STUNNING PIECE VERY RARE!
A great looking Deep Sea Diver's helmet in good condition.
The helmet was somewhat a mystery in that we were unsure as to its origin, but felt it was an early British helmet. It is a 12 bolt helmet that is similar to a very early Siebe Gorman, but with a heavier gauge copper body. It also has some unusual details, such as the ridged brailes and the 4 curved flanges that are held down by 12 nuts and bolts (Imperial thread) and seal the rubberised suit to the helmet. On modern 20th century h elmets the ridge is no longer present. The nuts themselves are different to the usual butterfly version and appear very similar to late 19thC early American helmets by the Alfred Hale Rubber Co (c1870). The 3 portholes are circular and the helmet resembles an archive image of the Victorian British Andreas Franz Leale helmet. The side portholes have had a brass rod cross, for protection, but only one rod remains. The porthole can be opened by rotation but age and use has seized it.
The helmet is quite spartan on features. It has the obvious non return valve and the exhaust valve. Adjustment to flow is done by turning it as there is no wheel. Inside there is the chin button to override the air flow, but is actuated with the back of the head, rather than the helmet bonnet slots on by partial rotation and there is an L-shaped safety pin to stop it turning accidentally. The seal between the top and the helmet appears to have been paper fibre, rather than rubber. The helmet has a multitude of small knocks that magnify it. There is also a lovely patina of age, that has only been partially removed by cleaning and light polishing. The only markings that we can identify are stamped on the upper edge of the central porthole, JOMU. N21.
We have been advised by one of the top authorities in Diver's helmets, Leon Lyons (Helmets of the Deep), that the origin is most likely Chilean and strongly influenced by British Siebe Gorman diving helmets. He believes it probably dates from around the 1950s, although early style bolts and brailes. It is a very attractive looking helmet and an exclusive piece, full of history.
Size: 39 x 45 x 47cm (15 1/4 x 17 3/4 x 18 1/2 inches) Weight: 17.9kg
------------------------------
Bonjour à tous, je vous invite à aller voir mes autres objets en vente ! Très bonne journée !
Hi all, go check out my other objets to sale! Have a lovely day!