Well Pardon Me - the USD 1085 appreciation

[Nemrod]

I did re-learn something today. Regarding length of time in production, the 1085 would not be the longest produced. Nope, that honor goes to the Poseidon Cyklon! Which itself is deserving of a thread of it's very own.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I was given a Conshelf XI that was used to help recover the largest jade boulder in the history of the world (9 thousand lbs.) out of Jade Cove on the remote stretch of California Coastline in Big Sur. It’s quite a harrowing story of how it was done. How’s that for collector provenance?
I need to get a clamp ring for the second stage.

BTW, @James79 exhaust tee’s rule!

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I believe the Connie 14 and metal second stage is still made to this day in a secret unmarked location somewhere in the Los Angeles area. The plant only makes that specific reg and all of them go first to the military, then whatever is left over goes to a commercial diving supply company.
They are not available to the general public.
They are also not cheap.

 

[Nemrod]

I believe the Connie 14 and metal second stage is still made to this day in a secret unmarked location somewhere in the Los Angeles area. The plant only makes that specific reg and all of them go first to the military, then whatever is left over goes to a commercial diving supply company.
They are not available to the general public.
They are also not cheap.

I do not have the 2022 commercial and military catalog but the 1085 Cosnhelf 14 was still listed in the 2019 catalog, the latest I have.

As to the screw on tee early versions, personally, I would not dive with them except for exhibition purposes or pool duty as the WOB is much too high due to the restrictive small exhaust valve. The versions beginning circa 1973 with the slip on exhaust tee and large 30mm exhaust valve are superb then and now.

James

 

[Geo7]

I believe the Connie 14 and metal second stage is still made to this day in a secret unmarked location somewhere in the Los Angeles area. The plant only makes that specific reg and all of them go first to the military, then whatever is left over goes to a commercial diving supply company.
They are not available to the general public.
They are also not cheap.

Is it weird that this makes me want them even more?

 

[Nemrod]

A friend/dive buddy claims that AL is just selling off leftover stock. However, companies in this day and time are taxed on inventory and really do not hold deep inventory and parts and bits and pieces. Just look at the automobile situation, computers, Sony halted production for some cameras. Why did they just not use up inventory, well, because they all do just in time ordering for their supply line. I suspect that if a navy beholden to a democratically elected government asked AL to supply them some Connie 14s in exchange for an aircraft carrier load of cash they might find a way.

So Eric's urban legend that a secret location still produces military/commercial USD part number 1085-XX second stages and Conshelf first stages is not entirely beyond belief. And I suspect they are made by elves or Roswell space aliens under the tutelage of EP (no, not ET) .

Be careful, they are watching and listening!

James

 

[James79]

Is it weird that this makes me want them even more?

I have 2 Conshelf 14 (not XIV) 2nd stages that I haven't used because they are too pretty for the abuse I put on them....they are used, but from the original buyer who took damn good care of them. I dive the hell out of older ones (VI, XI, XIV, etc) and they do me just fine (and I don't feel bad if I add a few new scratches).

 

[lowwall]

I believe the Connie 14 and metal second stage is still made to this day in a secret unmarked location somewhere in the Los Angeles area. The plant only makes that specific reg and all of them go first to the military, then whatever is left over goes to a commercial diving supply company.
They are not available to the general public.
They are also not cheap.

From amronintl.com - Aqua Lung Conshelf XIV 2nd Stage without Hose Spare 1085-30

I had to create an account to get pricing, but all they want is a name and e-mail address.

 

[Kupu]

From amronintl.com - Aqua Lung Conshelf XIV 2nd Stage without Hose Spare 1085-30

View attachment 745583

I had to create an account to get pricing, but all they want is a name and e-mail address.

Last year I found a military reseller with a batch of these for $25 each on a lesser known auction site, brand new and with the side tuning port. Only bought one for personal use, should have bought the lot...

 

[BoltSnap]

Conspiracies in the dive business????????? OMG, this is so exciting!!!