 |
HISTORY
of DIVING |
.. |
| For a comprehensive listing
of historic and classic diving books, many of which cover the history of
diving, see the sponsored site CLASSIC
DIVE BOOKS.
See also NARRATIVES
page for the following, and others: |
| NEW RELEASES. |
|
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THE HISTORY
OF SCUBA GEAR - (50 + Years in the Making)
Captain Fred Calhoun.
This is a very interesting
book as it took me back to the days of rubberised ‘life-saving' vests (I
never had a Fenzy), the old J-valves on the steel 72s, and long-johns.
I never went back as far a twin-hose regs, but I did once use a snorkel
with a ping-pong ball! But the book is more than a trip down memory lane.
I shows the development of scuba gear up to present times - but not into
the mdoern technical equipment that is becoming quite popular. The book
is also most useful in giving the reader a better idea of how equipment
works. A very interesting book.
60 pages, 8-1/2x5-3/8, saddle
stitched, tables.
$16.00 |
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ANOTHER
WHITSTABLE TRADE Subtitle: An Illustrated History of Helmet Diving.
John Bevan.
This book, "Another Whitstable
Trade", has been initially published with a numbered run of 750 copies
but I am sure re-prints will soon follow. This is the result of around
30 years work and research and "does it show"! It tells the history
of the spread of the diving industry from the small group of divers
in Whitstable in the UK in the early 1800's to the rest of the UK and ultimately
the rest of the world. Everything is so well documented and illustrated
with contemporary photographs and diagrams, countless numbers of
them (well worth having just for all the unseen pictures). This wonderful
book is divided into six sections and again sub-divided within each
section: 1 The Whitstable Connection. 2 Major Organisations.
3 Civil Engineering Applications. 4 Diving Equipment Manufacturers. 5 Selected
Notable Divers. 6 Physiology and Medicine. At the back, there are
11 appendixes that again expand on various subjects including the "Dean
Diving Manual" and a list of Sir Robert Davis's patents. It is a truly
wonderful record of diving history and is well worth having while copies
are still available from the author at www.submex.co.uk where you will
see his other books including "The Infernal Diver" and "The Professional
Divers Handbook".
From the publisher: As early
as 1856 Robert Stephenson MP, the then President of the Institution of
Civil Engineers remarked that ‘Nothing had so much contributed to extend
and facilitate marine engineering, as the invention of the diving
dress'. Coming from so great an authority and only 27 years after
the original invention of the diving dress, this is a truly major proclamation.
So where had the diving dress come from? Exactly how did it generate a
whole new industry? The birthplace of the diving industry can be traced
back to the tiny harbour-town of Whitstable, on the north coast of
Kent. It was the seagoing salvage operations of the inhabitants of this
small town that first attracted, nurtured and then exploited the diving
helmet and dress in the early 1800s. Having established and honed their
diving skills, Whitstablers retained a virtual monopoly over them for many
years. The novel technology inevitably outgrew the small harbour town and
spread all over the world. The transfer of this technology was achieved
through a combination of entrepreneurial copying, dispersion through Royal
Navy dockyards and vessels throughout the British Empire, sale of equipment
and the progressive emigration of divers themselves. In addition to the
massive contribution to marine civil engineering, the impact of the diving
dress on the maritime operations of the unfortunate nations embroiled in
two World Wars was enormous. The present world-wide diving industry, including
the diving companies operating offshore to recover the oil and gas reserves,
owes its existence to the enterprising divers of Whitstable. This book
describes how professional diving developed from its original roots in
Whitstable, how it spread around Britain and how it developed into
a world-wide industry. Hard cover with tan coloured boards and dustjacket;
436 printed pages. Dimensions: 30.5 cms tall by 21.5 cms wide. This is
the second diving history book by the same author the first being "The
Infernal Diver". $156.00 |
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DIVING
THE CLASSICS
Standard Dress Sport Diving.
"A Practical Guide to Sport Dive the Classic Standard Dress Diving Helmet".
Stephen K. Taylor
This very informative book
came about because of the interest of recreational scuba divers (and indeed
non divers) in the use of the traditional old "hard-hat" equipment used
exclusively before the advent of on-demand scuba and surface supplied hookah
diving. It is only recently that the fascinating use of this early design
diving apparatus by recreational divers gives an added perspective of their
enjoyment underwater. The physics may be the same as scuba but the operation
and enjoyment is a new experience that is growing to such an extent that
many divers are now buying old equipment and fully restoring it for recreational
use, or even buying new equipment which, perhaps surprisingly is still
available. Of particular interest is the fact that in 2009 and 2010, a
recreational standard dress course has been conducted in Portland, Victoria,
by Professional Diving Services with the endoursement of the international
NAUI organisation. This excellent book gives a very useful background for
anyone interested in standard dress diving, both from an historic and a
practical persepective. It describes in some detail some of the ‘hardhat
helmets' that are currently used recreationally, and the accompanying accessories
such as the dress, boots, weights etc, describing the equipment terminology
and its fundamental use. The new skills required, predominantly to do with
air control and buoyancy, are described in some detail, and of course maintenance
of equipment and diver safety is emphasised throughout. The author recently
dived in the Melbourne Aquarium in his own standard dress and allows a
page to describe the experience - something that the public will see more
frequently over the years I am sure. A delightful book even if you don;t
have ambitions to give it a try. Maybe this concise book will chance your
mind! .A5 size, saddle stiched (stapled), 44 pages, well illusatrated with
many mono photographs, resources list. $15.00 Sorry,
no longer available. |
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DOWN TO THE SHIPS IN
THE SEA
Harry Grossett. First
published 1953 by Hutchinsons & Co. (Publishers) Ltd, London.
Second-hand
copy on offer is in excellent condition. No original dust jacket; comes
with computer generated dj in library protective plastic. Looks like new.
$55.00
Hardcover, dustjacket, 256
pages, many mono photographs.
The author is no doubt one
of the great hard-hat divers of the last century, travelling the work salvaging
the mindane and the exotic, from all sunken cargo ships, to gold and othr
treasures; he covered both world wars, and was a principle diver in the
raising of the German fleet at Scapa Flow. Although much of the book is
biographical, he also reveals the principles and practice of standard dress
diving, and how it has developed over his half century of working. A superb
book, one that you can't put down, and because of its content, of historical
value.
From the fly: Harry Grossett
is probably the most experienced deep-sea diver in the world. He has been
going down to the ships in the sea for half a century, and next year
he will celebrate both his seventieth birthday and the fiftieth anniversary
of his first dive. During his career he has been at the bottom of most
of the Seven Seas. He has had to break the ice to go down, and he has walked
in the beautiful submarine gardens of the shark- infested tropics. He has
traveled all over the world to salvage gold and other cargoes and to render
first aid to ships. He has been bitten by a conger eel, trapped in a sunken
troopship, and buried under concrete. He has sawn off human limbs under
water, and salvaged human bones, and twice he was nearly murdered under
water at Hong Kong. During the First World War he was diving from a war-ship
off the Dardanelles, and in the Second World War he was senior diver on
the laying of the Accra Pipeline. Between the wars he played a leading
part in the biggest salvage operation in history - raising the German Fleet
at Scapa Flow. He is still diving today. This book is full of adventures,
but it is more than a personal adventure story. The author reveals the
principles and practice of deep-sea diving, and shows how it has developed
during the last fifty years. He looks forward as well as back, and discusses
how modern inventions like armoured diving dress and television may affect
diving; and in a thoughtful analysis of submarine disasters he suggests
how loss of life might have been prevented in the past, and how, by a change
in Admiralty policy, it could be prevented in the future.
[down-to-the-ships-grossett-SHD004.jpg] |
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UP
FOR AIR - DIVING FOR A LIVING
Frank Meier
Hardcover, laminated boards,
287pp.
The original edition was
published in 1940 and is now rare and very much in demand. This 2009 edition
is an excellent reproduction. Now due to modern on-demand printing techniuques,
classic dive books can be reprinted and released, providing copyright conditions
are met. Some reproductions leave a bit to be desired, but I am pleased
to say that Up For Air has been very well reproduced, with the eleven illustrations.
It is also available in the USA in softcover but I have only brought in
the hardcover as I believe that a book of this interest should not be compromised.
Frank Meier wrote several books, but Up For Air appears to have been the
most popular. If you are interested in the ‘old' method of standard dress
diving, this is a must.
From the preface of the
original 1940 edition: The story you are about to read is a recital of
my work for thirty-five years as a diver, on many types of assignments
and in many kinds of circumstances and conditions. You will learn what
I did; why, how, and for whom I did it. You will lean about others,
associated with me in this fascinating profession, and some of their
experiences. In giving you this account, in this way, I sincerely hope
that I shall have painted a picture which will not only prove entertaining
and instructive in itself, but will serve to offset the all too many inaccuracies
and false impressions created by some whose experience is insufficient,
or whose imaginations exceed their knowledge of the subject. $56 Sorry,
no longer available from us. Google name, may be available in the USA. |
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DEEP,
DARK AND DANGEROUS.
On the Bottom with the Northwest
Salvage Divers.
Rebecca Harrison.
There is no shortage of
biographical material written by old-time divers whose literary ability
does not quite match their underwater skills, so it is exciting to read
a book that is so well writen, and covers a number of divers over an even
greater number of fascinating circumstances. The author has done an excellent
job of oral and document research on the the lives of many of the toughest
and most accomplished ‘hard-hat' divers of the period 1800s into the 1900s,
working in the north-west region of the USA. And one of them is a woman
- that has to be ‘first'. John Bevan, himself a well-respected author,
modern diver and businessman, states, "(Harrison) has colourfully
described many of the gruelling, and sometimes gruesome jobs the divers
carried out. Indeed, the book is an excellent representation of the work
of the early helmet divers." Bevan continues (in a review in Underwater
Contractor International), "The main thing is the quality of the stories!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this action-packed book. Unlike many other
books about helmet diving, it is not about an ego, boasting about his personal
prowess. It's about remarkable feats of a selection of some of the most
capable, helmet divers, as seen through someone else's eyes." I certainly
am in no position to disagree with anything Bevan has to say about diving,
and make the presumptious conclusion that he is right. It is a great read;
anyone with even a modicum of interest in the hardships of early commercial
diving will not be disappointed. Softcover, 89 pages, mono photographs,
bibliography, endnotes. $36.00 |
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IRONSUIT:
THE HISTORY OF THE ATMOSPHERIC DIVING SUIT
Gary L. Harris
Provides an historical view
of the Atmospheric Diving System with a description of the mechanics involved
in placing humans and machines under water and under great pressure. Written
by a commercial diver who is a technical mechanic, the book addresses the
need for intelligent understanding of the machine's operations and the
required capability to assess the risks that may be encountered. Chapters
include: The Story of the Atmospheric Diving Suit; Beginning of A.D.S.;
Understanding the Pressure of Sea Water; The Birth of Understanding the
Effects of High Pressure and Decompression; John Scott Haldane; the S.S.
Egypt; The Benjamin Leavitt Story; Early Life Support; The Decades of Stagnation;
The Advent of Mixed-Gas Diving; The Post-War Years; The Decade of Discovery;
The Technical Rebirth of A.D.S.. Bibliography . Paperback, 119 pages, mono
photos, drawings and charts.
$24.00 Sorry,
no longer available from us. |
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JOHNNO THE DEEP SEA DIVER
The Life and Adventures of John Johnstone.
As told to Peter Dawlish.
Published by George G. Harrap
& Co., London, Sydney etc. 1960.
Published hard back with
dust jacket; 245 printed pages. Dimensions: 22 cms tall by 14 cms wide
.
Second-hand
copy on offer is ex-library in very good condition, only one small library
stamp on inside facing page. Reprint 1961. No original dust-jacket - comes
with computer generated facsimile cover in library protective plastic.
Looks like new.
The title sounds like a
kid's tale - but I don’t think it is meant to be. He was one of Australia’s
top commercial divers, in standard dress of course, and in solid diving
bells, as per his work on the Niagara in New Zealand.
From the fly: This
is the life story of the famous deep-sea diver, John Johnstone, from his
boyhood in Liverpool until now, when he is salvaging ships sunk in the
war with Japan. In the many years he has been a diver, Johnno has had enough
adventure to satisfy twenty people. He has been trapped under a sunken
ship, held prisoner by a groper-the most ferocious fish in the world, salvaged
ships with Japanese bombers overhead, and taken a quarter of a million
pounds worth of gold bullion from a wreck sunk off the coast of New Zealand,
to mention only a few of his exploits. Most of his diving work has been
carried out round the coasts of Australia and in the shark-infested waters
of the East Indies. There, in his spare moments, he has dived among the
beautiful coral gardens, gathering wonderful shells. His work has not been
all danger. He has had many delightful hours, finding companions in the
brilliantly coloured fish of the tropics. A baby seal adopted him, and
used to meet him when he went down! He met all sorts of interesting people,
such as crocodile hunters, a boy who lived by catching snakes and getting
their venom, pearl divers, and natives who dived naked to gather
shells to be made into pearl buttons. Few men, even divers, have had such
an adventurous life, and now Peter Dawlish, famous for his stories
of the sea, tells Johnno's life story as I Johnno himself described it.
$65.00
[johnno-the-deep-sea-diver-SHD003.jpg] |
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THE
"PORPOISE" - Australian Diving Technology the World Copied.
Des Walters, Des Williams,
Melven Brown and Tony Gregory.
Forget about that French
chap Cousteau - what about our own true-blue Aussie Ted Eldred, the man
behind the Porpoise regulator, the world's first single-hose regulator,
its uniqueness of the single hose resulting in the design of the two-stage
pressure reduction system that is now in common use with standard compressed-air
sport divers. Ted commenced building his unit in Melbourne in 1948, built
the first prototype a year later, registered the ‘Porpoise' name a year
after that and set to marketing the unit in 1952. One could say, the rest
is history, but there were of course many design changes. Early models
are of course a collectors item - no wonder that the authors, members of
the Historic Diving Society - South-East Asia-Pacific, took it on themselves
to record the development of the Porpoise with biographic details on Ted
Eldred and the development of diving in Australia. The book is exceptionally
well researched, a fascinating read especially for those of a technical
and inquisitive mind - an exceptional contribution to the preservation
of our diving history. It is well illustrated with mono photographs, drawings
and charts - including some fascinating early advertisements. Softcover,
A4 size, mono photographs. $55.00
Note: Sadly, Ted Eldred
died in 2005 and did not see the book to which he contributed so generously.
The Historic Diving Society has created the Ted Eldred Award to be presented
to a member of the organisation who meets specific criteria regarding their
contribution to the presentation and preservation of our diving history.
Sorry,
no more copies available. |
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THE HISTORY
OF UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY AND CINEMATOGRAPHY IN ITALY.
Storia della Fotografia
e Cinematografia Subacquea Italiana.
Alberto Romeo.
We know of the French contribution
to recreational diving - Cousteau made sure of that - but few of us have
bothered to appreciate the contribution of the Italians, especially in
underwater photography and cinematography. They have been at it since 1932,
with weird and bulky homemade and later commercial equipment housing the
Rolleimarin and Praktiflex, and the Elmo cinecamera. Names such as Raimondo
Bucher, Roberto Rossellini, Victor de Sanctis and the author himself are
not familiar to us, but they should be for their contribution to the development
of underwater photography. And where did the Nikonos system originate?
We are however familiar, or should be if we have an interest in the history
of diving, with Folco Quilici, Fosco Maraini, Bruno Vailati, Dimitri Rebikoff,
and Louis Boutan, all significant players in the development of underwater
photographer. The book takes a chronological look at this development,
from 1932 to 1989, the latter years mentioning contributions from Hass
and Cousteau as well as our Aussies Cropp and Taylor. The diving gear is
an interest in itself, whereas the photographic equipment seems to have
stabilised in development after a decade or so, its use divided between
housings and the self-contained Nikonos system. A very interesting book
and a great contribution by Alberto Romeo to the historical record of diving.
By the way, has anyone got a copy of the first issue of the Italian Fotosub
magazine, published in 1977; look, it is an artistic cover, thats
why I want it!
Special foldout plastic
cover bound, 430 pages, hundreds of mono photographs, index, bibliography,
text and captions in Italian and English.
Published with the support
of the Historical Diving Society of Italy. $78.00
Sorry,
no longer available from us. |
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DIVING PIONEERS AND INNOVATORS.
Link to Narratives. |
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THE
HISTORY OF OILFIELD DIVING - An Industrial Adventure. Christopher
Swann.
What a superb book, exceptionally
well researched and fascinating to read. The original oilfield divers demonstrated
exceptional courage, which remains a requirement to this day. Author Christopher
Swann knows his subject as a saturation diver himself. The History of
Oilfield Diving chronicles one of the greatest adventures of the 20th
Century. A story of human endeavour, physical danger and breakneck technological
development, this is the most comprehensive account of oilfield diving
ever written. Until the 1950s there was no oilfield diving industry. The
few men who dived for a living fished for abalone or plied their trade
in harbours and dockyards, on civil engineering projects and on the occasional
salvage project. Nearly all the work was in shallow water. As a result,
there was little innovation in either equipment or techniques. As oil was
found at greater depths, all that changed. In the early 1960s, the oil
companies drilling off the coast of California were pushing the limits
of traditional commercial diving. All their exploratory wells were in 200-250
feet of water, a depth at which nitrogen narcosis becomes a serious limitation.
Progress into still deeper water was about to come to a halt.Until, that
is, a former US Marine, who made a precariouss living diving for abalone,
mounted a scuba regulator in an abalone helmet, bought some helium from
a hospital supply company and dived - to 400 feet. Oilfield diving was
about to take off. Hardcover, dustjacket, 845 pages, many many money photographs,
several colour plates, index, appendicies, maps, bibliography for each
chapter. $155.00. Sorry, no longer available.
Now scarce. |
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DEEP,
DEEPER, DEEPEST. Man’s Exploration of the Sea.
Robert
F. Marx.
If
anyone can write a book on ‘Man’s Exploration of theSea’ it is Robert Marx.
His treasure and archaeological finds are quiteamazing, and with fifteen
books to his credit, he is well versed to writethis book. His style is
easy and interesting and the photographs are adequateto complement the
text. He starts of with free diving, then goes into theearly diving bells,
diving machines and helmet diving. Armoured divingsuits get a mention,
and of course the modern scuba equipment. Additionalchapter cover warfare,
submersibles, underwater habitats, underwater archaeology,sunken treasure,
and oceanography. A very good read - interesting and informative.
Hardcover,
326 pages, mono photos. $48.00 |
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DIVING PIONEERS
- An Oral History of Diving in America.
Eric Hanauer.
If sport diving did not
start in America, it was certainly developed there post war, with the development
in improved equipment, promotion through television and film, and remarkable
treasure salvage. This is the pioneering era of diving, when innovation
and courage was the prime requisite, and achievement the reward. The book
commenced with a potted history of diving, and the first US dive club,
the San Diego Bottom Scratchers, followed by oral histories from: Walter
Davis, E.R.Cross, Dick Anderson, Wheeler North, Andy Rechnitzer, Connie
Limbaugh, Jim Stewart, Chuck Mitchell, Dottie Frazier, Zale Parry (remembr
Sea Hunt), Norrine Rouse, John Steel, Chuck Nicklin, Bill and Bob Meistrell,
Dick Bonin, Bob Hollis, Frank Scalli, Dan Wagner, Ralph Erikson, Lee Somers
and Tom Mount. This book will tell you who did the great paintings on the
early editions of Skin Diver magazine, who formed the great dive equipment
company Oceanic, who played the leading female role in Sea Hunt. A very
interesting book. Softcover, 266 pages, mono photographs. $28.00
Sorry,
no longer available from us.Try Best publications. |
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DIVERS
IN TIME.
Australia's
Untold History.
Jeff
Maynard.
The
author is well known for his many well researchedand fascinating articles
on diving history that appear regularly in thediving magazines, as well
as his book ‘Niagara's Gold'. The first thingI checked out was to see if
there was any mention of Noel and Kitty Monkman- and there was, indeed
a very good tribute to these pioneer Australianfilm-makers. The seven major
chapters cover: The Standard Dress Divers,The Pearl Divers, The Inventors,
The Salvage Divers, Divers at Work, TheNavy Divers, The Scuba Divers. Thus
the book covers commercial and militaryoperations, police, pearl and navy
divers, and the introduction of recreationalscuba into Autralia. A great
read, educational and entertaining. And didyou know - the single-hose regulator,
now used by divers worldwide, wasinvented in Melbourne?
Softcover,
158 pages, large A4 size, mono prints. $38.00 |
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DIVING WITH
& WITHOUT ARMOUR
Containing the Submarine
Exploits of J.B.Green the Celebrated Submarine Diver.
J.B. Green.
Faxton's Steam Power Press,
Buffalo, USA, 1859.
Reproduction by Atlantic
Diving Equip. Co. Inc.1990.
Softcover, saddle stiched,
84 pages, mono drawings.
This is quite a remarkable
autobiography, rare in that not too many divers of the mid 19th century
had the verbal skills to elucidate their techniques an adventures. Mr.
Green notes that his career made him a cripple for life. A wonderful read.
$26
Sorry,
no longer available from us.Try Best publications. |
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HISTORY
OF SPEARFISHING AND SCUBA DIVING IN AUSTRALIA.
(The
First 80 years 1917 to 1997).
Tom
Byron.
This
was certainly worth waiting for. It is unusuallypresented in that it departs
from the normal continuous text concept andrelies instead on hundreds of
newspaper-style headings and stories, someindeed condensed directly from
newspaper and magazine articles. It is thereforeand eminently readable
book as you can skip from article to article asthe interest warrants -
from death to treasure, failures and achievements,early equipment and technique,
and the pioneers of our sport. A most valuablebook and a must for all divers.
Hardcover
(laminated boards), A4 size,311 pages, index, many fascinating mono photographs.
$42.00
Sorry,
no longer available from us.May still be in print. |
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MAN
AND THE UNDERWATER WORLD.
Pierre
de Latil and Jean Rivoire. Translated from the French by Edward Fitzgerald.
First
published in France, 1954 as A la Recherche du Monde Marin. First published
in Great Britain 1956,
Jarrolds,
London. In my humble opinion, this is the best book written
on the development of diving from the early ancient myths of the
Greek Gods to the development of scuba, and submersible exploration. A
brilliant book, a most significant contribution to our knowledge
of the underwater world, superbly researed and written. Of great historical
value for its content and being relatively rare.
Hardcover,
dust jacket, 400 pages, mono prints throughout.
Second
hand. We occasionally have a second-hand copy: price range to $100.
Now
available one copy , first English edition 1956, with original dustjacket.
in good condition with protective library lastic. Book is very good, ex-libre,
no markings, no foxing. $65.0 |
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MAN AND THE UNDERWATER
WORLD
Pierre de Latil and Jean
Rivoire.
Translated from the French
by Edward Fitzgerald.
First USA edition, 1956;
G.P. Purnam's Sons, New York (brown jacket).
Hardcover, dustjacket, 400
pages, index, a few mono drawings.
In my humble opinion, this
is the best book written on the development of diving from the early ancient
myths of the Greek Gods to the development of scuba, and submersible exploration.
A brilliant book, a most significant contribution to our knowledge of the
underwater world, superbly researched and written. Of great historical
value for its content and being relatively rare, the book itself is a collector's
item.
From the fly:
What Ceram did for archeology
in Gods, Graves and Scholars, and Herrmann for ecology in Conquest by Man,
two brilliant young French authors have done here for the fascinating story
of man's endeavors to explore the three quarters of the earth's surface
that lies beneath the sea. Truly it constitutes a second universe, which
still holds untold secrets and resources. From the earliest times man has
sought to penetrate this vast and mysterious realm by various means, but
only recently has undersea exploration begun to achieve its real goals.
The year 1953, which saw the conquest of the land-surface completed by
the ascent of Everest, also saw the conquest of the deep furthered by successful
descents to previously unknown depths by bathyscaphe, and the plumbing
by oceanographers of the ultimate abysses, which demonstrated that life
exists even there. Latil and Rivoire, in a style admirably concise, present
all the principal episodes in this long and often heroic history. Greek
and Roman divers, the schemes of Leonardo and others in the Middle Ages,
the progress of undersea warfare in which the American Fulton played an
important part, Jules Verne and his fantasies, some of which were carried
out by Beebe and other later explorers, down to the sportsmen, photographers,
and skin-divers of today—all are included in this informative, accurate,
and readable book.
The present enthusiasm for
underwater activities of all kinds lends a particular value to this historical
survey, but even without it this volume would take its place as a classic
in its field. The many well-selected illustrations add considerably to
the book's attractions.
Second-hand
copy on offer is in excellent as new condition with no markings. Dust jacket
perfect, protected in library-quality film. $42.00 |
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MANUAL
FOR DIVERS 1905
Prepared
at the Naval Torpedo Station, Washington D.C.1905
(Issued
to Seamen Gunners in the US Navy).
This
is a wonderful reprint of a most historic and fascinatingmanual. The seven
chapters include ‘requirements for divers', ‘ descriptionof diving apparatus',
accidents', ‘rules for resuscitation' (do not standthe diver on his head),
‘signals', ‘preparation and care of equipment',‘pressure at depth'.
Softcover,
44 pages plus 22 mono plates. $35.00
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no longer available from us.Try Best publications. |
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THE
INFERNAL DIVER
John Bevan.
A wonderful, remarkable
book, so much to read.
From the fly: Until now
it has been erroneously believed that Augustus Siebe was the inventor of
the standard diving helmet. He was, in fact, the leading manufacturer.
Siebe himself never claimed to be the inventor but with the passage
of time and the recognised excellence of his manufacturing standards, Siebe's
name superseded that of the true inventors, John and Charles Deane. This
book reinstates the Deane brothers as inventors of the diving helmet and
traces their lives from humble beginnings in east London, through their
sea-going careers, their invention and development of the diving helmet
and dress and their subsequent underwater exploits. From their modest beginnings
in Whitstable, Kent; they conducted their various underwater activities
including treasure-hunting, wreck clearance, salvage, marine civil engineering
and military support. The wrecks of the Mary Rose and the Royal George
feature prominently in their lives. Their invention was of enormous significance
for the future of underwater operations. The diving dress and helmet were
enthusiastically embraced by the Royal Engineers and Royal Navy who used
them to great advantage in the Crimea. They commissioned John Deane as
their resident diving and explosives expert during the campaign. It was
in the Crimea, due to his impressive success at blowing up underwater obstacles
that he earned the title, "The Infernal Diver". This book charts the successes
and failures, the triumphs and tragedies of the Deane brothers' remarkable
lives. Their story rewrites an importaItt and hitherto mis-represented
part of diving history - the birth of the diving helmet and dress; the
origin of today's international diving industry.Hardcover, dust jacket,
A4 size, 314 pages, mono and colour prints, line drawings, index.$130.00
Sorry,
no longer available from us. |
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THE SCHRADER COLLECTION
An historic collection of
material from the A. Schrader Diving Equipment Co. Of New York, manufactures
of diving helmets.
The collection consists
of several items, provided in clear plastic protective sheets A4 size in
a four-ring D binder.
Included:
* An 8-page A4 size history
of August Schrader and his company.
* Forty (40) exclusive diving
prints on archival paper suitable for framing, or retaining as is, each
in its own plastic protective sheet
* An 8-page A4 size full
colour booklet of Schrder and Craftswell Equipment Corp helmets.
Within the collection you
will find a complete set of 10 MkV drawings; Helium Hat; 1916 Schrader
MkV Prototype photo and drawing; 1898, 1912 and 1917 Schrader Knives; Early
Schrader Air Pumps; Many Schrader helmets from 1898 to 1941 including 4
& 5 bolt helmets.
Note: Only the Australian
released edition from Oceans Enterprises contains the collection in a ring-binder
and plastic protective sheets. (The US edition contains loose booklets
and sheets in a cardboard folder). $98.00
Sorry,
no longer available. Well out of print. Have not been able to contact publisher. |
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SHIPS BENEATH THE SEA
- A HISTORY OF SUBMARINES AND SUBMERSIBLES.
Robert F. Burgess.
British edition published
in 1975 by Robert Hale and Company.
The best book I have found
on the subject, concisely written, factual and interesting. Introduces
Dr. Cornelius Van Drebbel, one of the inventors of the submarine in the
seventeenth century; the Eagle and the Turtle of the eighteenth century,
and later developments of submarine and submersibles.
Hardcover, dust jacket,
260 pages, many mono photographs. Illustrated with over 100 photographs
and diagrams, this book gives the complete history of the underwater conveyance.
From the fly:
Ships Beneath the Sea tells
the adventurous story of how a man has challenged the depths. It is a popular
history of submarines and submersibles, spanning the centuries from the
earliest crude conception in the 13005 to our most sophisticated scientific
achievements today. The author shows in fascinating detail the evolution
of the first underwater vessel in 1578 into such vessels as the diving
bell, the bathysphere, the bathyscaphe and the submarine. He also deals
with the many functions of underwater vessels: travel, sea warfare, and
scientific research into the geology of the ocean bed.
Robert Burgess highlights
the personalities and careers of such inventors as Auguste and Jacques
Piccard and Jacques Cousteau with an excitement that he communicates to
the reader.
Copy
on offer is in excellent condition, as new, with excellent dustjacket.
$38.00 |
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SOLID
BRASS.
A
true account of commercial hard hat diving, from theauthor who took UDT/SEAL
training , Navy diving, abalone diving and hardhat diving over a 45 year
career taking him from Mexico to Alaska. ‘Eachexciting story is an uncensored
version of the life and adventures of thesegutsy divers. Hardcover, laminated
boardss, 238 pages, illustrated drawingsand mono photographs throughout.
$54.00
Sorry,
no longer available from us. Try Best
publications. |
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STARS
BENEATH THE SEA.
'The
Extraordinary Lives of The Pioneers of Diving.'
Trevor
Norton.
Who
are our underwater heroes? Cousteau and Hass comereadily to mind, and to
the historically educated, no doubt Gagnan, Dumasand Taillez, Siebe and
Davis, Rouquayrol and Denayrouze But what of theman who gave Hans Hass
his first lessons in diving, Guy Gilpatrick, orthe incredible naturalists
Henri Edwards and Roy Miner, the depth-defyingCharles William Beebe, or
the remarkable English marine biologist and educatorJack Alwyne Kitching?
These were truly remarkable pioneers of diving, settingstandards and procedures
for divers to follow, opening the underwater worldto the closed minds of
the university academics who could not comprehendwhat they could not see.
Of Haldane, father and son, we, perhaps, knowa little, for they set the
standards for breathing air at high pressuresresulting in the development
of decompression tables, and the use of ahelium-oxygen breathing mix.
That it should have become a best-sellerand acclaimed by all who read it,
Stars Beneath the Sea owes its appealnot only in its remarkable subject
matter but more so on the succinct andeloquent style of the author, peppered
with humour and anecdote. I foundit to be one of the most rewarding books
on diving I have ever read, providingrelaxed entertainment with a wealth
of knowledge - a most remarkable book.
Softcover,
282 pages, mono prints. $36.00 Review
Now
out of print. Hard and softcopy occasionally available. Enquire.
Now
have one hard $35.00, and one soft $25.00 copy available. |
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THE AMERICAN
DIVE CATALOG COLLECTION.
Ray Mathieson.
From the 1870's.
Over 400 pages of very rare
American catalogs:
Alfred Hale Co.;A.Schrader
Diving Equip. Co. (3) catalogs;
A.J.Morse &Son (3);
D.E.S.Co.;
Miller Dunn Co. (3);
Batteryless Telephone Equip.
Co.;
Craftsweld Co.;
John Date Co. (2);
M.&E. Marine Supply
Co.;
Buie ww2 Helium Helmet;
Ohio Rubber Co. (maker of
the Victor Berge mask);
Thompson Eng. Co. (maker
of the T.E.Co. full face mask);
E.J. Willis Co. (distributor
of the Snead Shallow water helmets and air pump).
Hard cover with leatherette
finish, A4 size, limited to 1500 un-numbered copies.
$155 ex Australia.
If in USA US$100.00
Sorry
no longer available. Have been unable to contact publisher. |
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THE SILENT WORLD.
Captain J.Y. Cousteau with
Frederic Dumas.
First published in Great
Britain, 1953, Hamish Hamilton, London. (It went through at least seven
impressions in its first year - thats shows either a remarkable acceptance
or bad planning - no doubt both). Was this book the making of Cousteau?
Of course not, but it helped to consolidate his place in the public mind
as a remarkable pioneer of diving. I have heard ot said that it should
be prescribed reading for all divers but frankly, I find Cousteau
had to read - but then I find Cousteau hard to bear - but thats just
me. Perhaps its because
he is just so damned skinny!!! There is nothing about the historic development
of scuba (is Gagnan even mentioned?), centering rather on the diving exploits
of the French Navy's Underwater Research Group and the Calypso. It is however
an important work as it was perhaps the first ‘popular' book to bring attention
of the general public to the underwater world.
Hardcover, dust jacket,
148 pages, mono plates throughout, sixteen colour plates (from National
Geographic).
Second
hand only. Well out of print. We do have copies in stock in various condition.
Contact us - about $20-$40, some with an original dust jacket or computer
generated jacket facsimile.
Curently
available: One copy with origiunal dustjacket, in fair to good condition
jacket, book fine with some foxing on endpapers, and title pages. This
edition Eleventh Impression October 1956 (of first edition 1953). $40.00
Also
one edition, Tenth Impression January 1955. No dustjacket, some early pages
foxing. $24.00 |
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U.S. NAVY
1916 MANUAL
This is the jewel of all
U.S. Navy manuals! Professionaly reproduced, softcover, square-back bound,
172 pages, including 42 illustrations. Limited to 2,000 un-numbered copies.
This year, 1916, was the transitional period when the US Navy greatly improved
the divrng equipment, after several years of testing, and co-incides with
the time the Mark 5 diving helmet was first introduced.$32.00
Sorry,
no longer available from us.Try Best publications. |
8/5/13 |
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