Basic gear from mid-twentieth-century Italy: Cressi

[David Wilson]

The page above is from Cressi's 1953 catalogue and illustrates the snorkel and snorkel-less versions of the Sommozzatore mask in figures 9 and 10 respectively. As for the accompanying text:
Italian: "L’occhiale SOMMOZZATORE (con o senza respiratore), (Fig. 9 e 10) è l’occhiale per la profondità. Ha spessori di gomma progressivi e razionali atti a sostenere la pressione dell’acqua, evitando la deformazione e la compressione del vetro sul naso e sulla fronte durante l’immersione in profondità. Tutta la pressione viene ad essere distribuita sul viso in modo uniforme, dando massima aderenza e quindi tenuta all’acqua. Un buon pescatore che raggiunga quote da 10-12 metri in su trova nell’occhiale Sommozzatore un’ottima realizzazione. E’ usato dalla maggior parte dei partecipanti alle gare subacquee ed ha consentito immersioni a 25 m. ed oltre con piena soddisfazione. Il tipo senza respiratore può essere usato col respiratore «Delfino» mentre il tipo con respiratore lo ha incorporato in sé come il tipo Medusa sopraindicato. Il «Sommozzatore» viene costruito in misura grande."
Rough translation: "SOMMOZZATORE goggles (with or without breathing tube) (Fig. 9 and 10) are the goggles for depth. They have progressive and rational rubber thicknesses to support water pressure, avoiding deformation and compression of the glass on the nose and forehead during deep dives. All the pressure is distributed evenly over the face, giving maximum grip and therefore watertightness. A good fish-hunter reaching depths from 10-12 metres up is a great achievement in Sommozzatore goggles. It is used by most participants in underwater competitions and has allowed diving to 25 m. and beyond with complete satisfaction. The non-breathing-tube type may be used with the 'Delfino' snorkel, while the snorkel type has one built in like the aforementioned Medusa type. The 'Sommozzatore' comes in a large fitting."

Let's take a closer look at the Sommozzatore snorkel mask:

We can see from the image that this is a half-mask covering the eyes and nose only. Note the reference to the Sommozzatore as a specialist mask for deep diving. During the early 1950s, concerns were raised about the possibility of masks collapsing onto their wearers' faces under the action of water pressure at depth. So period masks often came with reinforced bodies and extended skirts to withstand the pressure and to distribute it more evenly over the front and the sides of the head. Note too the new float valve design read to shut off the orifice at the end of the inverted U-bend atop the snorkel. Note, finally, the resizing of the mask from a "medium" to a "large" fitting.

We'll return at the weekend to review the evolution of the Sommozzatore snorkel-mask in the mid and late 1950s. In the meantime, stay home and stay safe.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks, guys!

We'll complete our review of the development of the Cressi Sommozzatore snorkel mask today. Here's how it appeared in the 1955 catalogue:

Italian: "SOMMOZZATORE. E’ stato il primo tipo di maschera a risolvere particolari esigenze dell’immersione in profondità. Costruito con profili e spessori razionali, atti alla pressione. Massima aderenza, appoggio ben distribuito su tutto il viso, ottima tenuta, particolarmente indicata per nasi pronunciati. Per impiego generico e particolarmente per il fondo. In una sola misura: C (grande).SOMMOZZATORE UNO C. Identica al Sommozzatore C, con respiratore incorporato. In una sola misura (grande)."
Official Cressi translation: "SOMMOZZATORE. This was the first type of mask to answer to the particular requirements of deep immersion. Made with rational profile and thickness, adapted to pressure. Maximum adherence, fits well over the face, is very water-tight and particularly indicated to pronounced noses. For general use and especially deep immersion. In one size only: C (large). SOMMOZZATORE UNO C. Identical to Sommozzatore, but with incorporated snorkel. In one size only (large)."
My translation: "SOMMOZZATORE. This was the first type of mask to comply with the particular requirements of deep diving. Made with a rational profile and thickness, capable of withstanding pressure. Maximum grip, support well distributed over the face, excellent seal and particularly suitable for pronounced noses. For general use and for deeep diving in particular. Available in one size only: C (large). SOMMOZZATORE UNO C. Identical to Sommozzatore, but with an integral breathing tube. Supplied in one fitting only: C (Large)."

So the Sommozzatore was hailed as the ideal solution for spearfishermen who wanted to dive deeper in quest of their prey without experiencing mask squeeze. The Sommozzatore's high internal volume also benefited underwater hunters with noses prominent enough to brush against the inside of the glass when using lower-volume models, although I find the official English translation of this advantage as "particularly indicated to pronounced noses" a little less than felicitous.

 

[David Wilson]

The Sommozzatore snorkel-mask reappeared in Cressi's 1959 catalogue before being consigned to history:

Just a reminder here that the "Uno", Italian for "One", references the fact that the mask just features a single breathing tube, while the "C" indicates that the model comes in Large size only (A=Small, B=Medium, C=Large). So the quintessential Cressi tall- and long-sided diving mask look survived the 1950s, but apparently not into the early 1960s.

We have now covered all the Cressi snorkel-masks whose origins can be traced back to the 1947 catalogue. Next time we'll be moving on to the Cressi snorkel-masks that first saw the light of day in the 1953 catalogue, which can be viewed online at CRESSI | BluTimeScubaHistory if you can't wait in the meantime. We'll likely start with the Medusa G Uno, a single-snorkel full-face mask.

 

[jale]

Your threads are really extraordinary. It is a pure marvel to see the evolution of such "simple" devices.
Thanks a lot

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks, Jale, for your positive feedback, and thanks, АлександрД and Sam, for your likes.

On to the Cressi Medusa G Uno, which first saw the light of day in 1953. The "G" probably stood for "Gigante" (Giant) to relate the model to earlier and discontinued Cressi Gigante masks, which we discussed earlier in this thread. The "Uno" (One) distinguishes the Medusa G Uno from the Medusa G Due (Two), which we shall be reviewing next. These numbers identify how many breathing tubes are attached to the masks.

So here's how the Medusa G Uno appeared in Cressi's 1953 catalogue:

Italian: "Infine, chi si limita a stare alla superfice ad osservare il fondo marino, e vuole respirare dal naso e dalla bocca, può far uso della maschera MEDUSA UNO (con un respiratore) (Fig. 11). Questi tipi di occhiali racchiudono tutto il viso, compresa la bocca e il naso. Vengono costruiti in due misure: media e grande."
Rough translation: "Finally, those confined to remaining on the surface, observing the seabed and wishing to nose and mouth breathe can use the MEDUSA UNO mask (with one breathing tube) (Fig. 11). These types of goggles enclose the whole face, including the mouth and the nose. They are supplied in two sizes: Medium and Large."

Note the association of the Medusa G Uno with surface observation only and not with deep diving, a probably necessary constraint where ear-clearing facilities were absent. Note too the presence of the chinpiece (sottomento) to enclose the mouth as well as the eyes and the nose, enabling the wearer to breathe nasally or orally. And the availability of the mask in Medium and Large sizes to achieve a better, watertight fit.

 

[David Wilson]

The Medusa G Uno reappeared in Cressi's 1955 catalogue:

Italian: "MEDUSA G UNO. Maschera a facciale completo; racchiude nell’interno tutto il viso. Massima aderenza e morbidezza dei bordi, ne fanno un’ottima maschera per l’osservazione. La respirazione è resa possibile da un opportuno organo incorporato (valvola). Indicata in tutti gli impieghi del genere e per immersioni limitate a pochi metri. In due misure: B (media), C (grande).
Official English translation: "MEDUSA G UNO. Complete facial mask enclosing the whole face. Maximum adherence and softness of borders make this an excellent mask for observation. Respiration is permitted by the incorporated fixture of snorkels. Recommended for observation purposes and for immersions in shallow waters. Manufactured in three sizes: B (medium), C (large) and a special size for children."
My translation: "MEDUSA G UNO. Full-face mask, enclosing whole face on inside. Edges have maximum grip and softness, making this an excellent mask for observation. A convenient integral device (valve) makes breathing possible. Suitable for all these kinds of uses and for diving with a depth limit of a few metres. Supplied in two fittings: B (Medium) or C (Large)."

The 1955 catalogue distinguished between two types of integrated-snorkel mask: "Maschere con valvola" and "Maschere a facciale". The former, "valve-fitted masks" provided eye and nose coverage only, while the latter, "full-face masks" also enclosed the mouth. Clearly, the Medusa G Uno fell into Cressi's "maschere a facciale" category, where the presence of snorkels were "understood", because breathing would otherwise have been impossible.

Note the slight loosening of the fetters on the mask's usage — "suitable for diving with a depth limit of a few metres" — doubtless in the interests of avoiding alienation of the spearfishing community.

 

[David Wilson]

By the mid-1950s, the Medusa G Uno had become a recognised "skindiving" accessory. Within Italy, it appeared on the front cover of a 1957 issue of "Pescasport":

This snorkel-mask also made a mark in 1955 publications such as Ivanovic's Modern Spearfishing:

and Vanderkogel's Underwater Sport:

And here's an American period ad featuring the mask:

while here's a page from the 1956 catalogue of the British manufacturer Typhoon, which carried some Cressi products:

Finally for today, one of the young women in the following picture is shown donning a Medusa G Uno:

That must suffice for today. More anon about the development of the Medusa G Uno snorkel mask as the 1950s drew to a close. In the meantime, unlike the pair pictured above, keep at least two metres apart and stay safe!

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks, guys!

Now to review the remainder of the Cressi Medusa G1 snorkel-mask product run. Here it is in the 1959 catalogue:

So no change then in the mask's appearance, but the close of the 1950s does bring a newcomer to the range of fittings available: A "baby" sized model, costing almost half the price of Medium (B) and Large (C) versions.

 

[David Wilson]

During the 1960s, the "Baby" version of the Cressi G1 Medusa appeared separately from the Medium (B) and Large (C) fitting models:

1966:

The title "MASCHERE per BAMBINI" above translates to "CHILDREN'S MASKS", letting us know which end-users Cressi had in mind for their "Medusa Baby" on the right. The phrase "a facciale" served as a reminder that the Medusa Baby provided full-face coverage, enclosing the mouth as well as the eyes and the nose, just as the Medusa G1 B and C did. 1200 lire bought a faceplate made of "styroglass" (an extruded polystyrene claimed to be three times tougher than glass, lightweight, flexible, shock resistant and shatter-proof), while 100 more lire purchased a shatterproof glass eyescreen.

1969:

No change for 1969 then, apart from a small price rise. And then the Medusa Baby passed into history. At least until now.

 

[David Wilson]

As for the Medium (B) and Large (C) fittings of the Cressi Medusa G Uno:

1966

1969

The price differential between the Medusa Baby and the Medusa G Uno appears to have remained constant over the decade. The Medusa G1 did not make it into the 1970s either.