As long as soft parts are available for a reg and no major damage has been done by the user, a reg has an almost unlimited lifespan. At least for the metal second stages, many of the plastic ones tend to have ageing issues. Many of us who like vintage regs are diving double hoses from the late 50 and early 60s thanks to a few folks making reproduction parts. These regs are working better today than when new due to better materials in the rubber goods, mostly silicone today rather than the rubber from years past. The metal components are still in perfect working condition.
I will have to take an exception to the best to support their old regs, the Conshelf has been in production since 1965 and to my understanding is still made for the military. You can still buy service kits for both stages and if you look closely, while not listed as parts for the older regs, the critical parts like HP seats and diaphragms are still the same design.
I suspect what the tech said is true but for a different reason. Divers are sold on the idea that the latest whiz bang blinged up reg is so much better than that old antique reg you have been using so the old one gets put away for the new shinny one.
I will have to take an exception to the best to support their old regs, the Conshelf has been in production since 1965 and to my understanding is still made for the military. You can still buy service kits for both stages and if you look closely, while not listed as parts for the older regs, the critical parts like HP seats and diaphragms are still the same design.
I suspect what the tech said is true but for a different reason. Divers are sold on the idea that the latest whiz bang blinged up reg is so much better than that old antique reg you have been using so the old one gets put away for the new shinny one.
