Richards Headquarters For Skin Divers

[Plug]

Hi all,

A couple of years ago I was given an aqualung reg set, it has a sticker on it from Richards Headquaters For Skin Divers I was wondering if anyone new about this and if they are still around?

the regs appear to be Conshelf XII or XIV, with a sea bee manual reg as occy, the pressure gauge looks more a trye pressure checker that anything else, sort of a barrell with a pin that is forced out to measure pressure.

I am thinking about trying to get them serviced, although last time I tried the dive shop just offered me money for them.

no real reson for wanting this info just interest.

Brendan

 

[captain]

I recall back in the 60's & 70's there was a Richard's Aqua Lung Center on 42nd St in Manhattan, New York that was a mail order and store front dive shop.

 

[Plug]

Thanks Captain,

That puts the regs about the same vinatge as the tank, made in 1972.

I am going to try and get the regs serviced over the next couple of weeks, not sure if I should update the pressure gauge though.

Brendan

 

[David Wilson]

I recall passing the Richards Aqualung Center in the Times Square district during my first visit to New York in the 1980s, I think.

There's a current eBay item posted by the purchaser of Richards Aqualung Center:

RARE NEW VINTAGE LLOYD BRIDGES KING NEPTUNE FINS SM 4-5 - eBay (item 140268688792 end time Sep-26-08 16:03:33 PDT)

 

[KPmel]

I know this post is really outdated by now but I had to chime in. There was indeed a Richards Aqua Lung Dive Center on West 42 Street in Manhattan only a few blocks from Times Square between 7 and 8 Avenues. In fact, it is where I purchased my dive gear back in 1989 shortly after getting certified. I purchased, among other things, what I recall to be the US Divers Conshelf Reg and a BCD which I cannot recall the brand of at the moment. So I can vouch for the existence of this establishment in 1989 but not thereafter. I do know that it is no longer in existence here in NYC but can't offer any date for its demise.

Which leads me to my next subject. I still have most of the gear I purchased there back in 1989 but only used it a handful of times back then. Now that I am semi-retired I have renewed interest in diving and am hoping I can resurrect some of my old equipment, especially my regulator and BCD to use now. I am a newbie here at the board and was hoping to get a referral for a good reputable Dive Shop or Tech in the NYC area to have this vintage gear checked out and serviced.
Much obliged and thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[David Wilson]

Consider reposting your message in Scubaboard's Vintage Equipment Diving forum.

 

[hawkeye58]

I was 13 years old in 1972 when my mom bought me all of my diving equipment at Richards. I took lessons on the upper West side from Fran Garr, now a member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame. They weren't any kids at all in that class! My mom and dad pleaded with her to take me on. She did. I remember my open water dive in a quarry in upstate New York. Couldn't see a thing underwater. We were moving to the Canary Islands and I certainly wasn't going to learn there! If I recall it was a White Stag regulator with a Nemrod depth gauge. A small Voit 50cu. tank and a short sleeve Aqualung wet suit.
Memories...