Scubapro 156

[Diverspoint]

Mk10
And 156. The octos i dont know

 

[johndiver999]

nice find, but I found that it is quite unlikely that those orange second stages are safe. The housings (orange only) almost invariably develop stress cracks around the metal air inlet area. They can crumble and fail catastrophically- at least ever single one I have seen has. I suggest you place one hand on the base of the swivel and the other hold the body of the second stage and apply moderate perpendicular bending effort on the housing...better to crack in the garage than the dive platform.

 

[thbcthomas]

I found another set. MK5 with a 156 and 109 rebuilt in 2023 at Stuart scuba.

 

[axxel57]

Very nice find, but for me it looks like a well preserved BA150, not a BA156.....

I've never seen an original BA156 with a matte faceplate.......

Does it have the CE Stamp?

 

[Kupu]

Very nice find, but for me it looks like a well preserved BA150, not a BA156.....

I've never seen an original BA156 with a matte faceplate.......

Does it have the CE Stamp?

I'm always on the lookout for 156 variations and noticed a seller in Japan list one with matte faceplate on ebay some time ago, it did not have CE stamp. Of course there is no way to be certain the faceplate is original but I assume it is.
If this is a MK5/156/109, it most likely it would have been put together by an individual with good taste rather than sold new in that configuration. The 109 would have been out of production for several years before the 156 arrived on the scene.

 

[Umuntu]

https://scubaboard.com/community/attachments/s-l1600-2-jpg.877025/

The diaphragm looks unlike any I have seen in a 108, 109 or 1556

 

[Kupu]

https://scubaboard.com/community/attachments/s-l1600-2-jpg.877025/

The diaphragm looks unlike any I have seen in a 108, 109 or 1556

A bumpy diaphragm was made in clear and black versions. A few schematics from mid 90's show it in B/A 156, G250, M50, & R190.
It has been discussed in earlier threads but not sure if we ever figured out the reason for the bumps.
I have a couple and can't tell any performance difference but don't use them since the weight of the bumps tends to cause the diaphragm to sag a little.

 

[thbcthomas]

How does the 156, BA150, and the 109 compare to the beloved g250?

 

[axxel57]

I'm always on the lookout for 156 variations and noticed a seller in Japan list one with matte faceplate on ebay some time ago, it did not have CE stamp. Of course there is no way to be certain the faceplate is original but I assume it is.
If this is a MK5/156/109, it most likely it would have been put together by an individual with good taste rather than sold new in that configuration. The 109 would have been out of production for several years before the 156 arrived on the scene.

Interesting!

Kupu, as usual a very nice find!

Thanks for sharing!

I'm looking for such a 156 for quite a while and was not sure if it exists.

But you are right, the faceplate is original.

The only BA I found that has this matte faceplate is obviously a BA 150 of the last generation, also from '95.

There had been Mark X models with matte faceplate in the 80ties, but middle the 90ties I know only this matte BA 150.........

 

[halocline]

How does the 156, BA150, and the 109 compare to the beloved g250?

I prefer the metal case 2nd stages for the diving I do, but I believe the WOB numbers might be a little better on the G250. (I don’t really about test numbers) They are very similar performing. One thing I have found is the G250s I’ve used or worked on are pretty consistent (I’m referring to the original G250, not the later G250hp) and very easy to tune, where I’ve had some converted 109s that I just couldn’t get great performance out of without really messing with the lever and/or trying several springs.