UHEXSO BAND-MASK PAGE
UHEXSO diver PetePetrisky wearing a KMB-8 band mask at Lake Travis, Texas. Photo: Russell Miller
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UHEXSO diver John Hoover is wearing a Widolf free-flow band mask. The mask was designed in 1947 by California abalone diver Phil Widolf. The mask is made of heavy bronze with a glass face plate. Air is exhausted through the bottom and left side ports. Exhaust is controlled by a rubber flapper valve. The mask is secured by a rubber spider connected to the mask with loops and hooks. The face seal is neoprene bonded to the frame. Hoover is also using a Weldcraft Oxy-Acetylene burning torch. Photo: Russell Miller |
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UHEXSO diver wearing a DESCO "Jack Browne" free-flow mask. This mask is much lighter than the Widolf, but operates on the same principle. Air flows in at a constant rate and is exhausted through a non-return valve on the left side. This mask has been modified with diver-to-surface communications by adding a speaker, wired through binding posts, to the inside of the mask . The binding posts were inserted into the holes where the fasteners for the spider attachment would go. Very primitive, but it works. The mask was in production during WW II and is still manufactured by DESCO.
Tending the diver is Randy Hanks. Photo: Pete Petrisky. |
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UHEXSO diver wearing a DESCO "Jack Browne" demand mask. This mask is much like the free-flow mask in construction and shape, but with a demand regulator. The demand regulator style uses much less air than the free-flow design. This offers advantages when working off of bottled air. The diver is also using an underwater cutting torch and is wearing a 1933 US Navy "bunny suit". The bunny suit was one of the first dry suits used by the navy. Photo taken at Lake Travis, Texas by Russell Miller. |
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In this picture UHEXSO diver Rick Kouns is wearing his converted WW II Ohio Rubber gas mask. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, the US Navy refitted these gas masks for diving by giving them a simple valve with air supplied through an umbilical. Divers were able to work in shallow water or confined areas without the bulk and weight of the MK V hard hat rig. This mask is rigged to a U.S. Divers 1958 Aquamaster double-hose regulator. You have to periodically free-flow the mask to drop the CO2 level and tilt your head left to drain the mask. Because the lenses on the mask are convex, as opposed to flat, the distortion underwater is severe. |
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As if you think we were not already crazy. Here is a brave, very brave, UHEXSO diver wearing the gas mask underwater in the San Marcos River, San Marcos, Texas. Diver also has on a WW II style Mae West horse collar inflation vest. No buoyancy control here. |
The Widolf, Jack Browne and gas mask were all developed either before WW II or just after. The next set of pictures will show designs that emerged in the 1960's and represent styles which are still in use today. All the masks pictured above are owned by UHEXSO members.
The photograph above is of UHEXSO diver, John Hoover wearing a 1960's General Aquadyne, DMC-5 band mask. This mask is owned by UHEXSO member Paul Schenk. Also in the picture is Randy Hanks. The Aquadyne is a demand style mask. It uses a SCUBAPRO regulator for air delivery to the diver. The regulator can be adjusted as seen by the knob coming off the regulator assembly. This feature is often refired to as a "dial a breath". The mask does have a free-flow function as shown by the knob on the upper right side of the mask. The free flow function helps eliminate CO2 and defogs the face plate. Clearing the divers ears is done by placing the nose on a padded V-shaped device located in the oral nasal of the mask. The oral nasal internal "mask" reduces dead-air space in the mask. The mask is fitted with diver to surface communications. The mask is also fitted with bump hat or "clam shell" which helps protect the divers head.
Photo by: John Holder at the Battleship TEXAS.
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Here is a photo of a KMB-8 band mask. It is very similar in style to the Aquadyne, except it has a neoprene hood attached to the frame of the mask by a binding clamp. This makes the KMB-8 more comfortable in cold water than the Aquadyne. Which is good as the temperature on the day this photo was taken was 14 degrees F. Yes, it gets cold in Texas sometimes. Photo: John Holder |
Stay Tuned-More Masks to Come.
