Porpoise CA-1 regulator

[happy-diver]

I've never paid attention to this type of computer stuff

I can feel those parts between my fingers, a bit cool in Melbourne at the moment

 

[JMBL]

Very impressive restoration, bravo !

 

[Fibonacci]

The Devil is always in the details...

Does anyone know of a source for the chromed brass adjustable buckles on the safety strap?
If we go to the trouble of getting new safety straps made up, it would be good to also have period correct new buckles!
I'd say they were a common item for a range of dive gear, measuring 1" to the outside to suit a 5/8" strap, wire dia 3/16".

 

[happy-diver]

Okay a quick start sample idea
elcheapo buckles for plating

Solar Plating
is where I used to get all my regs and other fine stuff rechromed
perfect work No 1 beautiful, I think it was John, but 15 years ago
The dive gear manufacturers used to use him.

I'll scratch up some photos

I haven't found any bloody stainless ones yet

What's a bit of rust among friends ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

 

[Fibonacci]

Solar Plating
is where I used to get all my regs and other fine stuff rechromed
perfect work No 1 beautiful, I think it was John, but 15 years ago
The dive gear manufacturers used to use him.

Thanks for the links and tip, been trying to find a place that will do 'odd' rechrome jobs like vintage restorations without charging an arm-and-leg!
Recut the threads on both the diaphragm plate and the nut... originally staked together with a heavy hand, very difficult to unscrew even with the staked areas drilled out, but finally done!

 

[Fibonacci]

Having now reverse engineered the Porpoise CA-1 I can say Ted Eldred was W-A-Y ahead of his time... a truly visionary SCUBA design pioneer

 

[Fibonacci]

 

[happy-diver]

Look at those computer photograph things wow!!!


A perspective, whilst the idea of Porpoise first stages may have come from OxyAcetylene welding regulators, one must understand that despite the regs being the same, the oxy has a right hand thread and the acetylene a left

The Porpoise has the identical sized fitting used for medical oxygen for many decades
until the relatively recent switch to pin index for big bottles currently as well as small

So the Porpoise fitting is a medical oxygen bullnose fitting
that is also used for welding oxygen

So which came first, breathing o2 or welding and cutting with it, or fueling rockets ha ha ha or the egg

so metal to metal or plastics to metal, O rings to metal, or other rubberised, plasticised compounds stuff


Now I can't remember why I included all these in the photo however but
the 109 my first, I panel beated and had rechromed by John.

Immaculate

and there's the Porpoise WRENCH for wrenching, the original fittings are metal to metal

now the Porpoise has also been braze repaired and lathed down to size
panel beaten, filed sanded and immaculately chromed however I was
going through an I don't want it shiny period 15 yrs ago so I beat it up
somehow and dulled it a bit and the weather has completed my task.

I suppose I wanted it looking old, out from under the house original

the dull polishes off, I wish I remember how I did it

I suppose it's very lightly evenly verdigrissed
a very fine scourer to dull the chrome, some vinegar and a humid environment

 

[Fibonacci]

Nice collection... I see a Porpoise Universal lurking in there

 

[Fibonacci]

Look at those computer photograph things wow!!!

Wait, there's more

Still have to model the exhaust valves, the originals had a surprisingly complex surface which needs to be simplified for modern reproduction.
And what to do about retention ties?
The originals were just copper wire twisted together and painted black after installation... cable ties hadn't been invented yet!