Antique SCUBA Gear Collectors?

[jsado]

I would really like to begin a collection of antique SCUBA gear. Does anyone here have their own collection? If so, maybe you could post a pic of some of your favorites.... One thing that I'd really like to start my collection off with, is one of those big old helmets... Anybody know where I can get this kind of stuff?

 

[olkev]

Check out the Sea Hunt subforum here and, I hate to plug other forums but, try Vintage Double Hose or Vintage Scuba. There are a lot of folks on there that can point you in the right direction.

Not only collectable but USEABLE Vintage gear!

 

[herman]

Don't collect it...dive it!
There are a good many of us who restore the old gear and dive it on a regular basis. I know of at least 5 or 6 on this board. VDH has an active forum. It's mostly double hose stuff but there is some discussions on single hose regs as well. As for finding old regs, ebay and pawn shops are a couple of sources.

 

[spectrum]

jsado

The brain trust of vintage diving is mostly at Portage Quarry this weekend for a venerable who's who of vintage diving. Rest assured that there is an active community of folks diving this equipment. Parts and support are more available than they had been in decades!

Just yesterday I did a double hose dive with a vintage horse collar BC just in case. I got the weighting right and never touched the inflater. It's the sort of diving that gets you close to to total freedom. As for pictures, here's the story behind my rig.

Pete

 

[herman]

Got that right Pete, wish I could have been there but just getting back off a trip, the wife and boss did not seem to like the idea. Oh well, the double hose and backplate got a workout in Bonaire.

 

[Nemrod]

I would really like to begin a collection of antique SCUBA gear. Does anyone here have their own collection? If so, maybe you could post a pic of some of your favorites.... One thing that I'd really like to start my collection off with, is one of those big old helmets... Anybody know where I can get this kind of stuff?

There are numerous vintage and antique equipmet organizations. There are several and please correct anything I have wrong.

NAVED, National Assoication of Vintage Equipment Divers.

Historical Dive Society

Inland Divers

Most of us DIVE the equipment but many also have collections from small to HUGE. Unfortunately you are a bit late for finding cheap helmet gear and double hose gear but single hose crap generally goes dirt cheap with some exceptions.

Most, but not all poeple, consider that the "Vintage Era" diving is using equipment and styles and techniques and methods as used before about 1974 or earlier. If you follow that thinking then a 1994 AL single hose regulator and cheap pink TUSA fins will NEVER be "Vintage" or get you any cred. It will just be old junk.

I was scheduled for Portage but a last minute and important buinsess trip came up and I have to be on the airline at 7AM Monday. It was just to much given the great driving distance.


N
NAVED Master Diver

 

[David Wilson]

Welcome aboard! If you're interested in the full range of vintage diving gear - the fins, masks, snorkels, wetsuits and drysuits as well as the regulators - take a look at the collection of early diving equipment manufacturers' and retailers' advertisements at Skin Diving History.

I agree with previous contributors about collecting vintage equipment for use, not just for ownership. You can still purchase pre-mid-1970s gear on eBay and specialist outlets such as Vintage Scuba Supply. You can also get period diving books there with gear illustrations.

Some vintage-style gear is still in production, so you can also buy new. One example is historical drysuit manufacturers Aquala and Hydroglove.