Basic gear from mid-twentieth-century Italy: Cressi

[David Wilson]

Another latecomer to the ball was the Cressi Pro-Rubber:

I would categorise this model as a "busier" version of the X-Rubber. The information on the sole of the Pro-Rubber is the most extraordinarily detailed I have ever encountered in any fin. It's particularly unusual to find a metric of blade stiffness, which is measured by a "durometer" in "shores". "U.T.S." may stand for "ultimate tensile strength", the maximum engineering stress level reached in a tension test. "Elastic efficiency" may have something to do with the amount of elongation remaining after a stretch test plus a rest period, a test applied to rubber fins in Malaysian Standard MS974: "Specification for Rubber Swimming Fins". "Specific Weight" is expressed in grammes per square centimetre. The foot sizing 38-39 is European, the sizing 5-6 is either American or British.

Further imagery:

 

[David Wilson]

Final latecomer of the day is the Cressi Gordon:

Although "Cressi sub" is stamped on the tip of the blade, I am not entirely convinced about the authenticity of the Gordon's Cressi pedigree. It may have been made for Cressi by an Italian Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), who badged it as a Cressi sub fin but who may have produced the same design for other brands.

That's it for today. Next time I am going to review Healthways' late-1950s Cressi Rondine fin designs for the American market. Stay safe.

 

[David Wilson]

We're approaching the end of this thread devoted to masks, snorkels and fins manufactured in the middle of the twentieth century by Cressi of Italy. Here is an illustration from the "Skin Diving" chapter of my copy of Aquatics Handbook by Gabrielsen et al. (Prentice-Hall, 1968 edition):

The fins at the top of the image are Cressi's basic Rondine Extras, or clones thereof. The pair at the bottom come with a feature absent from all Cressi fins we have explored in this thread, i.e. an instep strap for additional security.

Healthways became Cressi's sole agent for the North American market during the 1950s. The wonderful Skin Diving History website has several period publicity images of Cressi Rondine fins with instep straps at Skin Diving History - Healthways - Mfg & Retailers:

As you can see, both the larger-sized Rondine standard fin and the Rondine Gigante Super fin feature the "adjustable instep lock-strap". No instep lock-strap version of the Cressi Rondine was available on the European market, leaving diving equipment historians with the question: "Did Cressi only make these instep-strap Rondines to be imported and distributed by Healthways within the USA, or did Healthways manufacture these fins under licence from Cressi? The image below suggests the latter option:

And here is another, later, ad where Healthways has changed the product names:

The Healthways Cressi Rondine model whose larger sizes are fitted with an instep lockstrap is now the "Cressi Genoa", while the Healthways Cressi Rondine Gigante Super fin has become the "Cressi Competition".

 

[David Wilson]

Healthways catalogues enable us to date some of these designs:

1958-1959

1960

By the look, then, the name change to "Genoa" and "Competition" occurred in 1960.

1961-1963

By 1961, the "Competition" was conspicuous by its absence from the Healthways catalogue, while the "Genoa" itself was discontinued after 1963.

 

[David Wilson]

Were these closed-heel Healthways-Cressi "instep lockstrap" fins unique for their time? Not quite. I can recall at least another couple of contemporary full-foot models offering twin buckles and an adjustable strap across the instep for a tighter foot-width fit:

Australia: Turnbull/Hanimex Giant Continental

Russia: Закрытые ласты Московского завода № 4 – модель № 3 [Model Number 3 closed-heel fins made in Moscow Number 4 factory]

Anyway, that's it for today and for this thread. I'll move on midweek to another thread exploring basic diving gear from mid-twentieth-century Italy. For the moment, I'll probably stick with the major manufacturers, so Mares and Pirelli will be the "usual suspects" when I eventually make my choice of subject. In the meantime, stay safe.

 

[evandroairton]

Great posts!
Quite nice!

It's interesting to note that by the 70's a brazilian company started making many of these equipment here in Brazil using Cressi moulds, like, for example, Pinnochio and lince/ super lince (called puma/ super puma here), the snorkels and rondines
Some of these are still make

Cobra Sub | Produtos de mergulho e pesca submarina.

P.S. the site has italian, spanish and english, besides portugueses

Regards

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the feedback, evandroairton.

And thank you for identifying Brazil, and Cobra sub in particular, as recipients of Cressi moulds after the Italian company switched technologies. Here's an opportunity to compare the products of the Italian and the Brazilian companies:

Cressi Pinocchio (1952-present)

Cobra Pinocchio

Portuguese: "Descrição. Máscara mais clássica do mercado, Pinocchio é a primeira máscara com nariz do mundo, originária de parcerias com empresas internacionais Pinocchio transpira tradição. Como é desde seu lançamento, Pinocchio mantem-se sendo feita em borracha natural. - A primeira máscara do mundo com nariz moldado - Corpo em borracha natural. - Vidro temperado."
Rough translation: "Description. Most classic mask on the market, Pinocchio is the first nosepiece mask in the world, originating from partnerships with international companies Pinocchio exudes tradition. As it has been since its launch, Pinocchio remains made of natural rubber. - The first mask in the world with a molded nose - Natural rubber body. - Tempered glass."


Cressi Super Lince (1973-1976?)

Cobra Super Puma

Portuguese: "Descrição. Máscara mais vendida da história no Brasil, Super Puma é a máscara mais importante da família Cobra, a história do mergulho no país se confunde com a da máscara que encanta gerações com a incrível capacidade de vedar em qualquer tipo de rosto, conforto no mergulho, amplo campo de visão, qualidade e durabilidade."
Rough translation: "Description. Best-selling mask in history in Brazil, Super Puma is the most important mask of the Cobra family, the history of diving in the country is intertwined with that of the mask that delights generations with the incredible ability to seal on any type of face, comfort in diving, wide field of vision, quality and durability."

 

[David Wilson]

Brazil's Nico Infantil may be the equivalent of Italy's Pinobaby mask.

Cressi Pinobaby (1973-1974?)

Cobra Nico Infantil

Portuguese: "Mico (Borracha) INFANTIL - amarelo, rosa e azul. - Adequada para rostos menores e crianças em idade juvenil. - Corpo em borracha natural. - Aro em cor contrastante. - Vidro temperado."
Rough translation: "Mico Infantil (Rubber) - yellow, pink and blue. - Suitable for smaller faces and young children. - Natural rubber body. - Rim in contrasting color. - Tempered glass."

 

[David Wilson]

As for snorkels, Brazil's Spiro may correspond to Italy's Gringo.

Cressi Gringo (1982)

Cobra Spiro

Portuguese: "O Respirador Spiro da marca COBRA SUB é o mais utilizado por todos os mergulhadores, com seu tamanho de cano perfeito, possibilita uma perfeita passagem de ar e não exige muito esforço nos mergulhos por apnéia para impussionar a água.Diâmetro interno de 15mm e bocal macio e anatômico. Perfeito para caça submarina e mergulho profissional."
Rough Translation: "The COBRA SUB Spiro snorkel is the most used by all divers, with its perfect tube size, it allows a perfect air passage and does not require much effort during breathhold diving to expel the water. 15mm internal diameter and soft and anatomical mouthpiece. Perfect for spearfishing and professional diving."

 

[David Wilson]

As for fins...

Cressi Rondine

Cobra Rondine

Portuguese: "Nadadeira Cobra Sub Rondine. Nadadeira da família da Spinta, Rondine é a mais antiga nadadeira de borracha do mundo e sua fama também é internacional, assim como da sua irmã mais nova. Rondine é centímetros menor que a Spinta, mas sua fórmula também origina-se das seringueiras da Amazônia e sua durabilidade e conforto também são seus pontos fortes."
Rough translation: "Cobra Sub Rondine fin. Spinta's family fin, Rondine is the oldest rubber fin in the world and its fame is also international, as well as that of its younger sister. Rondine is centimetres smaller than Spinta, but its formula also originates from rubber trees in the Amazon and its durability and comfort are also its strengths."

The "Spinta" reference needs explaining. "Spinta" is Cobra sub's flagship all-rubber fin:

Portuguese: "Projetada na Itália, a nadadeira mergulho spinta é considerada por muitos especialistas como uma das melhores nadadeiras de pala média em borracha do mundo. Sua matéria prima é a nobre borracha natural da Amazônia, que torna essa nadadeira para mergulho um produto com muita durabilidade e propriedades mecânicas incomparáveis. Pala confeccionada em borracha natural com dimensões de aproximadamente 230 x 190 mm. Sapata fechada com reforço e abertura ovalada. Moldada em peça unica sem emendas, costuras ou fivelas. Perfeita para mergulho em geral, inclusive o autônomo e o snorkeling. Tamanho 42-44 - para pé tamanho 40 Tamanho 44-46 - para pé tamanho 42 Tamanho 46-48 - para pé tamanho 44."
Rough translation: "Designed in Italy, the Spinta dive fin is considered by many experts to be one of the best medium-sized rubber fins in the world. Its raw material is the noble natural rubber from the Amazon, which makes this diving fin a product with great durability and incomparable mechanical properties. Blade made of natural rubber with dimensions of approximately 230 x 190 mm. Closed shoe with reinforcement and oval opening. Molded in one piece without seams, seams or buckles. Perfect for diving in general, including scuba diving and snorkeling. Size 42-44 - for foot size 40 Size 44-46 - for foot size 42 Size 46-48 - for foot size 44."

This is a fin that I would be interested in adding to my collection, but I haven't figured out a way yet of ordering a pair sized 46-48 from Brazil to the UK. I'm curious about the mention of an "Italian design", because the Spinta (Spinta = Portuguese for "thrust") seems to have a quite different look from any model in the original Italian Cressi Rondine family of fins. It would also be interesting to own a fin made with rubber from the Amazon rain forest, which is where natural rubber was first discovered.