For Your Information Page

Welcome to the FYI page. Here we will publish information on some of our old products and other things of interest. This page will be for general topics. Specific pages for single topics (such as the Mark V) will have a button in the navigation bar. To navigate this page use the link bar above.

SAFETY WARNING

NEVER, EVER DIVE A HELMET OR ANY EQUIPMENT UNLESS YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY SURE IT IS GENUINE AND IN PROPER WORKING CONDITION. Replica helmets are not designed or built for actual use. Attempting to dive a replica helmet could result in serious injury or death. Only dive after you have received the proper training.

DESCO Rebreathers

DESCO began producing equipment for the U.S. Navy in 1942 to support the war effort. The Office of Strategic Services (forerunner to the CIA) needed rebreathers for covert operations. DESCO was contracted to design and produce the needed units. After that contract was completed subsequent units were sold to the Navy. With the end of WW II DESCO applied the technology to commercial and sport diving. SCUBA was still a few years away from wide acceptance. To supplement the commercial equipment business DESCO also marketed a line of sporting goods. The A-lung was targeted to this market segment. It was small and simple to use. The B-lung was the unit that DESCO developed during the war and was aimed at the commercial diver. The C-lung was a DESCO lightweight suit fitted with a heavy duty rebreather. In the late 40's and early 50's a fatal flaw in rebreathers surfaced. The breathing of pure oxygen under pressure caused a buildup of oxygen in the body actually poisoning the user. Several accidents caused manufacturers to reconsider the use of rebreathers by amateurs. This and the emergence of SCUBA compressed air tank diving spelled the end of production of rebreathers for sport use at that time. Today new technology has allowed rebreathers to make a comeback by onboard computers monitor the system thus reducing the risks.

Here is a look at the DESCO rebreathers.

The DESCO A-Lung

Also known as the Adventurer, and the Sportster Lung. This unit was designed in the early 1950's. It was a simpler, more compact design than the B-Lung. The unit evolved during its short run. Early units had a canvas breather bag, while later units had a vinyl bag. The A-Lungs were only produced for a few years in the mid-50's.

Diagrams of the A Lung models

To download a copy of the A Lung Instruction Sheet click here .

Notice: These instructions are provided for informational purposes only. Due to the age of this equipment, and the inherent danger in the use of the old rebreathers, DESCO strongly recommends that these units are never used for diving.

The DESCO B-Lung

Also known as the Buccaneer Lung. This is the unit first developed for the OSS and U.S. Navy during WWII. The first units used a oval mask with a nose bump out. Later units were fitted with a modified Jack Browne mask. B-Lungs were produced until the early 1960's. On the 1960 DESCO pricelist the B-Lung cost $205.00.

Above photos show a early B-Lung with the oval mask and a nose bump out.

Below photos show a later unit equipped with the Jack Browne triangular mask.

To download a copy of the Browne Lung Instruction Sheet click here .

To download a copy of the Buccaneer Lung Instruction Sheet click here .

The DESCO C-Lung

The C-Lung is a DESCO Lightweight Suit mated to a rebreather unit on the diver's back. This configuration allowed the diver to remain completely dry.

Literature pertaining to the DESCO Rebreathers.

DESCO SCUBA

For a short time in the 1950's DESCO produced a SCUBA regulator called the Airmaster. It was sold loose or mounted. A mounted unit was known as the "D" Lung.

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Lindbergh - Hammar Associates

PURA 787 CO2 Removal System

In 1969 DESCO partnered with Lindbergh - Hammar Associates to produce and market a lightweight Helium helmet using the DESCO Air Hat and LHA PURA CO2 Scrubber system. Jon Lindbergh was the second child of Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

The PURA system was a electrically powered, turbine pressurized unit which circulated mixed gas through the helmet and back to a CO2 absorption canister. The larger LHA PURA system used for recompression chambers, underwater habitats, personnel transfer capsules, and medical hyperbaric chambers. The helmet unit was mounted to a backpack. It was based on the larger unit's technology.

Unlike the U.S. Navy's standard Helium helmet, based on the Mark V, which used a venturi system to move the gas mix, the LHA system used a electrically powered turbine to force the gas mix through the system. A venturi system requires new gas to be pumped into the system for recirculation and this results in gas loss through the exhaust valve.

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Thomas B Fifield and Jon Lindbergh display the Air Hat/PURA unit.

A brochure for the PURA 787/ DESCO Air Hat.

The PURA unit for chamber and habitat use. It was available in a Aluminum or Bronze housing.

The DC power supply 787-MPXA.

The DESCO ad sheet for the PURA 787-M9

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