How old is a Calypso J regulator?

[Danny Nessie]

I have this very nice Calypso J regulator and I'm looking to see ig anyone can tell me whether it is from the 70s or 80s, perhaps older? It has the reserve valve (with a pull rod) built into the first stage.
Thanks!

 

[oly5050user]

I think I remember almost buying one back around 1968-69..price was like $80. if I remember correctly.

 

[simonbeans]

Go to http://vintagedoublehose.com
Download section, look through the USD catalogs. If is it post 1970, the catalogs aren't there. But then post 1970 puts it almost out of the vintage time frame anyway.

 

[JamesBon92007]

I bought one used somewhere in the mid to late 70s. It appears in the US Divers service manual along with double-hose regulators and the "Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau" logo if that's a clue. When did those shows air?

I'm guessing it was made probably around 1970 or, as mentioned, the late 60s.

 

[cohenandy]

It's in the 68 catalog, and was the flagship single hose regulator for USD at the time.

 

[Luis H]

There were several Calypso J. They were all similar, but the number of LP ports and yoke changed during the production run.

They were first introduced in the late 60's and were around until the mid or late 70's.

If it only has one LP port and the tire looking yoke screw it would make it one of the early ones. Similar to the Calypso III.

If it has a swivel with two extra LP ports it is a later one. I think you can find this ones with a couple of different yoke sizes and yoke screws.

It would be best if you post a picture.

 

[JamesBon92007]

Mine came with the swivel LP connector but I thought it was an add-on. It also came with an SPG (still works) and a Calypso depth gauge (it still works too!). I rather like the the SPG because it is so small and it is one of the later ones that has a right-angle connector so you don't have to bend the hose so you can read it. My Calypso J still looks and works great with just the usual servicing. I'm pretty sure it still has all original seals, seats, and diaphram. Unfortunately I cannot find my J-Valve pull-rod.

 

[Sam Miller III]

CALYPSO REGULATOR;

Year model # Price

1965 # 1050 $64.95


1966 # 1048 $84.95 (model # change)

1967 # 1048 $90.00

1968 # 1048 $ 100.00

1969 # 1048 $110.00



1970 # 1070 $117.50 (Model # change)

1971 #1070 $124.50

1972 #1070 $131.95



1973 #1083 $131.95 (model # change)


1974 # 1083 $141.95 (*Price list)

1975 #1083 $148.95 (*Price list)

1976 #1083 $170.95 (*Price list)


1977 #1083-00 $175.50 (*Price list) (Model change)


1978 #1083 Price unknown ( No price list)

1979 #1083 $198.95 (*Price list)

1980 #1083 $194.95 ( NED price list)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Price list== US Divers and others issued a separate price list as an addendum to their catalogs...
Price lists are currently very rare

NED= New England Divers -- Only price list available
Very common to reduce the price during the later days of production

15 years on the market --1965 to 1980

SDM

 

[Nemrod]

I bought mine in the Fall of 1966 I am pretty sure.

N

 

[John C. Ratliff]

I may be mistaken, but I don't think the Calypso J was available until about 1970. Up until that time, the Calypso regulators were diphragm first stages, based upon the original Calypso. Then with the advent of the Calypso J, USD changed to a piston first stage. Before the piston first stage on the Calypso, there could not have been a Calypso J.

Looking at Dr. Sam Miller's numbers above, I think that was probably the model #1070. Before that, the 1964 Model #1050 was the original Calypso with a diaphragm balanced first stage (first balanced first stage, I believe, on the market). The next model, #1048, went away from the diaphragm with the exhaust built into it to a more conventional second stage. There was a minor change in the first stage too, with a change in the hose attachment to a more conventional (now) setup with the normal LP inlet (the earlier ones attached directly to the first stage). Then, in 1970 I believe USD went to the piston first stage, and the possibility of having the J-valve built into the first stage.

SeaRat