David Wilson
Contributor
Is this the one you mean:
It's on eBay at
Vintage Japanese AMA Female Abalone Divers Copper Mask | eBay
where you can find more pictures. The current price is $275 and the mask material is said to be copper.
Any vintage dive mask collectors out there? Especially from Japan?
- Thread starter Mike Lev
- Start date
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Is this the one you mean:
It's on eBay at
Vintage Japanese AMA Female Abalone Divers Copper Mask | eBay
where you can find more pictures. The current price is $275 and the mask material is said to be copper.
It is very similar. I am fairly certain it was in a magazine. The mask was a bit corroded and had a decaying rubber strap that looked like it was made from an inner tube. I remember thinking that the strap looked comfortable due to the shape and might be worth trying.
OP
Mike Lev
Contributor
Hello Akimbo I think you might be talking about one in a book. the Last of the Great Water Hunters. By Carlos Eyles. pg 86.
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Mike,
In Carlos's book "The last of the "Blue water hunters" the gentleman in the sweat shirt holding a game inner tube was Charlie Sturgill. He as wearing a mask of his own design.
At one time it was thought there was only 3 intact Sturgill mask remaining out of about 40 that Charlie produced in his garage . Just recently another member of the early tribe went to the big reef in the sky. His widow is in possession of the mask which represents memories from the past and will remain in the family as a heirloom. Not for sale and no I can not disclose the name.
A often quoted and copied article from E.R cross and later my dedicated column "The way it was" in March 1991 issue of the the now defunct national magazine Discover Diving;
'
'The Mask,
One of the great pioneer divers of all times was the late Charlie Sturgill. "The Old Walrus," as he was affectionately known, started his diving career in 1929 (Several years before the famed Bottom Scratchers) in the frigid waters off Northern California where he hunted for abalone by a method he described as "feeling for abalone." He would dive on a reef, feel until he found an abalone and pry it off, without the use of mask, fins, snorkel or thermal protection.
Charlie began diving with a mask using a Japanese mask in the late 1930s which was loaned to him by his good friend Bill O'Conner. A few years later after the end of WW 11, Charlie, a master tool and die maker and an inventor of sorts, developed the necessary tooling to produce masks on a semi-custom basis for himself and a few close friends. I consider myself very fortunate to have been included in the latter category.
In early years during the genesis of recreational diving the masks were either too large, too small, too stiff or after a few dives, would rapidly deteriorate into a gummy, sticky mess. This did not make for comfortable diving! After using a number of the masks of that era the oriental imports, Japanese Ama's & and possibly the Korean Haeyno and the American made Sea Net, I decided it was time to contact Charlie to ask him if he could make one of his custom masks.
After checking my meager finances, found I could possibly afford one of Charlie's masks, so I gave him a call. "Sure, Sammy, I'd be happy to make a mask for you, come on over", Charlie replied to my request. Within moments I was off to the temple of Southern California diving, Charlie sturgill'sgarage.
I was met by this jovial hunk of a man with his infectious, ever-present smile. "Hey ya, Sammy" was always his cordial greeting. Alter a few moments of catching up on the diving scene it, was time to get to work. "Sammy, I'm now making two masks; the original for $6.00 and a new oval model for $8.00", Charlie explained. After considerable soul searching and penny counting, I opted for what I felt I could afford, the original round mask for $6.00.
Now, Charlie's garage was something to behold. It appeared to be in total disarray, and the best way to describe it would be the day after a big sale in a bargain basement. Diving equipment in various stages of repairs, pieces of metal, lengths of stainless rods scattered about... Omnipresent was the huge metal turret lathe and miscellaneous metal working machines. But to Charlie, it was his arena, it was where he excelled in turning these seemingly scrap pieces of metal into custom spear points, spear shafts, yes, even masks.
Charlie knew the location, size, shape and type of everything in his garage. His storage system was logical and certainly workable, but it still defies the imagination how he managed to find anything, let alone make anything, but he did.
Charlie went to work with the speed and skill of a emergency room surgeon. He immediately uncovered a length of 5 inch O.D. soft rubber World War 11, surplus fire hose, from which he cut a 4 inch piece. He placed the piece of rubber hose in the wooden mold and proceeded to his trusty bench grinder where he slowly cut a 1/8 inch wide, 3/32 deep groove all around the edge for the glass. This was followed by the rough contouring for the forehead, cheeks, and upper lip. He then went to his metal rack and withdrew a piece of 3/4 x 16 inch 22 gauge stainless steel, which he placed in his specially constructed mold and carefully, yet skillfully, forced the stainless steel around the mold forming it into a familiar round mask shape. His next step was to form the band evenly and smoothly around the mold creating the lip for the compression hand with light rapid laps of a hammer. Using silver solder, the welding process of the era, he soldered the tabs for the strap and the compression screw tabs to complete the band. A piece of pre-cut 1/3 inch glass, the same kind used for window glass, was taken from the shelf and fit into the groove; the compression band placed around the mask and the compression screw tightened.
At last, the mask was assembled. My own custom Sturgill mask! Charlie proceeded to take some cursory measurements of my then youthful face, and returned to the grinding wheel, skillfully grinding a little here, a little there, another trial fit, a little more grinding. Finally, a perfect fit. A final hand finish with fine sandpaper, attaching of the strap, cut from a truck inner tube, and I was the proud possessor of a real genuine Charlie Sturgill Original Style Diving Mask.
This occurred many years ago when diving as well as life was much simpler, a time when pride in workmanship and ownership were at a premium. Charlie made almost 40 of these one of a kind custom dive masks, however only three are known to have survived the rigors of our disposable society, mine, Alex Pierce's of Toronto, Canada and Charlie's widow's Laura's mask which now on loan and rests in a Southern California museum. And indeed they are museum pieces... the three remaining masks are all almost sixty years old and represent an era which was experienced by only a precious few which will never be experienced again upon this earth.
Charlie has reverend position in the fraternity of diving pioneers; he won the world's second Spearfishing contest in 1950 with a pole spear, was a LA County Underwater Instructor and serendipity developed much of the spearfishing and SCUBA equipment which has become mainstream in todays diving.
I will never forget Charlie, nor will anyone who ever knew him.... nor will there ever be another mask like a Sturgill Mask.
Dr Samuel Miller,111
(Copyright Dr. Samuel Miller,111 & Lee/CCnews/TPR; may not be used with out permission of author and Lee/CCnews)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
post script;
Charlie passed on November 15 1984, 30 years ago- long before many of you were born or were engaged in this noble activity. His devoted wife Laura aka "Queenie" passed on a few years ago at the age of 90. If Charlie knew you and liked you he always addressed you in the familiar; Ie Sammy, Bobbie, Jimmie,--Those he didn't have great admiration or didn't know well it was formal Sam, Bob or Jim. A little about Charlie Sturgill...
Charlie along with team mates the late Bud Abernathy and Freddie Kittles of the SoCal Skin Divers team won the 1951 International Spearfishing meet. Bud and Freddie used a Sturgil modified Champion Arbaletes with Sturgil points. Charlie used his trusty legendary pole spear. Charlie Sturgil was the only person in the history of spearfishing competition to win an international meet with a pole spear.
The Fathomiers spearfishing club has been presenting the "Charlie Sturgil Pole Spear Spearfishing meet" for about 30 years...It came full circle when Charlie's grand daughter, Laura Lee Gonta won the meet several years ago using one of grandfather Charlie's legendary pole spears.
The name Sturgill and Charlie's reputation is alive and well with the establishment of Sturgill Underwater products located in the south bay area and still manufacturing the no nonsense very functional and extremely rugged equipment that Charlie was known for over 50 years
In Carlos's book "The last of the "Blue water hunters" the gentleman in the sweat shirt holding a game inner tube was Charlie Sturgill. He as wearing a mask of his own design.
At one time it was thought there was only 3 intact Sturgill mask remaining out of about 40 that Charlie produced in his garage . Just recently another member of the early tribe went to the big reef in the sky. His widow is in possession of the mask which represents memories from the past and will remain in the family as a heirloom. Not for sale and no I can not disclose the name.
A often quoted and copied article from E.R cross and later my dedicated column "The way it was" in March 1991 issue of the the now defunct national magazine Discover Diving;
'
'The Mask,
One of the great pioneer divers of all times was the late Charlie Sturgill. "The Old Walrus," as he was affectionately known, started his diving career in 1929 (Several years before the famed Bottom Scratchers) in the frigid waters off Northern California where he hunted for abalone by a method he described as "feeling for abalone." He would dive on a reef, feel until he found an abalone and pry it off, without the use of mask, fins, snorkel or thermal protection.
Charlie began diving with a mask using a Japanese mask in the late 1930s which was loaned to him by his good friend Bill O'Conner. A few years later after the end of WW 11, Charlie, a master tool and die maker and an inventor of sorts, developed the necessary tooling to produce masks on a semi-custom basis for himself and a few close friends. I consider myself very fortunate to have been included in the latter category.
In early years during the genesis of recreational diving the masks were either too large, too small, too stiff or after a few dives, would rapidly deteriorate into a gummy, sticky mess. This did not make for comfortable diving! After using a number of the masks of that era the oriental imports, Japanese Ama's & and possibly the Korean Haeyno and the American made Sea Net, I decided it was time to contact Charlie to ask him if he could make one of his custom masks.
After checking my meager finances, found I could possibly afford one of Charlie's masks, so I gave him a call. "Sure, Sammy, I'd be happy to make a mask for you, come on over", Charlie replied to my request. Within moments I was off to the temple of Southern California diving, Charlie sturgill'sgarage.
I was met by this jovial hunk of a man with his infectious, ever-present smile. "Hey ya, Sammy" was always his cordial greeting. Alter a few moments of catching up on the diving scene it, was time to get to work. "Sammy, I'm now making two masks; the original for $6.00 and a new oval model for $8.00", Charlie explained. After considerable soul searching and penny counting, I opted for what I felt I could afford, the original round mask for $6.00.
Now, Charlie's garage was something to behold. It appeared to be in total disarray, and the best way to describe it would be the day after a big sale in a bargain basement. Diving equipment in various stages of repairs, pieces of metal, lengths of stainless rods scattered about... Omnipresent was the huge metal turret lathe and miscellaneous metal working machines. But to Charlie, it was his arena, it was where he excelled in turning these seemingly scrap pieces of metal into custom spear points, spear shafts, yes, even masks.
Charlie knew the location, size, shape and type of everything in his garage. His storage system was logical and certainly workable, but it still defies the imagination how he managed to find anything, let alone make anything, but he did.
Charlie went to work with the speed and skill of a emergency room surgeon. He immediately uncovered a length of 5 inch O.D. soft rubber World War 11, surplus fire hose, from which he cut a 4 inch piece. He placed the piece of rubber hose in the wooden mold and proceeded to his trusty bench grinder where he slowly cut a 1/8 inch wide, 3/32 deep groove all around the edge for the glass. This was followed by the rough contouring for the forehead, cheeks, and upper lip. He then went to his metal rack and withdrew a piece of 3/4 x 16 inch 22 gauge stainless steel, which he placed in his specially constructed mold and carefully, yet skillfully, forced the stainless steel around the mold forming it into a familiar round mask shape. His next step was to form the band evenly and smoothly around the mold creating the lip for the compression hand with light rapid laps of a hammer. Using silver solder, the welding process of the era, he soldered the tabs for the strap and the compression screw tabs to complete the band. A piece of pre-cut 1/3 inch glass, the same kind used for window glass, was taken from the shelf and fit into the groove; the compression band placed around the mask and the compression screw tightened.
At last, the mask was assembled. My own custom Sturgill mask! Charlie proceeded to take some cursory measurements of my then youthful face, and returned to the grinding wheel, skillfully grinding a little here, a little there, another trial fit, a little more grinding. Finally, a perfect fit. A final hand finish with fine sandpaper, attaching of the strap, cut from a truck inner tube, and I was the proud possessor of a real genuine Charlie Sturgill Original Style Diving Mask.
This occurred many years ago when diving as well as life was much simpler, a time when pride in workmanship and ownership were at a premium. Charlie made almost 40 of these one of a kind custom dive masks, however only three are known to have survived the rigors of our disposable society, mine, Alex Pierce's of Toronto, Canada and Charlie's widow's Laura's mask which now on loan and rests in a Southern California museum. And indeed they are museum pieces... the three remaining masks are all almost sixty years old and represent an era which was experienced by only a precious few which will never be experienced again upon this earth.
Charlie has reverend position in the fraternity of diving pioneers; he won the world's second Spearfishing contest in 1950 with a pole spear, was a LA County Underwater Instructor and serendipity developed much of the spearfishing and SCUBA equipment which has become mainstream in todays diving.
I will never forget Charlie, nor will anyone who ever knew him.... nor will there ever be another mask like a Sturgill Mask.
Dr Samuel Miller,111
(Copyright Dr. Samuel Miller,111 & Lee/CCnews/TPR; may not be used with out permission of author and Lee/CCnews)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
post script;
Charlie passed on November 15 1984, 30 years ago- long before many of you were born or were engaged in this noble activity. His devoted wife Laura aka "Queenie" passed on a few years ago at the age of 90. If Charlie knew you and liked you he always addressed you in the familiar; Ie Sammy, Bobbie, Jimmie,--Those he didn't have great admiration or didn't know well it was formal Sam, Bob or Jim. A little about Charlie Sturgill...
Charlie along with team mates the late Bud Abernathy and Freddie Kittles of the SoCal Skin Divers team won the 1951 International Spearfishing meet. Bud and Freddie used a Sturgil modified Champion Arbaletes with Sturgil points. Charlie used his trusty legendary pole spear. Charlie Sturgil was the only person in the history of spearfishing competition to win an international meet with a pole spear.
The Fathomiers spearfishing club has been presenting the "Charlie Sturgil Pole Spear Spearfishing meet" for about 30 years...It came full circle when Charlie's grand daughter, Laura Lee Gonta won the meet several years ago using one of grandfather Charlie's legendary pole spears.
The name Sturgill and Charlie's reputation is alive and well with the establishment of Sturgill Underwater products located in the south bay area and still manufacturing the no nonsense very functional and extremely rugged equipment that Charlie was known for over 50 years
OP
Mike Lev
Contributor
Hello Sam,you caught me before I hasd a chance to change the title. Th book is right in front of me to. Getting old. Thanks for all the great info.
- Messages
- 5,141
- Reaction score
- 4,137
- # of dives
- 5000 - ∞
My gosh....1991! That was 23 years ago!
No wonder so many have never heard of Discover Diving and/or read my article, "The Mask."
I still have the mask stored in an air tight container in a very secure location.
I have been told by an old friend who is a museum director in SoCal that due to Charlie's position in the diving community - One of the first free divers, member of the very first Underwater Instructor course in 1954, winner of the second International Spear Fishing in meet in 1951, designer of many of the items we still use in diving, that a value can not be placed on the mask, not even for insurance purposes .
However, I suspect there is a ceiling to it's value. But a high ceiling! (hope so!!!!!!)
SDM
No wonder so many have never heard of Discover Diving and/or read my article, "The Mask."
I still have the mask stored in an air tight container in a very secure location.
I have been told by an old friend who is a museum director in SoCal that due to Charlie's position in the diving community - One of the first free divers, member of the very first Underwater Instructor course in 1954, winner of the second International Spear Fishing in meet in 1951, designer of many of the items we still use in diving, that a value can not be placed on the mask, not even for insurance purposes .
However, I suspect there is a ceiling to it's value. But a high ceiling! (hope so!!!!!!)
SDM
DaleC
Contributor
This one:
OP
Mike Lev
Contributor
Thats is the one in the book I was talking about. Sam is talking about a homemade Sturgil mask. I have one homemade mask. But I am sure it's not a Sturgil. Lucky you Sam.
Last edited:
There is another Ama mask on E-Bay:
Vintage-Japanese-Ama-Female-Abalone-Divers-Mask
That copper one looked functional, but would have to be customized to the diver's face to work. And I'm not sure it would be comfortable at all.
SeaRat
Vintage-Japanese-Ama-Female-Abalone-Divers-Mask
That copper one looked functional, but would have to be customized to the diver's face to work. And I'm not sure it would be comfortable at all.
SeaRat
I have visions of the tip of my nose squashed against the glass holding the seal away from my face.
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