My copy of "NEW Science of Skin & SCUBA Diving" is from 1962...
Many of my books are still packed in boxes in my garage, from a move a couple of years ago. But, I just braved the Missouri heat and humidity and searched and finally located my copy of "The New Science...". It is the 6th Edition, copyright date [1957, 1962, 1974, 1980, and] 1985. (As mentioned, I purchased my copy new in the summer of 1986.)
Interestingly, one of its first pages shows a gentleman's photo under which is the inscription, 'Bernard E Empleton -- "The father of recreational diving instruction in the United States".'
My course used a second textbook, too. I haven't located it yet, and I don't recall the author, but I remember it was a large format paperback that had a Scubapro badge on the front, and a lot of the photos in it showed Scubapro gear.
One more thing: About a dozen years ago I changed houses in this central Missouri town. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my new next door neighbor happened to be the long retired Univ of Missouri physician who had given many of us Univ of Missouri scuba students our scuba physicals. Years before I first met him, he had taken the same scuba course I was about to take in 1986, and he had taken several trips (Florida Keys, Grand Cayman Island, Missouri/Arkansas freshwater lakes) with the scuba class.
When the doctor passed away a couple years after I became his neighbor, his widow gave me his scuba textbooks. I just came across one of them when I was searching for my copy of "The New Science...". This textbook, by Robert R. Springer, is titled "Skin & Scuba Diver's Digest -- Fundamentals, Techniques, Equipment for Novice and Expert," and has copyright date MCMLXXV [1975]. Interestingly, this book contains relatively little treatment of double hose regulators--though it has several pictures and illustrations of divers diving them.
rx7diver