David Wilson
Contributor
John:
The Aqueon was around in the late 1960s here in the UK. I'm reproducing below a message I posted on SB a few months ago:
Here are a couple of Aqueon-related ads from Triton, the journal of the British Sub Aqua Club. The dates may help in determining the chronology of the device.
1. February 1967 issue: The device is called an "Aqua-naut" at this stage. It is distributed within the UK by Unitex Ltd of Knaresborough in Yorkshire. It is available in three different models: Sea Raider, Commando and Sea Sprite.
2. August 1968 issue: Unitex announces a change of name to "Aqueon". Interesting from a cultural perspective that the accompanying image now pitches the device at women as well as men and portrays its use in swimming and breathhold diving.
PS: Thank you, John, for pointing out the nylon stocking on the foot modelling the prototype Cressi Rondine fin and explaining its purpose:
Male (and female?) freedivers nowadays also seem to use the pantyhose strategy when donning tight-fitting unlined open-cell neoprene wetsuits.
The success of Cressi Rondine fins in Europe during the 1960s meant that full-foot fins were regarded as the best type to use when diving on the continent during that decade. Beuchat Jet Fins first became available with closed heels. Full-foot fins were also more expensive than open-heel fins throughout the 1960s in Europe, which is why fins in children's sizes back then were generally open-heel adjustable models to accommodate growing feet.
David
The Aqueon was around in the late 1960s here in the UK. I'm reproducing below a message I posted on SB a few months ago:
Here are a couple of Aqueon-related ads from Triton, the journal of the British Sub Aqua Club. The dates may help in determining the chronology of the device.
1. February 1967 issue: The device is called an "Aqua-naut" at this stage. It is distributed within the UK by Unitex Ltd of Knaresborough in Yorkshire. It is available in three different models: Sea Raider, Commando and Sea Sprite.
2. August 1968 issue: Unitex announces a change of name to "Aqueon". Interesting from a cultural perspective that the accompanying image now pitches the device at women as well as men and portrays its use in swimming and breathhold diving.
PS: Thank you, John, for pointing out the nylon stocking on the foot modelling the prototype Cressi Rondine fin and explaining its purpose:
Male (and female?) freedivers nowadays also seem to use the pantyhose strategy when donning tight-fitting unlined open-cell neoprene wetsuits.
The success of Cressi Rondine fins in Europe during the 1960s meant that full-foot fins were regarded as the best type to use when diving on the continent during that decade. Beuchat Jet Fins first became available with closed heels. Full-foot fins were also more expensive than open-heel fins throughout the 1960s in Europe, which is why fins in children's sizes back then were generally open-heel adjustable models to accommodate growing feet.
David
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