When no price is shown, use
button
to request the price. button
to request the price.
for ordering
details.
 |
10.73 DIVER'S KNIFE. Genuine early 1900's American hard hat
diver's knife made by the Vince company of Pennsylvania, circa 1917.
This heavy duty diver's knife has a wooden handle with a steel blade
serrated on one edge and sharpened on the other. It is affixed to a
turned maple handle with a threaded bronze hilt and has a swiveling
bronze pommel with attachment loop. The knife screws into the heavy
cylindrical bronze sheath with just a single rotation! There is a
belt loop on the side of the sheath and a small drainage hole at the
bottom. As configured the unit measures 14 1/2 inches long and 2 3/4
inches in diameter at the widest. The knife blade is 6 1/2 inches
long and 1 1/8th inches wide. Excellent original condition, noting
expected spotting on the ferrous blade.
The Diving Heritage website pictures an identical knife identified as "Producer: Vince" and "Estimated Date of Manufacture: 1917."
Leon Lyon's in his landmark reference book, "Helmets of the Deep," 1988, Leon Lyons, Hollywood, Florida, depicts this knife on pages 318 and 319, describing it as a Vince knife made in Pennsylvania.
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
10.70 SUBMARINE BINOCULARS.
Very rare World War II vintage U.S.
Navy submarine conning tower binoculars known as Torpedo Forward Control
Binoculars. This extremely heavy
optical device bears the brass maker's tag reading "U.S. NAVY - BU.
OF ORD. TELESCOPE MARK 91 MOD. 1 WT. 40 SER. NO. 1687 BAUSCH &
LOMB OPTICAL CO." To combat the effects of sea water, the body of
these binoculars was made of solid stainless steel -- a very, very
scarce commodity during the war and its use is indicative of the
importance placed upon them! These gas-filled binoculars consist of
two heavy cylinders each measuring 4 inches in diameter. Each is
connected to a thick common rod with two stout mounting plates having
four points of support.. The rod allows the binoculars to pivot
independently of each other to adjust for interpupilary distance; the
angle of which is indicated on a scale above. The distance is
adjusted by a retractable lever on the objective end. Each objective
is fitted with a spring-loaded lens cover which snaps open and shut.
In addition, built into each cover is yet another spring-loaded
filter for daylight viewing in haze or bright sunlight. The field
produced by the large objective lenses and internal prisms is wide,
clear and highly magnified. Prominent cross hairs, much like the
submarine's periscope, are visible in the field. To the viewer's
right is a lamp housing for illumination of the cross hairs at night.
A prominent toggle switch operates the lamp. The oculars are
protected by their original rubber eye cups which are in
exceptionally fine original condition. This remarkable unit comes
complete with its original machine-dovetailed wooden storage box. The
stout box has a hinged lid with retainer chain, snap closures, and
substantial bail carrying handles on either side. It measures 14 1/2
inches long by 14 inches wide and 9 1/2 inches high. The binoculars
measure 11 inches long by 10 1/2 inches wide at the widest and 5 1/2
inches thick. The entire assembly weighs 53 pounds. The box is in
excellent original condition with minimal surface wear only. The
binoculars themselves are virtually perfect -- as last used in World
War II! 1800
Bausch and Lomb company was founded in 1853 by Germans John Jacob Bausch and Henry Lomb in Rochester, New York, specializing in optical devices and and surgical instruments. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Lomb enlisted and rose to the rank of captain. He returned to Rochester in 1863 and the following year the firm became "Bausch and Lomb, Optician." After the Civil War, interest in spectacles rose rapidly. The company enlarged its factory in 1868 and changed its name to the "Vulcanite Optical Instrument Company," reflecting the popular use of vulcanized rubber in making spectacle frames. The name changed back to the "Bausch and Lomb Optical Company" in 1876. After World War II it became "Bausch and Lomb, Inc."
When Bausch's eldest son Edward entered the firm in 1875 a decision was made to branch out into optical instruments, beginning with the microscope, for which there was a growing demand. Bausch and Lomb added photographic lenses to their line in 1883 and began the manufacture of shutters in 1888. By 1903 Bausch and Lomb was making some 20 million spectacle lenses a year, and had manufactured 500,000 photographic lenses and 550,000 shutters! With such a tremendous output, it is easy to see why Bausch and Lomb was an integral part of the photographic and optical industry in America from the late 19th century onward. Among the companies using their components were Eastman Kodak and Graflex. To this day Bausch and Lomb products continue to be revered for their precision and quality.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
PLATE |
|
|
|
|
 |
10.66 BOATSWAIN'S PIPE with SUBMARINE HISTORY. Authentic World War II vintage U.S. Navy boatswain's whistle made of solid sterling silver. This genuine "call" consists of a large round bowl attached to a gradually tapering pipe which terminates in a flared mouthpiece. The pipe is affixed to a reinforced shank or "keel" which is impressed "STERLING" on the bottom. A suspension loop is the point of attachment for the macraméd lanyard which was worn around the sailor's neck as part of his dress uniform. This bos'n call was crafted by a skilled silversmith with telling mortise joints on the bottom of the shank and a seam on the bottom of the finely tapering tube. It measures 5 1/2 inches in length and is in perfect condition, producing a loud, shrill tone. The meticulously sailor-made macramé lanyard is a thing of beauty, measuring 19 inches long fully extended. 495
Provenance: Certified as having been last used aboard the World War II diesel submarine USS BLUEGILL (SS-242) upon its decommissioning. A typed, signed and dated (1969) letter of authenticity accompanies this offering along with an official U.S. Navy photograph of the submarine entitled "AERIAL VIEW OF USS BLUEGILL UNDERWAY." It is also stamped "Official US Navy Photograph - Not for Publication - Unless Officially Released." Accordingly, we are unable to display it here, but the original will provided to the buyer.
The BLUEGILL (SS-242) was laid down at by the Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut on on December 17, 1942, launched August 8, 1943 and commissioned November 11, 1943. In the period between April 1, 1944 and June 21, 1945 BLUEGILL made six war patrols in an area extending from New Guinea to Formosa, through the South China Sea. Under the command of Commander Eric Lloyd Barr, Jr., she sank or damaged 17 ships, captured an island in the South China Sea, survived 369 depth charges, earned two Navy Unit Commendations and 4 battle stars. BLUEGILL sank 13 ships totaling 51,059 tons and damaged 4 more ships of 12,000 tons for a combined total of 17 ships and 63,059 tons! Of the ships sunk, one was the Japanese light cruiser YUBARI.
HISTORY of the BOATSWAIN'S CALL.
The Call has its beginnings in the days of the English Crusades, 1248 A.D., as a method of alerting troops to arms. Documented in 1485 A.D., the call was used as an honored badge of rank, then being worn by the Lord High Admiral of England. Undoubtedly it was worn because it was used as a method of passing orders, and therefore signified authority. When the Lord High Admiral, Sir Edward Howard, was killed in action off Brest in 1513 while commanding French Galleys, a "Whistle of Honour" was presented to him posthumously by the Queen of France. From about that time onward the call was no longer used as a badge of rank, reverting to its original use as a method of passing orders only. About 1671 the name Call was well established, lasting to the present day. In the U.S. Navy the call is often referred to as a Boatswain's Pipe.
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
10.64 AMERICAN DIVING PUMP.
Authentic hard hat diver's air pump
made by the famous "Miller-Dunn Co." of "Miami, Fla." as cast in high
relief on the top of the brass cylinder heads. This model "1A"
shallow water diving pump was made to supply compressed air to divers
outfitted with Miller Dunn's styles 1, 2 and 3 "Divinhoods." It
measures 13 inches wide by 15 inches high as shown. No handle.
Excellent, old "as found" condition.
 |
 |
|
|
MARK |
 |
10.63 DIVING REFERENCE BOOK. "A Pictorial History of Diving," Arthur Bachrach, Barbara Desiderati and Mary Matzen, 1988, Best Publishing Co., San Pedro, California, 149 pages, hardcover with dust jacket, profusely illustrated. FIRST EDITION. Without a doubt this is the most comprehensive book ever written on historic diving. It begins with the earliest and simplest form of diving: breath-hold diving from prehistoric times. From those humble beginnings diving history chronologically progresses with Aristotle who wrote about a "diving-bell" in 322 B.C., and the Spaniards who retrieved treasure using a diving bell in 1677. It continues through modern times with technologically sophisticated diving bells. Large chapters are devoted to hard hat diving, history of the diving suit, diving equipment, SCUBA, submersibles, undersea habitats, communications and remotely operated vehicles. Each chapter is written by a recognized expert in their field. The Historical Diving Society highly recommends this book on its selected reading list. Do not confuse this book with others with a similar title, or inferior reprints. This is an original copy! As new condition. 249
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
10.21 Authentic U.S Navy hard hat Mark V diving helmets for sale in quantity from salvage.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
1. Center and left helmets have been chemically darkened, including all exterior fittings. The copper shells of original Mark V's were coated with tin, but ususally the fittings were not tinned.
2. The faceplate wing nut does not seat "within" the grooved faceplate prong of the center and left helmets, as it does on the genuine Mark V.
3. Brale lug nuts are the same on the center and left helmets. On the genuine Mark V, the lug nuts at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions have an enlarged flange to prevent pinching of the suit at the joints.
4. No mounting plate for sacrificial zinc in between the faceplate and left (diver's) port on the center and left helmets.
5. The genuine Mark V has breastplate eyelets, whereas the center and left helmets have breastplate lugs or nipples.
6. The shape of the genuine Mark V breastplate describes a deep arch. The breastplates of the center and left helmets are squared off and not as deep.
7. The breastplate studs on the reproduction Mark V's are riveted to the breastplate. The eyelets on a real Mark V protrude through the breastplate and are secured from the backside NOT with rivets.