WET SUIT - History questions - Have the answers?

[Sam Miller III]

Subject: Hugh Bradner dies at 92....The wet suit inventor.

Many of the early divers in California knew Dr. Bradner and a few were privileged to dive and socialize with him. He was truly a brilliant but humble gentleman who loved life and lived it to the fullest.

There has been considerable discussion over the years about the American invention of the wet suit. I was acquainted with the co-inventors and over the years had a number of conversations with them about the wet suit, therefore I have developed a series of questions about the origins of it. I suspect that some of the "Grumpy old divers" like Thal & Dr Bill will have some of the anwers so chime in--let this be an historical educational post for the masses..

So......

*** What purpose was the rubber was originally developed and intended usage?

*** The name of the other co-inventor?

*** Was Hugh the first to market it?

*** What was the name of Hugh's company?

*** Where was it located?

*** Why did it take 3 years to reach the market?.

*** When Month?Year?did it the advertisement for a wet suit appear in SDM?

Orange County California:

**** What did an OC company contribute?

**** What was the companies' name?

**** Where located? (City)

**** Where did early divers obtain wet suit material?

**** What supplies were needed to construct an early wet suit?

**** What was the cost of supplies? $$$

****What was the name of the wet suit glue?

**** How were the patterns developed?

**** What was the thickness of the material?

Answers when I return from Baja...

SDM

 

[Paco]

Jack O'Neill co-inventor?
Company -O'Neill

 

[GrandpaScuba]

*** What purpose was the rubber was originally developed and intended usage?
indoor-outdoor carpet backing

*** The name of the other co-inventor?
O'neil

O'neil was on an airplane and noticed the edge of the carpet was sticking up and saw the neoprene backing.

Though, actually, this is disputed for a number of reasons.

 

[Teamcasa]

*** What purpose was the rubber was originally developed and intended usage?
indoor-outdoor carpet backing.

Think Fridigaire.

 

[Oxy]

I thought it was Quinn the Eskimo and seal skin!
Or was that just a bedtime story?

 

[neil]

Neoprene was invented by some DuPont chemists back in the 30's as a rubber substitute, but I don't know what for.

 

[Sam Miller III]

Good gosh -- so many replies in such a short time span.

All are incorrect....

O'Neil is an urban legend... he probably introduced wet suits for surfers in Santa Cruz area, but that was a decade and a half or more after the diving wet suit was introduced.

TeamCasa --close...think Brea! the city not tar

sdm

 

[mfalco]

Willard Bascom

 

[Sam Miller III]

Willard Bascome is CORRECT! He was the co-inventor of the wet suit.

You may read about the discovery in Willard's book "The Crest of the Wave." He had no interest in promoting or making money from the wet suit.

While at it read his pioneering book "Waves and Beaches."

Sadly Willard was in an auto accident several years ago and did not recover from his injuries.

Now what about the rest of the questions? sdm

 

[Teamcasa]

From:
Scuba America Historical Center - History of Body Glove

Bob and Bill needed to find a way to combat California's cold water. They tried a variety of ideas, including electrically heated flyers' suits from war surplus, but those would burn up and wool sweaters lasted only as long as they were dry, which wasn't too long. Finally in 1953, they found some insulation material, which was used in the back of refrigerators. This material was called neoprene and was used to make the first practical suits.​

I bought my first BodyGlove in 1968. Stiff but warm and it only lasted two years before I figured out the Ozone problem. (Stored in a room with several machines!)