Wow, you don't see these come up very often. A terrific over-the-head rubber and canvas diving helmet with built-in mask and mouthpiece, including a Seamless Nemrod (made in Spain) double-hose regulator in good shape. This set-up was most likely used with a constant volume rubber dive suit of some sort and attached via a neck seal. But because the mask seals separately against the face and the regulator is attached to a regular mouthpiece inside the helmet, even if water were to enter the rubber hood, it would remain life supporting.
There is a duckbill exhaust device at the top of the head, and an adjustable strap that goes around the back of the helmet to pull the internal mask against the face. When attached properly to an airtight rubber suit, this set up would be air tight, so the faceplate opens to allow above-water breathing and to avoid suffocation. This is a similar set up to a popular helmet from German manufacturer Dreager, which you may have seen in pictures around the Web.
The rubber is intact and waterproof, though there are some cracks here and there, but they don't seem to affect the integrity. I don't really know the age of this helmet, but I'm guessing Fifties. The regulator is a standard Snark III 3-stage model and I am including a regular mouthpiece so it could be used without being attached to the helmet. The hoses are in decent shape with no holes or tears -- I tested the regulator at one time and it worked fine. I believe you could easily get this regulator up and running without much effort -- these three-stage models are pretty reliable and this is a very solid, workhorse unit.
This is surely a unique piece of diving history and could be a lot of fun to play with, and dive with under controlled circumstances. I would say the internal mask is better suited to a smaller face, but the helmet itself fits over my rather large head without any trouble, so I think you could secure it even over an internal hood, were you so inclined.
In many of these pictures the helmet is, in fact, shown on a display head that is covered with a standard 1/4 inch wetsuit hood, neither of which is inclulded. You get the double-hose regulator, helmet with mask, mouthpieces and strap. Just not the display head, tank valve or wetsuit hood.
I'm happy to answer questions.
IMPORTANT: This equipment may have been taken apart for photographing. It was not necessarily re-assembled in working order, though all parts shown in the photograph are included. If you are not qualified to service this item, you should have it professionally serviced. This item is sold as a non-working unit unless otherwise indicated and no guarantees are made that this item will work as originally designed to support life underwater.
I will gladly combine shipping on multi-item purchases, and ship internationally at actual shipping costs.
Vintage diving items up for sale this week will include a rare Nemrod full-head rubber diving helmet with double hose regulator, a Scubapro Visionaire full-face diving mask, a super-looking Technisub full-face mask with double hose La Spirotechnique regulator, a General Aquadyne heavy-duty full-face band mask with built-in regulator and a number of other unique items items. Check back as I continue to list new items all week. All items are from my private collection -- I do not sell or broker other people's items. Thanks.
