For Sale Willson “Senior” Scuba Fins, vintage

[Ellen Hernandez]

Morning. Brand new to this site. Hoping this is allowed. This was a friends great grandfathers. Has blemishes. Any idea on circa and value? Thanks in advance.

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

Not sure but they'd be great for a frog costume.

 

[dmaziuk]

try Vintage Diving and/or Diving History - History of Diving Gear forum

 

[Akimbo]

@David Wilson might know.

 

[David Wilson]

I have seen "Willson" fins before on eBay and archived the auction pictures:

 

[David Wilson]

I have also come across a Willson dive mask:

I have just explored an online newspaper archive, where I found several ads for Willson swim products:

1. The Bakersfield Californian Thu Jun 18 1953 p9

2. The Tampa Tribune Fri Jul 31 1953, p15

3. Tallahassee Democrat Wed Jun 2 1954, p13

So Willson fins and masks seem to have been around in 1953 and 1954, making your fins almost 70 years old. I would, however, take the adjectives "famous" and "professional" in the last advert above with a significant pinch of salt as their selling context at the time seems to have been the hardware store and not the dive store. They may have curiosity value, considering their age and coming with heel protectors as they do like many European fins of the time, but the fact that they are blemished and have perished over time will count against them attracting high bids. I never recorded how much the eBay Willson fins fetched, so I really have no idea about their monetary value as "display items". Have they any sentimental value, considering their previous ownership?

 

[happy-diver]