Dacor double hose innards are fairly indestructible but the rubber hose circuit is unavailable, so use Voit/USD silicone replacements. Diaphragms are another hard to find item. I am currently working on a Dial-a-Breath, which I hope to have diving this summer. As per purchase price, it is a limited market with even more limited parts availability. Dacor double hose durability/reliability is among the best, but that doesn't translate to modern pricing. I would think that most unrestored/non-working Dacor DH regulators would be in the $50 - $125 range, with $250 - $450 for working examples. A USD DA AquaMaster is a much better option if you want to dive your DH as parts and improvements are available.

Thank you! I’m jealous though, how was Bonaire? I bought a few double hose regulators and as for the Dacor I might display it or just sell it to recover some of my cost. In the lot of equipment I got was a functioning aqua lung DA aqua master I’m planning to dive. I’d love to find some vintage divers here in the southeast to do a little vintage diving and learning with. I also got a Viking regulator that would be a better display piece in my opinion but I also suspect it may have some value as not many were made and it’s unique. Here is my aqualung and Viking regulators:

 

[James79]

Thank you! I’m jealous though, how was Bonaire? I bought a few double hose regulators and as for the Dacor I might display it or just sell it to recover some of my cost. In the lot of equipment I got was a functioning aqua lung DA aqua master I’m planning to dive. I’d love to find some vintage divers here in the southeast to do a little vintage diving and learning with. I also got a Viking regulator that would be a better display piece in my opinion but I also suspect it may have some value as not many were made and it’s unique. Here is my aqualung and Viking regulators:

I'm down in SE Alabama... I'd certainly link up to dive DH regs and share what I know. Also, look over Home | Vintage Scuba Diving Community Forum it's probably the most active site for vintage/DH stuff these days.

Respectfully,

James