HDSUSA ADVISORY BOARD

JoDH #62, Volume 18, Issue 1, Winter 2010

Editorial—(Pg 3)
In the News—(Pg 4)
In the Mail—(Pg 6)
Descending Into Dreamland: The Search for the Coney Island Bell by Adam Grohman
Blending his love of diving with his passion for local history, HDS member Gene Ritter has spent countless hours under the surface of New York’s rivers, lakes and coastline searching for missing links to the area’s past. The New York region was a major disembarkation area for the masses of immigrants flocking to the new world from the old during the 18th and 19th centuries and the sea bed contains an abundance of lost or discarded items from those periods. However, over his many years of research, Ritter had focused on one lost item, the disappearance of which had been witnessed by thousands of people. When Coney Island’s Dreamland Pier was destroyed by fire in 1911, the pier’s famous bell disappeared beneath the waves and remained “lost at sea.” With dedicated effort and focused planning Ritter and his Cultural Research Divers team set out to find the bell. In the quest, they also crossed the trail of some early New York divers who had been involved in the colorful history of Coney Island in the 1890s. The Journal of Diving History is pleased to record their story.—(Pg 9)
Cultural Research Divers of New York—(Pg 17)
AUAS Acceptance Speech by Bonnie J. Cardone—(Pg 18)
History Rings Out by Janice Raber—(Pg 19)
Helmets of the Deep: Chapter 28: Brazil by Leslie Leaney—(Pg 20)
Vintage Scuba: The Evolution of the Sport Diver’s Knife by Ed LaRochelle—(Pg 23)
Cover Story: Submarine Engineering by Peter Jackson—(Pg 28)
The Submarine Lens: The Project Housings by Sid Macken—(Pg 31)
Books In Depth: Jacques Cousteau: The Sea King reviewed by Nyle Monday—(Pg 36)
Jack and the Helmet Diver—(Pg 37)
Vintage Patents: Early Snorkel Patents by James Vorosmarti, MD—(Pg 38)
Auction Report: Helmet Auctions by Leslie Leaney—(Pg 40)
Auction Report: Scuba Auctions by Ed LaRochelle—(Pg 42)
HDS USA Quarterly Report by Steve Kushner—(Pg 44)
HDS Canada by Phil Nuytten—(Pg 45)
In Memory: Jack Lynch, Earl Murray, Harry Shanks, Robert Vendetto and George Wymer—(Pg 46)
Classifieds—(Pg 48)


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JoDH #63, Volume 18, Issue 2, Spring 2010

HDS Pioneer Award Recipient: Dick Bonin—(Pg 4)
HDS E.R. Cross Award Recipient Nyle Monday—(Pg 5)
In the News—(Pg 6)
In the Mail—(Pg 8)
Lake Michigan’S Secret mixed-gas dives of 1959 by Valerie van heest—(Pg 11)
When the 638-foot Carl D. Bradley was lost to the depths of Lake Michigan in 1958, it took 33 crew members down with it. Only two crew members, Frank Mays and Elmer Fleming, survived to tell their tale and were rescued by the Coast Guard. Shocked and grieving families were left stunned by the huge loss of life which created 25 widows and 54 fatherless children.
The Carl D. Bradley came to rest in 350 feet of water, but for the family members who remained there was to be no rest as they sought compensation for the loss of their loved ones. Survivor Mays had witnessed a critical part of the sinking, but his eye-witness account of the sinking was never acknowledged by the officials of the vessel’s owners, Bradley Transportation Company, a division of the mighty U.S. Steel.
As the lawyers gathered for battle, the stage for creating diving history was set in a seedy room at the Buena Vista Motel on US 12, where shadowy and secretive men contracted a young diver to undertake a secret inspection dive on the Carl B. Bradley. In 1959 the number of American civilian divers who had been to 350 feet and returned alive could probably be counted on the fingers of two hands. Maybe even one. The diver standing in the Buena Vista Motel had never been deeper than 200 feet. That was of no consequence. He was given $10,000 in cash and six months to prepare for the dive. History was to be made.
In this issue’s lead article Valerie van Heest reveals the details surrounding a dive that has been a secret for almost half a century, and which is sure to spark conversation through the industry. Under The Red Sea celebrates 60 years by Michael Jung—(Pg 19)
Helmets of the Deep: Bikkers & Son, Rotterdam by Leslie Leaney—(Pg 24)
Vintage Scuba: The Viking Norseman Regulator by Ed LaRochelle—(Pg 26)
Cover Story: More Science and Invention—(Pg 31)
HDS Bookshelf: The Pioneers of Autonomous Diving reviewed by Leslie Leaney—(Pg 32)
HDS Bookshelf: André Galerne. Livre Souvenir reviewed by Leslie Leaney—(Pg 32)
HDS Bookshelf: Siebe Gorman Catalog circa 1930 reviewed by Leslie Leaney—(Pg 33)
Books In Depth: The Porpoise: Australian Diving Technology the World Copied reviewed by Ed LaRochelle—(Pg 34)
The Submarine Lens: Norman Lewis and the Lewis Photo Marine Housing by Sid Macken—(Pg 36)
Cayman Islands International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame Celebrates 10^th Anniversary with Class of 2010—(Pg 38)
2009 HDS Great White Shark Fund Raising Dive—(Pg 40)
Vintage Patents: Gordon’s Diving Apparatus by James Vorosmarti, MD—(Pg 42)
Auction Report: Helmet Auctions by Leslie Leaney—(Pg 44)
Auction Report: Scuba Auctions by Ed LaRochelle—(Pg 46)
Heavy Dress Respect by Barry R. Ribbeck—(Pg 48)
HDS USA Quarterly Report by Steve Kushner—(Pg 50)
HDS Canada The 100^th Anniversary of Jacques Yves Cousteau’s Birth by Phil Nuytten—(Pg 51)
HDS Honors our Donors—(Pg 52)

On the Cover
The cover shows a painting of the Carl D. Bradley by marine artist Steve Witucki. Steve shows the Bradley underway on the surface of Lake Michigan, and blends it with an impression of how it came to rest on the bottom. The image was created by Steve after reviewing many hours of underwater video shot on the wreck. Image courtesy Steve Witucki. All rights reserved.


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JoDH #64, Volume 18, Issue 3, Summer 2010

Editorial—Pg 3
HDS Nick Icorn Diving Heritage Award: Aquazoo Dusseldorf—Pg 4
HDS Appointed PADI Historical Affiliate—Pg 5
In the News—Pg 6
In the Mail—Pg 7
The Cousteau Aestheti by Ryan Spence. As has been noted before in this publication, a major part of the original membership base of the Historical Diving Society were the collectors of diving equipment. This group is probably responsible for saving, restoring, and operating more historic diving equipment than the total number of maritime museums combined. The advent of international HDS organizations over the last two decades has provided collectors a regular focus and a forum, and some have taken the next step on their journey to become diving equipment historians. One of those making this transition is Ryan Spence, who’s early love of the sport of diving connected him to the adventures of Captain Jacques Yves Cousteau. Ryan set out on a journey of “Collecting Cousteau” which has so far lasted about 25 years. As Ryan puts it, collecting Cousteau has provided a way to put a sense of adventure and exploration back into diving. Not content with the more common Cousteau memorabilia, Ryan has accumulated some distinct and valuable Cousteau items, which now form the core of his Flashback Scuba Museum. His commitment to the subject has gained him privileged access to the Cousteau Society collection in Virginia, and we are happy to provide the him with the platform of the Journal with which to tell his story. As he says, “To a large extent, I think collections are autobiographical. It is impossible to separate the collector from his or her own history. After all it is largely our own perspectives forged through experience that direct our inquiry.” Ryan’s story starts on page 10 and is followed by his insightful views on the Cousteau Aesthetic.—Pg 16
The E.R. Cross Files: Cousteau in California 1950—Pg 18
France’s Giant Diver by Leslie Leaney—Pg 20
Helmets of the Deep. Early A. Schrader’s Son, Inc. USN Mark V Fetches Over $15,000 at Auction by Leslie Leaney—Pg 22
Scubapro’s Mark V regulator: An Icon of Innovation by Bret Gilliam—Pg 24
Vintage Scuba - Scubapro: A Company in The Making by Ed LaRochelle—Pg 26
USA Diving Equipment in Russia by Alexander Sledkov—Pg 28
HDS Bookshelf - Mistral: Détendeur de légend...reviewed by Leslie Leaney—Pg 30
HDS Bookshelf - Le joulet scaphandrier et son historie des Jules Verne a nos jours reviewed by Leslie Leaney—Pg 30
HDS Bookshelf - Etudé sur l’evolution technique du scaphandre Cabirol et du régulator Rouquayrol. Tome 1, 1829 - 1865 reviewed by Georges Koskas—Pg 31
Books In Depth - John Lethbridge: The Most Successful Treasure Diver of the Eighteenth Century reviewed by Nyle C. Monday—Pg 32
Cover Story: Gold! by Peter Jackson—Pg 34
The Submarine Lens: Hans Hass’s Red Sea Housing by Sid Macken—Pg 36
Helmets of the Deep Update by Leon Lyons—Pg 39
Vintage Patents: Williamson’s Nautilus by James Vorosmarti, MD—Pg 42
Auction Report: Helmet Auctions by Leslie Leaney—Pg 42
Auction Report: Scuba Auctions by Ed LaRochelle—Pg 44
Classic Diving: Historic Dive in Historic Gear by Janice Raber —Pg 45
HDS USA: Quarterly Report by Steve Kushner—Pg 48
HDS Canada: Ocean Pioneer Remembered by Phil Nuytten—Pg 49
In Memory: Wes Skiles—Pg 50
Classifieds—Pg 52

On the Cover
Jacques-Yves Cousteau, by Yousuf Karsh, 1972

Yousuf Karsh (1908-2002) is one of the masters of 20th century photography. His body of work includes portraits of statesmen, artists, musicians, authors, scientists, and men and women of accomplishment. His extraordinary and unique portfolio presents the viewer with an intimate and compassionate view of humanity. In 1999 the International Edition of Who’s Who In The World chose Karsh as one of the 100 most influential figures of the twentieth century. He was delighted to learn that, among this group, he had photographed more than half. The Historical Diving Society USA is honored to be able to present his portrait of Jacques-Yves Cousteau. Photo © The Estate of Yousuf Karsh. All Rights Reserved. Photo courtesy of Jerry Fielder, Curator and Director for The Estate of Yousuf Karsh, with special thanks to Robert Steele for The Cousteau Society.

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JoDH #65, Volume 18, Issue 4, Fall 2010

Editorial—Pg 3
HDS Welcomes Distinguished Pair to Advisory Board—Pg 4
In the Mail—Pg 6
In the News—Pg 8
Bob Ratcliffe and the RAT HAT by Part 1 of 2 by John Kane & Leslie Leaney
During the 1960s, the California coastal town of Santa Barbara was at the leading edge of diving equipment development for the world’s rapidly expanding offshore oilfield service industry. When Dan Wilson successfully completed the first commercial helium test dive in November 1962, he heralded in a new dawn of accelerated equipment development among Santa Barbara based commercial divers and their fledgling dive companies. With the dive logged, Wilson quickly formed General Offshore Divers company and less than two years later, in the summer of 1964, sold it to Union Carbide, the parent company of what would shortly become Ocean Systems.—Pg 10
European Vintage Scuba Event - Lake Marx, Germany by Franz Rothbrust—Pg 20
Blue Ocean Film Festival 2010—Pg 27
CWO Robert A. Barth Aquatic Training Facility—Pg 27
Helmets of the Deep. An A.J. Morse & Son 4 Bolt Sells for $59,800 at Auction by Leslie Leaney—Pg 28
Vintage Scuba: The Rose Aviation, Inc. “PRO” Regulator: A Collector’s Review by Ed LaRochelle—Pg 30
HDS Bookshelf: There’s a Cockroach in My Regulator reviewed by Bret Gilliam—Pg 34
Books In Depth: Mud, Muscles and Miracles reviewed by Nyle C. Monday—Pg 36
Cover Story: More Percy Westerman by Peter Jackson—Pg 38
The Submarine Lens: The Fenjohn Goggler by Sid Macken—Pg 40
Vintage Patents: A Device to Assist Diver Respiration by James Vorosmarti, MD—Pg 42
HDS USA Quarterly Report by Steve Kushner—Pg 44
HDS Canada: Canadian Diving Historians Erect Monument to John Date: Pioneer Montreal Helmet Maker by Phil Nuytten—Pg 46
Auction Report: Helmet Auctions by Leslie Leaney—Pg 48
Auction Report: Scuba Auctions by Ed LaRochelle—Pg 50
The E.R. Cross Files: Science et Vie, Juillet 1948—Pg 51
Classic Diving: Kiwi Classic Equipment Divers—Pg 52
Dutch Diving Helmets—Pg 53
In Memory: David Wolper—Pg 54
In Memory: Matt Simmons—Pg 55
Classifieds—Pg 56

On the Cover
Bob Ratcliffe & The Rat Hat

1964, Santa Barbara harbor, California. Bob Ratcliffe rigged in a Widolf mask converted for helium demand breathing. Bob Christiansen is the tender. The photo was taken by equipment designer and manufacturer Bev Morgan, who at the time was working with Ratcliffe at Ocean Systems. Bev was paid for his shop time, tender time and dive time, but followed his interest in photography on his own time. For this image Bev used a Rollieflex set for f8@250, and Ektachrome positive film. The image was scanned to digital @ 4,000 dpi with a Nikon Super Cool Scan 9000. ©1964 Bev Morgan, All Rights Reserved.

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JoDH #66, Volume 19, Issue 1, Winter 2011

Editorial—Pg 3
The 2011 HDS Board of Directors—Pg 4
In the Mail—Pg 6
In the News—Pg
Bob Ratcliffe & the RAT HAT by Part 2 of 2 by John Kane, Leslie Leaney and Sue Ratcliffe
Part 1 of this article covered Bob Ratcliffe’s career from aspiring abalone diver, through his work with General Offshore Divers, the formation of Cal Dive and his development of the Rat Hat. Part 2 opens with Cal Dive’s evolution into Oceaneering International.—Pg 21
Helmets of the Deep: DESCO Shallow Water by Leslie Leaney—Pg 30
Helmets of the Deep: DESCO Shallow Water Water Military Non-Magnetic Two-Hose Regulators by Ed LaRochelle—Pg 32
Books In Depth: The Fernez Apparatus reviewed by Leslie Leaney—Pg 36
Cover Story: Girl’s Own by Peter Jackson—Pg 38
The Submarine Lens: The Point-and-Shoots by Sid Macken—Pg 40
Vintage Patents: Ryerson’s Submarine Explorer by James Vorosmarti, M.D.—Pg 42
HDS 2010 Conference Report: Mud, Muscles and Miracles reviewed by Nyle C. Monday—Pg 45
Cover Story: More Percy Westerman by Peter Jackson—Pg 38
The Submarine Lens: The Fenjohn Goggler by Sid Macken—Pg 40
Vintage Patents: Ryerson’s Submarine Explorer by James Vorosmarti, MD—Pg 42
HDS 2010 Conference Report by Sid Macken—Pg 45
Auction Report: The Dean and Dominguez Collections by Leslie Leaney—Pg 48
Auction Report: Scuba Auctions by Ed LaRochelle—Pg 51
HDS USA Quarterly Report by Steve Kushner —Pg 54
HDS Canada by Phil Nuytten—Pg 56
In Memory: Dr. Christian Lambertsen—Pg 58
In Memory: Jim Boyd—Pg 60
In Memory: Richard Dawson—Pg 62
In Memory: Norm Ketchman—Pg 63
Classifieds—Pg 64

On the Cover
Close Encounters of a Spotty Kind

This famed image was shot by Ernie Brooks in October 1994 at Middle Anacapa Island, in the Channel Islands off California, and is a plate from his highly acclaimed book Silver Sea. Light and Motion Industries (LIM) came aboard Ernie’s dive boat, Just Love, during one of Ernie’s underwater photography classes. They were there to demonstrate a video housing designed by Sony. Ernie titled this image, “Michael (Topolovac of LMI) Meets Spot.” The story of Spot can be found in our article on Ernie starting on page 8. Hasselblad SWC 38mm, 1/125th sec @ f8. T-Max ISO 400. ©E. Brooks. All Rights Reserved.

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JoDH #67, Volume 19, Issue 2, Spring 2011

Editorial—Pg 3
Krov Menuhin appointed to HDS Advisory Board—Pg 4
Hans Hass Diving To Adventure Award: Dr. Sylvia Earle—Pg 5
HDS Pioneer Award: Stan Waterman & Hugh “Dan” Wilson—Pg 6
HDS Nick Icorn Diving Heritage Award: Ryan Spencen—Pg 7
In the News—Pg 9
In the Mail—Pg 11
Featured Story ~ One Atmosphere Diving in the Pacific North West by Sid Macken. The Pacific North West of the United States and Canada has a long recorded history of salvage diving stretching back into into the 1870s. The loss of ships sailing between Seattle and Alaska provided work for divers using bells and standard helmet gear, as they sought to salvage both cargo and vessel.
In addition to the traditional diving gear used, one atmosphere equipment was also developed by entrepreneurial engineers, hoping to create a diving machine that would make salvage in the frigid waters easier than it currently was. In this article, which was presented at the HDS 2010 Conference in Seattle, HDS Director Sid Macken introduces two elaborate creations from the early part of the 20th century: the Wiley Diving Machine and the Sissons Deep Sea Diving Machine. Each machine is a far cry from the one-man, one-atmosphere suits that came to the fore later that century, but they both worked. The author actually located one of them in the 1970s only to have it disappear without a trace. It is hoped that the publication of this paper will be a step back onto the path of diving history that helps relocate it.—Pg 12
Karl Huggins’ Journey to the Edge, by Steven M. Barsky—Pg 19
Helmets of the Deep: The Bat Hat by Phil Nuytten—Pg 24
Underwater I.E.D.’s In Vietnam by A.L. “Scrap” Lundy—Pg 27
Vintage Scuba: The Many Faces of the Diluter Oxygen Regulator by Ed LaRochelle—Pg 31
Cover Story: The Octopus ~ A Miscast Villain by Peter Jackson—Pg 37
The Submarine Lens: The Point-and-Shoots by Sid Macken—Pg 38
Vintage Patents: Ryerson’s Submarine Explorer by James Vorosmarti, M.D.—Pg 42
HDS 2010 Conference Report: Mud, Muscles and Miracles reviewed by Nyle C. Monday—Pg 45
Cover Story: More Percy Westerman by Peter Jackson—Pg 38
The Submarine Lens: Ivor Howitt’s Viewfinder by Sid Macken—Pg 38
Vintage Patents: Foreman’s Diving Bell by James Vorosmarti, MD—Pg 41
Jacques Yves Cousteau & Emile Gagnan Inducted into National Inventors Hall of Fame by Leslie Leaney—Pg 43
Books In Depth: Corvette and Submarine reviewed by Nyle Monday—Pg 45
Auction Report: Helmet Auctions by Leslie Leaney—Pg 46
Classic Equipment Diving: Northeast Working Equipment Update by Janice Raber—Pg 48
10^th Anniversary of Dutch Working Equipment Group by Kees de Jong—Pg 50
International Shallow Water Helmet Diving Event 2010 by Kees de Jong—Pg 51
HDS USA Quarterly Report by Steve Kushner—Pg 52
The Spirit of Calypso: Beneath the Sea Celebrates 100 Years of Cousteau by Leslie Leaney—Pg 53
In Memory: Dan Wagner, Bob Monk, David Gray Parrot, Jesse L. Dean—Pg 55
In Memory: Jean-Jacques Oyarsabal—Pg 56
In Memory: Dr. Richard Cooper—Pg 57
In Memory: Jane Russell—Pg 58
Classifieds—Pg 60

On the Cover
The Sisson Deep Sea Diving Machine

An artist’s impression of the Sisson Deep Sea Diving Machine at work on a sunken ship. The image is from an original circa 1920 prospectus published by Sisson, and distributed from his office in The Insurance Exchange Building in Los Angeles, California. Courtesy Leslie Leaney Archives.

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JoDH #68, Volume 19, Issue 3, Summer 2011

Editorial—Pg 3
In the News—Pg 5
In the Mail—Pg 7
Featured Story ~ Voit: Nelson’s Choice. A History of Voit Two Hose Regulators by Ed LaRochelle. At the birth of American recreational scuba diving La Spirotechnique’s model of the Aqua Lung gave the U.S. Divers' company an enormous market advantage. Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s films, books, and magazine articles gave U.S. Divers a distinct advertising edge as the charismatic Frenchman and his divers were a constant endorsement for the Aqua Lung in celluloid and print. The cards had been dealt and domestic diving equipment manufacturers were always going to be playing catch up. One early American manufacturer was Voit who had their diving roots in free diving equipment like fins and masks. Voit followed their rubber goods manufacturing with regulator development and introduced the Voit Lung in 1956. The Voit equipment line found its way on to the faces, backs and feet of numerous high profile American divers via exposure on television shows like Kingdom of the Sea, which featured Zale Parry. The company’s big breakthrough came in 1958 when the charismatic Lloyd Bridges donned Voit equipment for his starring role as Mike Nelson in television’s Sea Hunt. Due to shows popularity, Bridges quickly eclipsed Jacques Yves Cousteau as the face of sports diving in America, and endorsed Voit products in the media. During this period Voit was acquired by AMF, who continued to develop new products, including regulators. The Sea Hunt connection eventually made Voit products very collectible, and in this article scuba equipment collector and historian Ed LaRochelle details the full range of double-hose regulators.—Pg 10
Early Transistorized Divers Communications in the US by R. David Lewis—Pg 20
Helmets of the Deep: Franz Clouth by Leslie Leaney—Pg 26
The Ernie Brooks Tribute by Peter Katz and Leslie Leaney—Pg 28
Purisima Comes Home by Don Barthelmess—Pg 30
The Submarine Lens: The Seahawk Mark III Housing by Sid Macken—Pg 34
Strong Support for the New HDS Germany by Leslie Leaney—Pg 36
Fake Morse Diving Knife by Leslie Leaney—Pg 38
Cover Story: Shark! by Peter Jackson—Pg 41
Books In Depth: More Then Scuttlebutt reviewed by Nyle Monday—Pg 43
Vintage Patents: McKeen’s Improved Diving Dress by James Vorosmarti M.D.—Pg 44
Fake Siebe/Heinke Helmet by David Dekke—Pg 46
Helmet Auctions by Leslie Leaney—Pg 48
Scuba Auctions: Voit by Ed LaRochelle—Pg 50
The Cousteau Resolution in the House of Representatives from Tom Ingram—Pg 51
HDS USA Quarterly Report by Steve Kushner—Pg 53
In Memory: Surgeon Vice-Admiral Sir John Rawlins, KBE, FRCP, FFCM, FRAES.—Pg 56
Classifieds—Pg 60

On the Cover
Lloyd Bridges as Mike Nelson

Recreational scuba diving icon Lloyd Bridges is shown in a publicity photo for the television show Sea Hunt. Bridges was outfitted with Voit diving equipment and helped promote the brand. The photo comes from the cover of a Sea Hunt comic.

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