Aussies, 1, 2, 3

[YankDownUnder]

French patents prevented Australians from making double hose scuba and when La Spirotechnique licensed Siebe Gorman in England to make double hose scuba for the Commonwealth, the Aussies had to come up with something. Siebe Gorman just couldn't meet the demand and Australia was far away. Siebe Gorman could make enough because of military sales, and the French were not allowed to sell to Australia becuase of the licensing agreement.

Porpoise became the first single hose, but it was too costly for this little maker to patent it, so other single hose regulators popped up. The Ted Eldred's Porpoise came out in 1952. It was followed by another Melbourne maker Jim Ager, who made the Sea Bee in 1954.

Meanwhile, up in Sydney in 1956 Scubamatic became the next in line. The fourth single hose scuba was made by Sea Hornet, but by that time single hose had spread overseas. However, that still meant Australia was first, second and third with single hose scuba.

These pictures are of #3, the Scubmatic regulator. There was no pressure gauge and no reserve. The diver carried inverted twin tanks and managed his air by decanting.









This a rare working Scubmatic. The LP hose is ribbed oxygen welding equipment hose. There is a small mushroom exhaust valve in the rear of the demand valve.

[YankDownUnder]

Another picture of the 1956 Scubmatic with twin 26 cu ft tanks. The WP is 1800 psi.

[DaleC]

Simplicity itself. Thanks for sharing.

[sitkadiver]

When I dove surface supplied air, we always had our small bail-outs mounted in that arrangement since it made reaching the valve very easy. Something I've always thought would catch on in the sport diving world, but never did.

I also like the hose arrangement on the second stage of the Scubamatic. Seems it would be ambidextrous and leave more options open for exhuast valve arrangement. Another one of those good ideas that should have caught on, but didn't.

Just read "Diver" by Tony Groom. He talks about managing his air supply by decanting. Simple idea really. Breath a tank down to empty, then open the other tank valve until it equalizes. Close secondary tank valve. When the air gets low a 2nd time, open the second tank and you now have 1/4 of your air to surface with.

Glad to see than people are still diving those rare regulators. Thank you for posting.