Churchill fin history

[David Wilson]

I guess most, if not all of us, know about Owen Churchill's contribution to modern swim fin development. Here is an image of his prototype:

and you can read more on the Smithsonian American history page at

Sports: Breaking Records, Breaking Barriers | Owen Churchill | Smithsonian's National Museum of American History |

I recently came across a blog focusing on the postwar development of Churchill fins from their first peacetime recreational green version of the 1950s

to their iconic blue and yellow two-tone Makapuu manifestation in more recent times:

One of the comments following the blog's pocket history of fin development was of particular interest first because it was posted in late 2010 and second because it was written by somebody with direct knowledge of the production of Churchill fins, John Johnson, the son of a collaborator of Owen Churchill's:

If you visit the British War Museum in London, there is a display showing a British Commando 'frogman' which includes one of the earliest pair of Churchill fins. The British commandos were Owen's first big customers back in 1940. My dad, Bob Johnson, approached Owen after WWII with a formula he had developed for natural gum rubber which permitted the addition of a chrome color and would also make the cured rubber buoyant. Up until that time, all fins had been black and simply sank to the bottom if you lost them. Multi-colored fins that could float were much more marketable. Owen and Dad, who became lifelong friends, approached Voit (later AMF) and got a ten-year contract to manufacture the fins, masks, snorkels, water-proof flashlights and other kinds of aquatics equipment. It turned into a huge business, with a dozen presses operating 24 hours/day. When the contract with Voit ended in 1957, Owen took possession of the molds and the fins went out of production until my brother, Jerry, became a guard in 1964. At that time, he convinced Dad to start making the fins again on a smaller scale so that lifeguards could purchase them at a discounted price. Jerry and I continued to make the fins ourselves after Dad died in a plane crash in Baja. (Roger Lyon's recent tragic accident reminded me of that terrible time). Brother Marty took over the fin business in 1973 and built it up very successfully until he sold the company to Kransco in 1980. Owen remained a close family friend until he passed away in 1985.

I would add here that the popular gold and blue Churchill "Stiff Blades" were brother Marty's idea. They were called "Makapus" and immediately became very popular, especially for Churchill enthusiasts who wanted a little more kick from the fins.

I for one didn't know about the story behind the change of Churchill fins from wartime black to peacetime green, including the technological development of a floating natural rubber blend to produce the recreational version of the fins. On this forum we tend to focus on fins such as Duckfeet and Vikings which secured a much-loved place in early skin and scuba diving, while Churchills have largely fallen off the vintage diving radar because of their adoption by surfers. Perhaps we need to cherish Churchills more as they're the fin equivalent of Cressi Pinocchio masks, a product that is still manufactured and marketed more than half a century since their introduction.

Anyway, if you want to read the original blog and its comments, you'll find it at

County Recurrent: Are We Having Fin Yet ?!...

I hope it's of interest to somebody. In my case, it certainly helped to fill in the gaps in my knowledge.

 

[DaleC]

Thanks for the write up David.

One of my regrets in rummage sale rummaging was passing over a set of original Churchills priced at $2. At the time I did not know their historical signifigance and one had a broken heel strap so I put them back. I still kick myself when I think of how easy it would have been to effect a repair to them and have them in my collection.

I recently picked up a pair of the repro Churchills at a consignment store just to see how they perform. The blade area is too small to generate the thrust needed by a heavy rigged coldwater diver but I haven't tried them in the pool for lap swimming.

One thing I learned along the way was the intended use of the hole near the ball of the foot (which I assumed was just a drain). Apparently it was supposed to also provide a suction cup effect when walking topside. Don't know if it works but an interesting tidbit none the less.

 

[blue steal]

Thanks for the article. I still have at least one green fin. The blades were quite flexible and we used them in the 60's, 70's for body surfing and then later in the 80's for body boarding, (boogie-boarding). Seems you alway lost a fin each year in the surf and they didn't float until the recent ones came out. Fin socks with a mini leash helped out.
The blades are much stiffer now and are great for lap swimming, body surfing, but not so much for scuba, not enough power. I aways thought the hole was to drain out the sand when coming in or going out thru the surfline.

 

[NothingClever]

The Stealth Swimmers Whose WWII Scouting Laid the Groundwork for the Navy SEALs

The Underwater Demolition Teams cleared coastal defenses and surveyed enemy beaches ahead of Allied landings

www.smithsonianmag.com

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Thanks for the write up David.

One of my regrets in rummage sale rummaging was passing over a set of original Churchills priced at $2. At the time I did not know their historical signifigance and one had a broken heel strap so I put them back. I still kick myself when I think of how easy it would have been to effect a repair to them and have them in my collection.

I recently picked up a pair of the repro Churchills at a consignment store just to see how they perform. The blade area is too small to generate the thrust needed by a heavy rigged coldwater diver but I haven't tried them in the pool for lap swimming.

One thing I learned along the way was the intended use of the hole near the ball of the foot (which I assumed was just a drain). Apparently it was supposed to also provide a suction cup effect when walking topside. Don't know if it works but an interesting tidbit none the less.

If you look at the Churchill patent, it explains that the hole in the bottom of the fin is raised to provide suction when standing on a surfboard.

A still further object of my invention is to provide in a device of the character described a hole or orifice disposed in the bottom thereof, which permits the expulsion of water and sand which may collect in the foot pocket and which at the same time provides a suction cup or grip when the devices are used by a person standing or walking, on a slippery Surface, such as surf boards, aquaplanes and the like.

US2321009A - Swim fin - Google Patents

We have lifeguards here at High Rocks on the Clackamas River who use the Churchill fins in their lifeguard activities on the river. They also use paddleboards to get around in the river. With a lot of effort, they can reach 20 foot depth, even with their PFDs on, in the river using those newer Churchill fins (blue and yellow).

Here are two other entries in Google Patents under Owen Churchill:

USD124013S - Design for a swim fin - Google Patents

DK69815C - Swim fin for placement on the foot. - Google Patents

Below is a photo of a U.S. Navy Diver with Churchill fins on.

SeaRat

 

[Nemrod]

A very similar fin but actually useable for SCUBA is the Nemrod Super A. It is a full foot type. The blade is a little larger and stiffer with good snap. I got a NIB pair from Kenlees when they were shutting down. Nemrod was a rubber company and they are quality rubber.

 

[David Wilson]

Nemrod Super A fins.