Basic gear from mid-twentieth-century Italy: Other manufacturers

[David Wilson]

Salvas Bucher fins also appeared in the German-language Salvas catalogue of 1966:

German: "« bucher » - Flossen - art. 101/b - regulär - art. 111/b - schwimmend - Eine absolute Neuigkeit auf dem Unterwassermarkt. Es ist rational und representiert das Ergebnis von Studien und Erfahrungen des Weltrekordmannes Raimondo Bucher, der der Erfinder ist. - Technisch überlegen, ist es ein wirklicher Fortschritt, der in weniger Mühe und mehr Arbeitsleistung ausgedrückt werden darf. - Erhältlich in folgenden Grössen: 1/2 3/4 5/6 7/8 9/10 117/12."
English: "'Bucher' - fins - art. 101 / b - regular - art. 111 / b - floating - absolute innovation in the underwater market. It is rational and represents the result of studies and experiences of the world record holder Raimondo Bucher, who is the inventor. - Technically superior, it is a real advance that can be expressed in less effort and greater performance. - Available in the following sizes: 1/2 3/4 5/6 7/8 9/10 117/12."

Here is an undated assortment of images of actual Bucher fins:

​

So much for Salvas Bucher fins, which I am sure others will agree look very different from the conventional fins of the 1960s. Their most prominent feature is perhaps their breadth, with the foot pocket surrounded by the blade on all sides. Raimondo Bucher's design is supposed to be based on his observation of marine fauna and it remained on the market for at least a semi-decade. One wonders what Bucher might have thought about the long-bladed freediving fins of today and the use of short-bladed fins for workouts ny competitive swimmers.

Plenty for today. We shall probably review the Salvas Pacific fin next time at the weekend. Stay safe and keep well.

 

[David Wilson]

On to the Salvas Pacific fin today. Introduced in or around 1965, this model appeared in Salvas diving gear advertisements until circa 1970.

Here is the fin in 1965, where it is billed as a "novità" (new product):

Italian: "PACIFIC - NOVITA' 1965 - pinne in gomma brevettata a scarpetta con canale di propulsione che consente un maggiore spostamento d'acqua con minor sforzo."
Rough translation: "PACIFIC - NEW PRODUCT FOR 1965 - patented full-foot rubber fins with propulsion channel enabling more water to be displaced with less effort."

So this fin came with the innovation of a mid-blade channel for a better return on effort by directing displaced water more efficiently. This feature was presumably at the heart of the patent mentioned, although I cannot provide confirmation as I have been so far unable to locate the patent in question.

The German-language Salvas catalogue of 1966 had more to say on the matter:

German: "« pacific » - Flossen - art. 101/p - regulär - art. 111/p- schwimmend — Patentierte Flossen, entworfen für grösse Leistung, um Müdigkeit während eines ausgedehnten Gebrauchs herabzusetzen. Weich, bequeme Fusstaschen, hohe Elastizität. Blau und schwarzer Gummi. - Erhältlich in den Grössen: 11/13 13/1 1/3 375 5/7 77/9 9/11 11/33."
English: "'Pacific' - fins - art. 101 / p - regular - art. 111 / p- Floating - Patented fins designed for great performance to minimise fatigue during extended use. Soft, comfortable foot pockets, high elasticity. Blue and black rubber. - Available in the following sizes: 11/13, 13/1, 1/3, 3/5, 5/7, 7/9, 9/11, 11/13."

So colour choice, buoyancy, comfort and endurance complement the initial claims about this fin's superior hydrodynamics. Here is the fin again in a 1967 advertisement with similar information in Italian:

Italian: "Normali e galleggianti in gomma nei colori blu e nero a scarpetta con canale du propulsione il che consente un maggior spostamento di aqua con minor fatica."
Rough translation: "Normal and floating blue and black rubber full-foot fins with propulsion channel enabling more water to be displaced with less effort."

 

[David Wilson]

In 1968, Salvas included white in the range of diving equipment colours available:

So who's for an all-white Salvas diving mask to match the all-white full-foot Pacific swimming fins with the patented propuslion channel?

And here are the Pacific fins for their perhaps final appearance in 1970:

To finish off today, here is an auction image of an orange pair of Pacific fins:

So the colour range of Salvas Pacific fins ran to black, blue, white and orange at various stages of their development.

That's my lot for today. More Salvas fin models to explore midweek, perhaps the Super Olimpic. Until then, keep safe and stay well.

 

[WeRtheOcean]

The Italian title translates to "The Bucher Fin" but the typography of the remainder of the article is so small and the resolution so low that I have been unable so far to decypher the text.

Raimondo Bucher's design is supposed to be based on his observation of marine fauna and it remained on the market for at least a semi-decade.

Well, assuming the images are relevant to the text -- Betta, shark, and skeleton of a whale -- they presumably relate to those marine fauna observations. I can see also that the first words of the article are Raimondo Bucher's name.

 

[David Wilson]

Well, assuming the images are relevant to the text -- Betta, shark, and skeleton of a whale -- they presumably relate to those marine fauna observations. I can see also that the first words of the article are Raimondo Bucher's name.

Thanks for the picture identifications, @WeRtheOcean. It's tantalising, but so frustrating, to find an image of the text of an article that promises so much and then to be unable to read the text because of its low resolution. I would have settled for an indication of the source, the title and issue date of the magazine where the article appeared, but even that was unforthcoming. Oh well...

 

[David Wilson]

Thank you Sam and Jale for the likes.

Today I planned to showcase the Salvas Super Olimpic fin. First let us remind ourselves how the Salvas Olimpic fin looked:

And here is the Salvas Super Olimpic fin in a Salvas advertisement from a Mondo Sommerso issue of 1970, when it may have first appeared:

An unconventional view from the trailing edge of the blade designed for effect, while the Italian caption "che fa... volare" says it all: "It makes (you) fly..." Little information, however, while the image itself conveys little impression of the Super Olimpic's elongated blade.

In 1977, Mondo Sommerso provided more verbal and visual information about the Salvas Super Olimpic:

Italian: "Le pinne Nuove Super Olimpic di tipo professionale non galleggiante, rispetto al precedente modello della Salvas si presentano con una pala più lunga e quindi con la superficie maggiorata, che ne aumenta il rendimento. La scarpetta, a punta aperta, è stata studiata anatomicamente in modo da non affaticare il piede, nemmeno dopo lunghe ore di permanenza in acqua. Le Nuove Super Olimpic, fabbricate in diverse calzate, dal 34-36 al 44-46, hanno prezzi (indicativi) che vanno dalle 5.400 alle 7.000 lire. Salvas. Via San Damiano 2. 15053 Castelnuovo Scrivia (Alessandria).
Tel. 0131/85.237 - 85.210.
Rough translation: "The professional non-floating New Super Olimpic fins, compared to the previous Salvas model, have a longer blade and therefore come with an increased surface, which increases their performance. The open-toe foot pocket has been anatomically designed so as not to tire the foot, even after long hours in the water. The New Super Olimpic, manufactured in different sizes, from 34-36 to 44-46, have (indicative) prices ranging from 5,400 to 7,000 lire. Salvas. Via San Damiano 2. 15053 Castelnuovo Scrivia (Alessandria). Tel. 0131 / 85.237 - 85.210.

So the Super Olimpics are fitted with longer blades to boost perfomance and with anatomically designed foot pockets intended to enhance wearing comfort over extended periods of endurance swimming.

 

[David Wilson]

We conclude today with some auction pictures of the Salvas Super Olimpic:

The final image requires some clarification. "DIN 7876-A" identifies the fin's compliance with German Standard DIN 7876 of October 1980. The "A" at the end identifies the fin as a full-foot fin (B=open-heel fin). "FL" stands for "Fußlänge" (foot length) in German, while "FB" stands for "Fußbreite" (foot width). The Standard provided a range of foot widths for a given foot length and a foot length of 280 mm required a foot width of 115-125 mm, so in the case of the fin above, 110 was 5 mm short of the range. If you want further information about DIN 7876, see the Wikipedia article at DIN 7876 - Wikipedia.

And here I shall finish for today. Next time, at the weekend, I shall move on to Salvas Super Perry fins. Until then, keep safe and stay well.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Sam and Akimbo.

On to Salvas Super Perry fins. The only references I have found to a "Super Perry" online is a superhero cartoon character called "Perry the Platypus, code named Agent P, or simply Perry, a pet platypus, who, unbeknownst to his owners, lives a double life as a secret agent for a secret spy organisation that employs animal spies". Go figure.

Super Perry fins apparently belong to a Salvas budget line in underwater equipment. Here are a couple of advertisements where the fins come packaged with a mask, snorkel and bag for young people:

So these are full-foot fins with a distinctive corrugation in the centre of the blade that may be the reason why the fins are labelled "brevettata" (patented) although I have been unable to locate the patent in question so far.

Let us take a closer look at these fins as they appear in auction pictures:

Their country of manufacture varies between Italy:

and Hungary:

 

[David Wilson]

Dating the Salvas Super Perry is somewhat problematical, although one of the ads in the previous message refers to its availability in 1970. What is certain, though, is that some time after its production was transferred from Italy to Hungary, the fin moulds moved again to Turkey's largest city Istanbul, where a rubber goods plant called Şener Kauçuk continued to manufacture the fin, rebadged as its "Süper Star" model. Here it is in its Turkish reincarnation:

So the Salvas Super Perry lives on as the "Şener Kauçuk Süper Star" and remains on sale in 11 sizes from EU 27 to EU 45 at the reduced price of 116 Turkish Liras (US$ 14.44) if you visit the online retail store at Star Kauçuk Batmaz Yüzme Ayak Paleti Fiyatı, Yorumları - TRENDYOL.

We have several similar budget-line Salvas full-foot fins to explore some time midweek. Until then, keep safe and stay well.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Jale and Angelo.

Today we look at budget-line Salvas full-foot fins. First, the Balzer:

You may be forgiven for having a sense of déjà vu with this fin as it bears some resemblance to the Salvas Pacific (below)

The fold in blade is there in both cases, while the lack of ribbing around the fold distinguishes the design from the Super Perry. Note, however, how the the Balzer blades are decorated with a pair of sharks, while the Pacific has two ship's wheels instead.