Mask Air Volume Reducer?

[JamesBon92007]

Way back when I used to see air volume reducers available that just dropped into the mask to make equalizing the mask easier. Anyone know if someone still makes such a thing? It was probably Aqua-Craft that used to have them. My search results turned up empty

 

[northernone]

I'm stumped.

This article mentioning it in 2004 is all I could find:
ImpulseAdventure - Freediving Mask Volume

Another article mentions one was made by US Divers too:

Time Capsules

Here's a mention of it:
http://vintagescuba.proboards.com/thread/3538/odd-masks?page=1

Perhaps having so many low cost low volume masks on the market has pushed this product into obscurity.

Hopefully someone else has a lead.
Cameron

 

[Akimbo]

I think the advent of frameless mask manufacturing drove a nail into that coffin. It was harder to make low volume masks with frames to compress the seal to the glass. There was one or two in the late 1950s -- most notably the the Cressi Pinocchio. I could be wrong but I seem to remember the frames were stainless in the early days instead of injection molded like this. That stainless wire was necessary to make the frame seal in the nose pocket area.

 

[JamesBon92007]

I'm stumped.

This article mentioning it in 2004 is all I could find:
ImpulseAdventure - Freediving Mask Volume

Another article mentions one was made by US Divers too:

Time Capsules

Here's a mention of it:
http://vintagescuba.proboards.com/thread/3538/odd-masks?page=1

View attachment 446498

Perhaps having so many low cost low volume masks on the market has pushed this product into obscurity.

Hopefully someone else has a lead.
Cameron

That's exactly what I had in mind

 

[Akimbo]

It wouldn't be that hard to make a custom version with molding silicon. Carve some "eye cones" with rigid foam, apply release agents, fill the mask with pourable silicone, put it on, and wait for the silicone to set. Most plastics shops carry it.

 

[JamesBon92007]

I think the advent of frameless mask manufacturing drove a nail into that coffin. It was harder to make low volume masks with frames to compress the seal to the glass. There one or two in the late 1950s -- most notably the the Cressi Pinocchio. I could be wrong but I seem to remember the frames were stainless in the early days instead of injection molded like this. That stainless wire was necessary to make the frame seal in the nose pocket area.

View attachment 446500​

I went down to about 85' with one of those (that was a few decades back) and emptied my lungs into the mask and it was still sucking my eyeballs out. Very shortly afterwards I bought the Occhio which is much smaller air volume but I'd still rather keep as much of my lung air as possible And yes, I remember it having a stainless frame. I liked it for Scuba because of the molded nose piece.

I'll keep my eyes peeled on eBay etc for an old one but it may not fit. It might be time to get out the Bondo and move this subject to DIY

 

[JamesBon92007]

@northernone , a quote from Time Capsule: "Or secure their tank with a contoured backpack?"

Surely I'm not the only one!

 

[Sam Miller III]

A volume reducer is almost a necessity in free diving/California spear fishing... I question the value In SCUBA

The great free diver/spear fisherman Terry Maas who is a DDS orthodontist made volume reduces from some sort of a dental product. He is retired in Ventura and is very approachable

Might want to contact Terry

SDM