Vintage doubles - worth it?
- Thread starter HenrikBP
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HenrikBP
Contributor
Cool - that's better than any cert card - just read and jump in 
Henrik
Henrik
oldmossback
Contributor
Is there anyone building a double set of 72's that is in need of a NOS USD twin single post manifold w/j valve? This is the ball and socket compression type, not the later O-ring sealed model. Manufacture 5-61....never used, still has the cardboard thread protector on one side.
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HenrikBP
Contributor
So here is my new-to-me pride and joy. Thanks Mike for the deal 
ScubaBoard Gallery - LP72 Vintage Double Tanks
Everything looks great. A bit of pitting in the chrome in the manifold, but otherwise the manifold is very clean.
The tanks have a bit of surface rust here and there, and from what I can see I don't think these tanks were galvanized originally. Should I refinish them?
The stampings on the tanks show only the original Hydro, so I should be able to get a "+" rating again when I have them hydro-ed ... right?
I may end up going with new, more solid tank bands. The ones on the tanks look interesting, but seem to have "buckled / given way" in the bridge, and the bottom band is not tight. So I may be better off with new bands.
Thanks for all the feed-back - I appreciate it. I'll update the thread with info as the project moves forward.
Henrik
ScubaBoard Gallery - LP72 Vintage Double Tanks
Everything looks great. A bit of pitting in the chrome in the manifold, but otherwise the manifold is very clean.
The tanks have a bit of surface rust here and there, and from what I can see I don't think these tanks were galvanized originally. Should I refinish them?
The stampings on the tanks show only the original Hydro, so I should be able to get a "+" rating again when I have them hydro-ed ... right?
I may end up going with new, more solid tank bands. The ones on the tanks look interesting, but seem to have "buckled / given way" in the bridge, and the bottom band is not tight. So I may be better off with new bands.
Thanks for all the feed-back - I appreciate it. I'll update the thread with info as the project moves forward.
Henrik
OP
HenrikBP
Contributor
OK, got the tanks/manifold apart. Everything came apart easily with soft grease still on all threads.
Now I need to find a light to get some light into the tanks to see what's going on in there. Maybe some sort of low voltage LED on thin wires powered by an external battery. Or maybe an LED rope light from Home D
Henrik
Now I need to find a light to get some light into the tanks to see what's going on in there. Maybe some sort of low voltage LED on thin wires powered by an external battery. Or maybe an LED rope light from Home D
Henrik
JamesBon92007
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I've had good luck with the small, white Christmas lights. I used a strip of a tin can and glued a small mirror on it to look at the neck area by shining a flashlight onto the mirror.
I just got a couple of 40s or 45s or something that are also originally dated 1967 (I think that's what yours say) and have every confidence that they'll pass hydro and visual inspection. They look great inside and are galvanized outside with not a speck of rust or pitting. I'm also having issues with the bands and the U-Bolts that hold them on but I'm thinking some rubber inbetween the bands and the tanks might solve the problem. Please let me know what you come up with. I don't think my backpack was originally made for doubles. Anyway, the tanks are 3/4 the length of 72s and exactly the same diameter so if someone call tell me what size they are I'd appreciate it. My tanks are stamped VOIT. The original hydro has a "+" and the second has a "+" but the other two do not. I also have two old 72s ('63 and '67) and they only have a "+" on the first hydro. So far I've only had one shop fill the oldest one (which I've used a lot) to only 2250. They ALWAYS filled it to 2500 where I usually went. The weird thing is that my tanks are identical except that one is about 3/8" shorter at the neck. I wonder how that happened.
I removed the brushed-on yellow paint--it was flaking off anyway. I need to add some boots so they'll stand up and put a spacer in the short tank. Perhaps some vintage VOIT stickers would be nice. I also may have to get an oval mask and some VOIT flippers too.
I just got a couple of 40s or 45s or something that are also originally dated 1967 (I think that's what yours say) and have every confidence that they'll pass hydro and visual inspection. They look great inside and are galvanized outside with not a speck of rust or pitting. I'm also having issues with the bands and the U-Bolts that hold them on but I'm thinking some rubber inbetween the bands and the tanks might solve the problem. Please let me know what you come up with. I don't think my backpack was originally made for doubles. Anyway, the tanks are 3/4 the length of 72s and exactly the same diameter so if someone call tell me what size they are I'd appreciate it. My tanks are stamped VOIT. The original hydro has a "+" and the second has a "+" but the other two do not. I also have two old 72s ('63 and '67) and they only have a "+" on the first hydro. So far I've only had one shop fill the oldest one (which I've used a lot) to only 2250. They ALWAYS filled it to 2500 where I usually went. The weird thing is that my tanks are identical except that one is about 3/8" shorter at the neck. I wonder how that happened.
I removed the brushed-on yellow paint--it was flaking off anyway. I need to add some boots so they'll stand up and put a spacer in the short tank. Perhaps some vintage VOIT stickers would be nice. I also may have to get an oval mask and some VOIT flippers too.
halocline
Contributor
You can try, it might be a trick. Having just the original hydro doesn't have anything to do with it, you need to know the REE number. Those are Norris tanks, correct? There is a document floating around with PST REE numbers, but I don't know anything about the availability of norris REE numbers. There is a way to calculate it, but good luck finding a hydro guy that will do that. Around here, it seems most of the hydro guys are only the second or third generation in their families to walk upright.
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