Flea Market Find

[Aquamaniac]

reefrat once bubbled...
Aquamniac

Voit Slazenger fins I'll bet!! Blue full foot ones with a picture of a "skindiver" on the blade, they were the first real fins I owned when I was a kid.

Some of the old (early Conshelf and Scumapro) regs breathed OK but they're not a patch on even a mediocre reg today.

Wouldn't mind a couple of old regs to hang in my bar though!

Yep, thats them!
Then at 15 years old, I decided I wanted to go tech, so I swapped with a mate for his black ones.

 

[reefrat]

Aquamaniac

Just looked at your address and it's not surprising we started with similar gear as we both live in the same place- Perth WA!

Haven't seen my old USD Aquarius reg lying around have you? First one I ever bought and lost it somewhere..pity.

Roll on summer and days at Rotto!

 

[yknot]

Thanks for the replies! The question was never should I, but more like could I. Just because you own a model T doesn't mean you drive it to work. Can anyone explain what the big "reserve" flipper switch is for? This reg is only single hose.

 

[dmdalton]

yknot once bubbled...
Can anyone explain what the big "reserve" flipper switch is for? This reg is only single hose.

Many of the single hose regs (and a couple of 2 hose regs) of the 60's & 70's had a built in reserve that worked just like the old "J" valve. With the lever in the up position you could breathe your air down to 300-500 psi then it stopped. Flip the reserve lever down and you had access to the remaining air in your tank. This was before SPG's were very popular. The advantage of having it on your reg was you only bought the feature once. You could have "K" valves on your tanks or if you rented tanks you didin't have to worry about whether or not they had reserve valves on them. As SPG's came into vogue, the "J" reserve, on both tanks and regs, went the way of the Dodo bird. I had one on my 1st single hose reg (second reg I owned) purchased in '70. Sort of silly because I also got an SPG and started using that.

Dave D (born shortly before the earth's crust cooled)

 

[luvdiving]

Next time my wife asks me to go to a flea market, I'll go!!:boom:

 

[ew1usnr]

The AMF Voit Swimaster Titan II was perhaps the world's finest single hose regulator when it was introduced. I have one and dive with it. It has very little inhalation and exhalation resistance and will provide all the air that you could ask for. It has a strong yoke, a balanced diaphram first stage, and a down stream second stage. You will have to get an adapter if you want to add extra hoses for an octopus and inflator. It has a HP port for a SPG as well as its own built in J-valve. The J-valve is not silly, even if you have a SPG. It provides an additional reminder against running out of air. The first stage shares most of the same parts as a modern US Divers Conshelf or Titan. The HP seat is interchangeable. The second stage and its diaphragm are identical to older MR-12. The parts are readily available. If your local dive shop says that "it is too old" or "not any good", don't listen. Either they do not know what they are talking about or they just want to sell you a new regulator. You can send it to Dan Barringer at vintage scuba supply. He will fix it as good as new for $45 plus parts. Check at:
dan@vintagescubasupply.com
That regulator sold new in 1967 for $97. That would be equivalent to probably $400 today. At $20, you stole it. I will follow this post with the wording from a Titan II advertisement in a 1967 Skin Diver magazine.

 

[ew1usnr]

Here is the wording from a Titan II advertisement in a 1967 Skin Diver magazine:
********************************************
"We put our money where your mouth is.
A lot of dollars, research and development went into perfecting the Titan II. But then, AMF Voit Swimaster wasn't out to create just another good regulator. Those were already available. From us and from others.
Our objective was the world's finest single-hose regulator. One that would be a breath better than regulators of this type had ever been before.
We believe that we suceeded with the new Titan II. Most important, so do all who've tested and used it - including the Navy.
The Titan II has a matchless fully balanced first stage. The most effortless inhaling and exhaling action avalable today. Extra large exhaust ports. And - an exclusive Swimaster V-IJR Reserve Unit built into the regulator that will always provide 300 pounds of constant reserve. Price? How does $97.00 grab you. "
**********************************************
Don't put the Titan II in a display case. Overhaul it and go diving with it. You will be surprised at how well it breathes. It looks cool too.

 

[ew1usnr]

They breathe beautifully:

 

[crawford]

I just bought a steel 72 on ebay for $26(plus $14 shipping). Got it hydroed ($15) and vis ($3.50) and am diving it in the local quarries/lakes. Give my Al80 to my son who uses more air than me, and we get good dive times (45 minutes plus) at quarry depths, both of us ending with about the same amount of air.

It works fine, and I'm sure I'll have it a long time. If I find another one at this price I'll buy another. Seems to be the best deal in tanks, as long as you're not a heavy breather. I could see going through it pretty quick in that case...but get the breathing rate down.......and no problem.

 

[ew1usnr]

So, it was about $60, total. That's not bad. A new AL 80 costs $120. I wouldn't mind having a 72 to use with my older regulators.