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Discussion of diving methods and equipment available prior to the development of BCDs beyond the horse collar. This forum is dedicated to the pre-1970 diving.
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SurfLung
Master Diver
Posts: 1763
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2011 2:03 pm
First Name: Eben
Location: Alexandria, MN
Contact: Website

J.C. Higgins Project

Tue Aug 10, 2021 10:00 am

My J.C. Higgins Project
- It started with Sea Hunt Jerry texting me a photo of a blue painted Mistral that had started out as a private labled J.C. Higgins "Aqua-Air-Lung" double hose regulator. It was made by U.S. Divers for Sears. But apparently Sears didn't take them so U.S. Divers plastered a special Mistral label over the J.C. Higgins label. Anyway, I started looking around and found some nice photos of the J.C. Higgins regs over at the CG45... Including a near perfect image of the "Aqua-Air-Lung" label. And my thought was, "that's a nicer label than the special Mistral label."
- Well, several years ago I made up a rectangular Voit Navy label to stick on a DAAM... Because I didn't have a real NAVY yet. I had these printed on bumper sticker material so they'd be waterproof. Long story short, the J.C. Higgins labels swapped into my bumper sticker graphics easily. So, I had some made up and now I have a bunch of J.C. Higgins labels.
- My plan is to fix up a junked Mistral I have hanging in my Scuba Room, paint it blue, and stick a J.C. Higgins label on it. :)
Image
Note: Thank You Adair Ribeiro for his generous permission to use the J.C. Higgins label art from the CG-45.com website!
SurfLung
The Freedom and Simplicity of Vintage Equipment and
Vintage Diving Technique are Why I Got Back Into Diving.

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TeamDoug2015
Vintage Diver
Posts: 80
Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2015 10:25 pm
First Name: Doug
Location: Singapore

Re: J.C. Higgins Project

Tue Aug 10, 2021 11:15 am

Bravo! Those look great.

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Vancetp
Master Diver
Posts: 401
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2016 7:26 pm
First Name: Phillip
Location: Belmont CA

Re: J.C. Higgins Project

Sat Oct 09, 2021 6:50 pm

I'm considering making a faux "JC" out of an orphan 2 piece bottom box and an orphan Mistral top. These were USD OverPressure/Mistral conversions, so my box set should be right-ish.

Were the boxes raw brass when painted? Or satin nickel plate? I've had a few blue 50 Fathoms, and the paint chipped off too easily. I'd like the paint to stick, so what's the best way to go? Primer over raw brass? Media blasting and primer? Primer over satin plating? No primer? Any suggestions are welcome and appreciated!

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Vancetp
Master Diver
Posts: 401
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2016 7:26 pm
First Name: Phillip
Location: Belmont CA

Re: J.C. Higgins Project

Wed Oct 13, 2021 7:59 pm

I tried to order a page of Eben's Mistral labels, and Zazzle decided it was a copyright violation? Did you get yours, Eben?

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SurfLung
Master Diver
Posts: 1763
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2011 2:03 pm
First Name: Eben
Location: Alexandria, MN
Contact: Website

Re: J.C. Higgins Project

Thu Oct 14, 2021 3:36 pm

Tracking is showing my order as "Out for Delivery" and the mail has not been delivered yet. If it shows up today, I'll post it here so you'll know. I clicked to "share" my project with you but maybe Zazzle thinks I own the rights or something. When it gets here, I'll send you a sheet of labels... I ordered 4 just in case 40 or so people want to make a JC Higgins/Mistral project! Ha!

Update... They're Here!
Image
Well, the printing is lighter green than the photo looks. The actual color looks like the proper green. The background looks a bit like shaded white rather than metal foil. And the labels on the right side of the sheet probably have too dark of background. Below is a better photo.
Image

Vance, I put a sheet in the mail for you tonight... It'll be in tomorrow's mail.
SurfLung
The Freedom and Simplicity of Vintage Equipment and
Vintage Diving Technique are Why I Got Back Into Diving.

User avatar
TeamDoug2015
Vintage Diver
Posts: 80
Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2015 10:25 pm
First Name: Doug
Location: Singapore

Re: J.C. Higgins Project

Fri Oct 15, 2021 9:53 am

They look great.

User avatar
Vancetp
Master Diver
Posts: 401
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2016 7:26 pm
First Name: Phillip
Location: Belmont CA

Re: J.C. Higgins Project

Sat Nov 20, 2021 7:39 pm

My JC Higgins project is stalled, due to a lack of one part.

I'm currently building a very early Broxton, and my only 2 piece bottom box is claimed for this. I have another correct intake horn for the JCH, but no main box.

This is the only part I need. I have several top boxes, a couple of valves, lever sets, and everything else to make the JCH, but here I am.... Stuck.

It will get media blasted, so one with bad chrome, etc., would be fine, if I could find one.

Anybody? Please email me (not message, since I check here infrequently due to no traffic).

Thanks for any help,
Phil

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