Basic gear from mid-twentieth-century Britain: Dunlop, Heinke, Siebe-Gorman etc

[David Wilson]

Thanks again, АлександрД. And now on to the second and last trio of Namron breathing tubes. First up, the Spiralux.

4920 Spiralux

Once again a Namron product leaves a sense of déjà vu. If you have been following this thread, you might remember the Sous Marine Superflex, which was available around the same time:

Both snorkels very closely resembled the Spiroflex breathing tube made by the French company La Spirotechnique:

The above is from La Spirotechnique's 1967 catalogue, where the Spiroflex is labelled "Nouveau" (New), which is confirmed by its absence from the firm's previous-year catalogue. Namron's "Spiralux" resembles La Spirotechnique's Spiroflex in several ways, including the emphasis on comfort and the "convoluted" flexible mouthpiece dropping away when not in use. The two models may well have been complete replicas, Namron manufacturing the Spiralux under a La Spirotechnique licence or La Spirotechnique manufacturing it to be rebranded by Namron.

 

[David Wilson]

The second member of today's trio of Namron snorkels is the "Silent V". No stock number this time.

Silent V

And it's déjà vu all over again. Here's Sous Marine's take on the "Silent V" design:

"Silent V" is an English translation of the French "V Silencieux", which was the name of Beuchat's flagship snorkel of the time:

Both the sharp "V"-shape bend and the accordeon-style mouthpiece of the Marseilles company's original design are present in the Namron offering. Beuchat's version is reviewed in Ley Kenyon and Werner de Haas' Aqualung Diving: A Complete and Practical Guide to the Underwater World (London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd, 1970): "Tarzan V (Silencieux). A snorkel with a slightly bent rubber tube below, linked to the mouthpiece by a V-shaped angled piece made of plastic. Water collects in the insertion so that the gurgling noise accompanying breathing is largely eliminated." Beuchat's breathing tube received mixed reviews in a Which? Consumer Report of 1965:

 

[David Wilson]

Third and last item for review today is the Namron Comfortube. No stock number here either.

Comfortube

And wait for it... déjà once more when comparing the Sous Marine Universal snorkel below:

Both snorkels came with a convoluted accordion-like neck for comfort and flexibility. Another French diving equipment manufacturer, Beuchat of the Mediterranean port of Marseilles, had launched this mouthpiece design as long ago as the early 1960s:

The same mouthpiece graced the Namron Silent V breathing tube in the previous message.

That's all for today. In a few days' time, I'll proceed to Namron fins.

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Thanks again, АлександрД. And now on to the second and last trio of Namron breathing tubes. First up, the Spiralux.

4920 Spiralux
View attachment 485835
View attachment 485836
Once again a Namron product leaves a sense of déjà vu. If you have been following this thread, you might remember the Sous Marine Superflex, which was available around the same time:
View attachment 485837

Both snorkels very closely resembled the Spiroflex breathing tube made by the French company La Spirotechnique:
View attachment 485838
The above is from La Spirotechnique's 1967 catalogue, where the Spiroflex is labelled "Nouveau" (New), which is confirmed by its absence from the firm's previous-year catalogue. Namron's "Spiralux" resembles La Spirotechnique's Spiroflex in several ways, including the emphasis on comfort and the "convoluted" flexible mouthpiece dropping away when not in use. The two models may well have been complete replicas, Namron manufacturing the Spiralux under a La Spirotechnique licence or La Spirotechnique manufacturing it to be rebranded by Namron.

David, I am still using a Dacor equivalent to this snorkel, in silicone. This is a great design for Scuba divers. I actually had it in the pool yesterday.

SeaRat

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the personal info about the Dacor snorkel, John.

I'll move on now to Namron fins. There were four models in all. Here's a Namron flyer:

And no, I don't know what the 1970s model is trying to do with her Atlantide Pro fin either. Let's take the fins in the order they appear on the flyer. First up the Commando Jet Fin.

106J Commando Jet Fin

The Commando Jet Fin appears to be Namron's answer to Scubapro's Jet Fin. Lightness and ruggedness seem to be the selling points of this open heel adjustable fin.

 

[David Wilson]

Today's second Namron fin is the Atlantide Pro.

313-7 Atlantide Pro

This closed-heel, open-toe fin seems to have Italian origins. As with Namron masks, the Italian diving equipment manufacturer Tigullio is the likeliest design source of this fin. Here is Tigullio's Atlantide:

Note, however, Tigullio's signature moustache-like toe opening, which can also be found on the firm's flagship Manta fins, below:

The Namron fins seem to come with a more conventional toe opening.

 

[David Wilson]

The third fin for review today is the UDT Master Mk 2.

1337-9 UDT Master Mk 2 (Floating)

This time there appears to be a Greek connection. Greece's diving equipment manufacturer Triton also marketed a UDT Master Mk 2:

The Namron ad below shows the firm carrying several Greek masks, so the Hellenic connection isn't as far-fetched as it might seem at first sight:

 

[David Wilson]

The fourth and last Namron fin is the Abysal Professional.

Abysal Professional (Non-floating)

This fin may be Namron's answer to a perceived need during the 1970s for fins with giant foot pockets to accommodate the bulky footwear of newer drysuits.

I'll stop there. This will probably be the last message in the thread unless anybody wants to make a comment or to add an item of mid-twentieth-century British basic gear that hasn't been covered in these three UK-specific threads. Next time I'll be taking a look at basic equipment "Down Under" in the mid twentieth century, "Down Under" in the sense of the Antipodes, Australia in particular. I'm looking forward to a bit of "Ozzie" input here when, and not if, I get things wrong.

 

[АлександрД]

UDT - is it Underwater Demolition Team ?

 

[David Wilson]

UDT - is it Underwater Demolition Team ?
View attachment 486483

Yes, "Underwater Demolition Team" was what I presumed the acronym "UDT" stood for. These special forces were redesignated as US Navy Seals in the early 1980s. More information at Underwater Demolition Team - Wikipedia.