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DESCO Helmets Customized Helmets Miscellaneous Dive Gear Diving Dresses
For information on DESCO Rebreathers, DESCO SCUBA, and Lindbergh Hammar Pura see the FYI Page
Standard Commercial Diving
Commercial diving actually goes back thousands of years. Earliest man would have used the tried and true hold your breath method. Primitive buckets or barrels were used back in the fourth century B.C. (see HDS http://www.thehds.com/publications/bell.html ). In the 1800's metal smiths began fashioning helmets which are the forbearers of the standard heavy gear. In the mid 1960's the move to low volume free flow and demand helmets began. Until that time a variety of breastplate & bonnet helmets were employed. Today some of these helmets are still used commercially but they are mostly used by recreational historical divers.
Below is a page from an early DESCO catalog (late 40's) listing the gear in a commercial diving outfit.
To download a printable copy of this old catalog page in MS Word doc click here
To download a printable copy of this old catalog page in pdf format click here
There are a multitude of helmet styles. DESCO makes thirteen classic style helmets. Morse, Schrader, and Miller Dunn all had models particular to their product line. Also helmets could be ordered with modifications or modifications were made later to many helmets. Go to the Gallery Page to see photos of helmets by other manufacturers.
All these helmet styles are still in production.
Heavyweight Classic Style Helmets
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3 Light 4 Light Mark V Mark V Mark V Mark V Fisheries
Commercial Commercial Plated Polished Helium Helium Commercial
Lightweight Classic Style Helmets
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Browne Lightweight
Abalone Agar Sponge Commercial Fisheries Browne Utility
DESCO Air Hat
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Shallow Water Helmets
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One Light Four Light
Discontinued DESCO Helmet models
Model 100 Model 106 Buie (early) Buie (Late) BU Helium
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Model 100:
We don't have any blueprints or patterns from the Model 100 Helmet. It did appear in the 1946 catalog. the text read;
Browne Self-Contained Suit
Model 100
Cat. No. 29132
This model is similar in design and operation to the Model 106, with the exception of the breathing apparatus.
In this suit the diver carries both the oxygen cylinder and canister on his back. In place of a mouthpiece, the diver holds his face into a mask which directs the circulation of air through the canister. Diving depths and time limits with this model are comparable to the Model 106.
Weight 135lbs.
Standard size only.
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Model 106:
We don't have any blueprints or patterns from the Model 106 Helmet. It did appear in the 1946 catalog. the text read;
Browne Self-Contained Suit
Model 106
Cat. No. 29133
This portable suit was especially designed for light salvage and inspection work. It is particularly adaptable to commercial divers who wish to make inspections or short salvage jobs where it would not pay to haul heavy equipment to the location. The Browne two piece dress which joins at the waist is used to facilitate handling and dressing. No breastplate is used. The diver carries oxygen cylinders compressed to 2000 pounds on his back, while the combined canister and chest weight hang on the diver's chest. The control valve hangs conveniently at the diver's waist.
The mouthpiece which the diver grasps lightly in his mouth is for breathing. many divers prefer this breathing system. this suit has been used for three hours in 20 feet of water and to 60 feet for 1 hour when pure oxygen is used. Short dives may be made to over 120 feet if the diver uses compressed air.
The helmet is constructed of spun Copper heavily coated with Tin and all fittings, including those on the suit, are of polished cast Brass. Windows are of clear, durable plastic. The case holding the oxygen cylinders is metal. Photos show the diver with combination telephone and lifeline cable. Dresses are supplied in light or heavy weight and in sizes A, B, and C.
Weight 135lbs. complete
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Early Buie Helium Helmet
We refer to this helmet as a "Early" Buie helmet because the production Buie helmets had the faceted window as opposed to the curved one. The curved window tended to distort the diver's vision underwater. It does have the Buie canister assembly and exhaust valve as on the later helmets.
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Browne Utility Helium Helmet
Although we have no blueprints or documentation for this helmet we believe it was a follow on development of the Browne Utility Helmet. It may have been developed concurrently with the Buie or as a precursor. It differs from the Buie in that the canister is integrated into the helmet, not removable. The basic exhaust design is similar but the Buie utilizes standard Mark V parts instead of the parts specific to this helmet. The lock mechanism is also different.
DESCO Helmets built to customer specs.
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Shallow Water Helmet D2
This custom Shallow Water Helmet has windows like the Browne Commercial Helmet except the top
window is smaller. Diagonal guards are mounted on posts. The helmet uses Sponge air ducts and a Sponge
exhaust valve. Weights are cast in a Sea Shell pattern, and held with one 5/16” bolt through the breastplate
into a brass anchor embedded in the weight.
Shallow Water Helmet D3
The top is a Lightweight Helmet shell with Abalone Style windows. The exhaust is Sponge Type. The Breastplate is a Mark V copper shell with the base strap soldered below the copper. Top handle is oriented from front to back. Banana weights are suspended from two ½” 13 NC studs each, the front studs being longer to accommodate a hose clamp. The Cat. No. is stamped into the weights.
Binnacle Helmet (non-divable)
The helmet shell is an old binnacle housing. The breastplate is a brass casting made from a breastplate mandrel pattern. The front window is a port hole from a sailboat, and the top window is a deck light cover.
Custom Browne Commercial Helmet
The customer requested an oversized front window. As you will notice in the picture of a normal Browne Commercial Helmet and a Custom Browne Commercial Helmet side by side we accommodated him.
TF 12 fitted with Mark V Windows
The customer sent us his Chinese TF 12 to install Mark V side and top windows. We also added a commercial style telephone cup and Mark V Dumb bell lock assembly.
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TF 12 with Browne Commercial Parts
The customer sent us his Chinese TF 12 to install Browne Commercial windows, air control valve, drop pin lock, and Nuclear helmet style air diffuser. We also installed a DESCO Air Hat binding post block.
DESCO Agar Helmet
It is fitted with four wire communications pigtail elbow, and special telephone cup installed.
DESCO Abalone Helmet
It is fitted with four wire communications pigtail elbow installed.
Lightweight Helmet
It is fitted with Agar top & side windows, shallow water front window, Agar exhaust and Browne Commercial air/comm block and air inlet assembly.
Lightweight Fisheries Helmet
It is fitted with Browne Commercial air/comm block, exhaust valve, and Mark V Non-return valve.
DESCO Agar Helmet (three light)
It is fitted with Air Hat Binding Posts and Small Spitcock
U.S. Navy Divers Knife Commemorative Weightbelts Shoes
All Brass Knife
Limited Edition
Fittings
3 Way Valve Control Valve Jetting Nozzle Hose Ends, Fittings, and Adapters
Telephone 2 Diver
Until the mid-1960's DESCO produced it's own line of dresses. Here are some of the made in house suits DESCO offered
When in house production of dresses was discontinued DESCO became a dealer for other brands. We used to sell Aquala, then Viking, and now we are a distributor for Hunter.
