MR12: Mares? (AMF Voit) Swimaster?

[Moogyboy]

hey all

Quick, inconsequential question: What's the deal with this? Are these the same reg?

cheers

Billy S.

 

[Vie]

Are these the same reg?

No.

 

[Greg Barlow]

I collect, restore, and regularly dive vintage MR12 regs. I can attempt to answer any specific questions that you might have. I own one of the first examples off the assembly line, and several more of the Voit/Swimaster varities.

I was also fortunate to have interviewed one of the Voit designers of the reg some 4 or 5 years ago.

Greg
Former Science Editor for Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine

 

[Moogyboy]

No.

Didn't think so.

cheers

Billy S.

 

[Vie]

Sorry to resurrect an extremely old thread... I did some Googling and found this explanation of the rather complicated relationship between Mares and Voit re the MR-12:

"American Machine and Foundry was founded in 1900 and grew to become a worldwide industrial technology and leisure products company. American Machine and Foundry formally changed their name in 1971 to the AMF Company since they were out of the foundry business and concentrating their efforts on bowling equipment. In 1985 AMF Inc. was taken over in a hostile bid by Minnesota based company, Minstar Inc., who broke up the company and sold off most of the divisions on a worldwide basis. The name AMF lives on in tenpin bowling.

Involvement with tenpin bowling led AMF into a broad range of sporting equipment during the 1960's and 70's including importing Mares scuba gear (AMF/Mares). Mares was founded in 1949 by Italian free diving champion, Ludovica Mares and has grown to be the world's 4th largest scuba diving company. Mares is now a division of Head Tyrolia Mares (HTM), a state-owned Austrian sports goods group whose parent company is Austrian Tabak. HTM also acquired Dacor (established in 1954) as another division in 1998. The original MR-12 was a US made Voit design from the late 1960’s. Mares now sells the MR-12 and the current version still uses some of the same design components.

In 1958 AMF (American Machine and Foundry) acquired the W. J. Voit Rubber Company. Duck Feet fins were marketed by Pacific Molded Products as Swim Master Duck Feet. In the early 1960s, Swimaster was sold to Voit Rubber Company. Voit still seems to around and sells masks, fins, and snorkels. The company has a web site, see: Industrias Voit S.A. de C.V. "

 

[Nemrod]

The answer is YES and NO.

N

 

[Vie]

Nemrod, I saw your pics in another thread. The second stages in the lower picture (with the blue, white, red centre) are really beautiful! Can you post clearer photos please? What model Voit are they?

 

[Nemrod]

Those are Voit MR12s and they are beautiful. They are from the 70s. Breath nice too. There was actually a hard rubber/plastic cover available to prevent the chrome from being damaged but I have never actually seen one. They are in the catalogs.

N

 

[Greg Barlow]

While I am partial to the historical impact of the original MR-12, I do believe that the MR12 II and later MR12 second stages were quite appealing to the eye. Nemrod, I do have a nice spare AMF Swimaster "Scuff Cover" if you are interested.

Greg Barlow

 

[Bull Gator]

Voit MR12 - todays relatives?

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I have also posted this on another MR12 thread. Forgive the duplication, but it was an old thread.

I am working my way back into scuba, and one of the important items I need to buy is a regulator. I come to this discussion with a bias.

In my youthful years I dove with a Voit MR12. Now some of you know how old I am. While researching the changes in SCUBA gear, I find that my regulator of choice is now found on EBay as a collectors item! Now the rest of you know how old I am, but I digress.

I liked my MR12, a lot, it took me into many of Florida’s caves and sinks, far back and quite deep, with many dives over 200’ as well as out in the ocean. Not to mention what you already know about it’s acceptance by the Navy.

I also know a little about the Voit / Mares relationship, and that Mares now markets several regulators which they claim as the MR12 first stage or an improvement there upon. This makes me immediately want to like these regulators.

My questions are as follows. Are these Mares modern regulators really based on the original MR12? Or is this simply a marketing ploy?

As I am unlikely to dive the way I did in my youth, are any or all of these regulators adequate for today’s recreational diver?

I live in KY but have lots of family, (therefore make lots of trips to) Florida. I am looking for something reliable and durable at a reasonable price. I’m not big on flash, bang, or status. It would have to tolerate 45 degree water in Kentucky’s quarries, but would mostly be used in Florida springs and sinks and on wreck / reef diving. Certainly needs to be adequate to at least 130’, preferably to 180’.

I value any advice you can give.

BG