J Valves

[crzyfish]

I just saw these tanks on CL in SF Bay Area.

I asked the Seller about the valves and asked him to send pics. I've seen the Sportsway, but never the Voit or US Diver before. Kind of cool.

 

[JamesBon92007]

The Voit looks like it might have tapered threads. Probably 1/2" instead of the usual 3/4".

I have a ScubaPro from around the late 60s to early 70s that has an adjustable reserve I also have a Sportsways 1/2" straight thread on a steel 72 and it's in service. It's older than the one they have at the Casino Point Dive Museum

 

[crzyfish]

Next time I'm in Catalina, I'll have go to the museum.

The tanks are all HJ marked (Norris?), 2250 with + rating. Hydro birthdate of the two of the three: 4^60 and 4^67, both plus rated. Third one may be a '64. I didn't get pics of the third one.

 

[JamesBon92007]

So, are you going to buy them? Are they all 72s? I think my oldest tank is a 62. Including my doubles I have seven from the 60s and 70s and they all still pass hydro.

I have a twin manifold with J-Valve that looks a lot like that US Divers valve but mine has a round knob so I'm guessing that one is a little older. Mine still works fine and gets used fairly regularly.

The museum is free but we gave a small donation. There were a few other items there that I still dive with

 

[crzyfish]

I'm almost positive they're 72. They look a lot like mine, but older.

I'm passing on those three. I have two 72cf, also Norris with Sherwood J, and four 76cf made by Faber/ScubaPro. I'm trying to switch out my AL80 to the steel 72 and 76. I learned on those 72 and felt the most comfortable with those skinny tanks. Someday, I'll try making doubles out of those 72 or O2 clean them into Nitrox and double the 76. I have two vintage Dacor QDP Pac (at least that's what I found online) that will match well with the 72.

>>
Dacor QDP Deluxe Pac
From their 1969 catalog.....

Body Contoured for correct tank position and maximum comfort. Self locking over-center cam for quick tank change. Large comfortable handle for easy carrying. Handle locks against band when not in use. Quick release snap at shoulder. Waist has "Quik-Ditch" buckle. High tensile & strength 2" nylon webbing for durability.

Made of heavy gauge marine aluminum with rugged Thermo-Coat finish. Two inch wide 300 series adjustable stainless steel band for strength and corrosion resistance. All hard ware also of 300 series stainless steel. Available in blue and black. I also have a blue listed in my other items as well as some other vintage gear.
>>

 

[JamesBon92007]

That Pac sounds very similar to my US Divers "EZ" Kam Pak. You just pull the lever to switch tanks and it has a useful, folding handle on the side. But it came with cloth webbing which finally rotted and fell apart That cloth was very comfortable. I still have the nice stainless qucik-release buckles though. I've seen plastic buckles break.

 

[crzyfish]

Mine came with the 2 inch webbing and "quick release" snaps on the shoulder and stainless buckle. The webbing was super stiff and I took it all off thinking about replacing them with fresh webbing but I didn't know where I put my snap pliers to duplicate the webbing. I still have them coiled and in my Pelican case ... waiting.

 

[JamesBon92007]

Mine looks nearly identical to the one that says Dacor on it it. That sure sounds like a copyright infringement Mine also had snaps for the shoulder releases. I replaced the webbing with the straps from a slightly newer US Divers backpack that broke. Instead of snaps it has some very confusing D-Ring kind of brackets that look like they would be easy to adjust and release if I ever figure out how

 

[guruboy]

The 1st and 3rd one will probably use standard 3/4 valves.

 

[crzyfish]

I just noticed the exposed threads on the second pics. Thanks for pointing that out.