TOTAL WEIGHT 52 lbs  BONNET 30.5 lbs  BREAST PLATE 21.5 lbs

 

STAND NOT INCLUDED

Copyright 2010 - 2009 by Land And Sea Collection™, All Rights Reserved

 

 

Presented is one of the first mil-spec MK V helmets made for the U.S. Navy. It is an authentic 12 bolt, 4 light Schrader Navy MK V dated December 3, 1918. It is guaranteed to be the real McCoy and has been handed down in the same family for the last 40 years from father to son, both of whom were divers. As can be seen in the images, even though it shows use, the dents and blemishes are all minor, and are primarily on the top. The helmet was polished some years ago, and has acquired a pleasing patina of age.

 

CONDITION and MARKINGS: The helmet is complete except for the communication wiring harness and internal speaker, and non-return valve, all of which are missing. The right sidelight is cracked and the left sidelight has a chip at the lower edge. The left front brail is a recent replacement. The air vents are all intact. The right side chin relief valve, spit cock handle, front door wing nut, all turn easily. There are marks and dents of use, but these are primarily on the top.

The maker's tag is marked H547 Dec 3, 1918 The number 43 appears on the bottom of each brail (strap), except the replacement. The bonnet neck ring is numbered 413 No. 2, and the breast plate neck ring is numbered 413 No. 1. The front door is marked 746.

Like all old diving gear, this is being sold for DISPLAY ONLY. It should not be dived without having passed inspection by a certified dive shop and the glass replaced

Maker's tag

Crack in sidelight

Comm cup missing speaker

Stand is not included

HISTORY OF SCHRADER DIVING: Schrader is one of the oldest names in U.S. diving, second only to Morse. The founder, August Schrader was a creative and inventive German immigrant who originally set up a shop dealing in rubber products in New York City, NY in 1839, only a few years after A.J. Morse set up shop in Boston.

 

In 1845 he began supplying fittings and valves for rubber products made by the Goodyear Brothers. Schrader was also a maker of daguerreotype apparatus. His original shop was at 115 John Street in Manhattan,  NY. Shortly thereafter he went into partnership with Christian Baecher. Christian was a brass turner and finisher which provided a foundation for what followed.

 

The two partners, having watched divers at work at a nearby New York Harbor jetty, decided to improve the diving helmets in use at the time. In 1849, with the help of Baecher, he created a new copper helmet. Later his interest in diving led to him to design an air pump.

 

Around 1890, August Schrader saw the need for a bicycle tire valve. By 1891, he produced the Schrader valve. The Schrader valve was his most popular invention, and is still used today.

 

In 1917, the United States Bureau of Construction & Repair introduced the MK V helmet and dress, which then became the standard for US Navy diving until the introduction of the MK 12 in the late nineteen seventies. Schrader and Morse Diving were the two original suppliers.

 

During the onslaught of World War Two only Morse and Schrader were making dive helmets for the navy. Desco and Miller-Dunn went into production around 1943. In total only about 7,000 MK V helmets were produced by all four companies during the war years with DESCO producing the most, then Morse, Schrader and Miller-Dunn. The scarcity of the latter two are the reason they command a higher price in the market. 

 

BRIEF HISTORY of NAVY MK V DEEP SEA DIVING DRESS:

 

In 1915, George Stillson, of the Bureau of Construction and Repair had designed the MK V Diving Helmet which seemed to address many of the problems encountered in diving. This deep-sea outfit was designed for extensive, rugged diving work and provided the diver maximum physical protection and some maneuverability.

 

The 1915 MK V Diving Helmet had an elbow inlet with a safety valve that allowed air to enter the helmet, but not to escape back up the umbilical if the air supply were interrupted. Air was expelled from the helmet through an exhaust valve on the right side, below the port. The exhaust valve was vented toward the rear of the helmet to prevent escaping bubbles from interfering with the diver’s field of vision.

 

By 1916, the  first year of production, several improvements had been made to the helmet, including a rudimentary communications system via a telephone cable and a regulating valve operated by an interior push button. The regulating valve allowed some control of the atmospheric pressure. A supplementary relief valve, known as the spitcock, was added to the left side of the helmet. A safety catch was also incorporated to keep the helmet attached to the breast plate. The exhaust valve and the communications system were improved by 1927, and the weight of the helmet was decreased to be more comfortable for the diver.

 

After 1927, the MK V changed very little. It remained basically the same helmet used in salvage operations of the USS S-51 and USS S-4 in the mid-1920's. With its associated deep-sea dress and umbilical, the MK V was used for all submarine rescue and salvage work undertaken in peacetime and practically all salvage work undertaken during World War II.

The MK V Diving Helmet was the standard U.S. Navy diving equipment until succeeded by the MK 12 Surface-Supplied Diving in February 1980. The MK 12 was replaced by the MK 21 in December 1993. 

 

OUR UNCONDITIONAL NO NONSENSE GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned within five days of receipt in its original packaging if without damage. Return items must be insured for their full value. Only a prior email authorization from us for the return is required. Shipping charges are  included in this offer if an error is due to our fault.

 

International buyers welcome, but should inquire first.  We have satisfied customers in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Estonia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Nova Scotia, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USVI and the Eastern Caribbean.

SHIPPING & PACKING: The cost of shipping, packing, handling, and insurance to your destination, is an additional charge. You may email us to get these costs. We price our shipping honestly, but we expect to be reimbursed for the nominal cost of packaging materials and handling. In the U.S. helmets cost about $150.00 to ship with insurance.

ACCEPTED FORMS OF PAYMENT are Bank wire transfer, cashier's check, money order, or personal check in which case the item will be held until cleared. No credit cards or PayPal accepted on this item.

             Copyright 2009 by Land And Sea Collection™, All Rights  

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