Just got 2 "New" Double-Hose Regs!!

[captain]

Thing about the DW Mistral is that it has only one O ring, one little push pin, one seat, one double fulcrum lever and that is it. So few pieces and no seals there is nothing hardly there to fail or break that would stop it from functioning. I got my Mistral as a gift in 1968 and it was already ten years old and had been dived a good bit. I dove it a bunch more. I put another set of hoses on it with my allowance and dove it another ten years. At no time in there do I recall do any sort of "annual" service. When I finally recovered it from the bottom of my dive chest to use for kayak diving it still worked and breathed fine save for needing new hoses. I cleaned it up, put new hoses and cage valves and away I went. It has been so totally trouble free that I am absolutely certain it alone is more reliable than a twin set of modern Apeks regulators or other plastic un-fantastics they pawn off as "tech" regulators. The tech community needs to insist on metal second stages and metal working parts and then they might have a start towards regulators that can function relaibly for oh, say, fifty years or so. When the one is so reliable, maybe, two are not needed?
N

The absolute height of reliability is the DW Mistral on a 1/2" pipe thread J valve on a steel 72. Only one critical O ring at the regulator to valve connection. That's how JYC lived to a ripe old age.

 

[Nemrod]

Since it has been asked, what do you do with your octapus if diving a double hose as your primary, well, I route it under my right arm and then necklace it at my neck Hog style. I use a 40 inch hose and it may be euipped with a swivel. It does not dangle and is easily deployed if you use a slip knot/square knot or something like the new Manta Industries necklace. N

 

[matty4011]

So how much did you pay for it and how do you like it?
I saw one go new for 335 on ebay, and saw it online for 538
I may be able to get one locally for 540 with a free octopus, not sure if that's a good deal?

 

[Gilldiver]

So how much did you pay for it and how do you like it?
I saw one go new for 335 on ebay, and saw it online for 538
I may be able to get one locally for 540 with a free octopus, not sure if that's a good deal?

The prices on Ebay vary widly. I got a 1958/59 Mistral for less then $100 and then saw one go for close to $220 a week later. The one thing to keep in mind is that if you get one off of Ebay or anywhere else, is that you can spend:

$30 -$40 for new hoses
$70 for labor to rebuild it
$25-$40 for parts

So, if you buy from one of the vintage sites, you will get one ready to dive, I saw some Royal Aqua Masters for $390/420 ready to rock. Anywhere else and you may need to spend the above $$$.

One clue, there are a lot of double hose regulators hitting the Ebay market right no from Ebay seller Seahawkco. The market may get flooded and the prices drop over the next few months (I hope).

If you want a dive reg, not a show reg - stay with US Divers Aqua Master, or Royal Aqua Master. Just this week I got a good condition Aqua Master for $200 and a Royal for $300. But I do my own repairs/rebuilds and have a stock of parts.