Period correctness.

[luis]

You are getting very good advised.

Both K and J valves were used. Most of my tanks did have J valves, but I had a few with K.

I always used my SPG unless I was using my double hose regulator.

As Nemrod said many if not most SPG came with a strap to attach it to your webbing. Some of the straps didn’t work that great, they tended to slide and the SPG sometimes ended up dangling if you didn’t pay attention.

For the right shoulder the snaps was common, but I remember the most was the metal buckle. I did forget that some had the twist locks that Nemrod mention (Nemrod, thanks for reminding me of that).

The mouthpiece strap did come with the Conshelf VI, but honestly the first thing everyone did (at least in my area) was take it off and many even cut the rubber tabs off the mouthpiece.

Yes diving with minimal gear is a pleasure and will add to anyone’s skill level.

[Ron]

FYI....There is a single hose section on this forum.

Cool, thanks man. I'll hit that up when I have reg questions.

[Ron]

Yes, he Jet Fin Vintage Law passed unopposed .


Another thing about old single hose stuff, many, especially in the late 60s had a neck strap with snaps and the SPGs had a rubber or plastic strap with one or two snaps for looping around the harness. Nobody used bolt snaps and cave line as we do now. We either used the rubber straps as intended or we stuck the pressure guage under our horsecollar or under our harness webbing. And, while on the subject, NOBODY used an octopus. Yeah, yeah, here and there a very few did and most especially on independent doubles for cave but open water diving, no---aside from that you simply never saw an octopus and if you did it was not called an octopus.

Ebay:

140276264791

Nem

I actually have the rubber necklace that snaps to my conshelf, it's super handy for leaving the reg around your neck when you aren't using it. It's kind of a cool idea.

I think I'm going to stick the SPG under my webbing, that's about as simple as it gets.

There are metal buckles for the waist belt on your backpack. I have one like that with a rubber strap attached for the SPG. It came from an old USD SPG that has since gone to the Big Reef in the Sky. I'll give it to you if you want it..

That would be great man. I'll have to get it when we do our dive sometime in the near future.

[Nemrod]

It is true there is a single hose forum but we are talking more about the general nature of the vintage rig irrespective of the regulator.

Hey guys, check this out, what year do you think the D ring equipped pack came from?

130263592955

I am a long time fan of the Voit Snug Pack. Lot's of people hate them but what can I say. They can be fragile however and easily broken if roughly handled.











Nem

[capn_tucker]

It is true there is a single hose forum but we are talking more about the general nature of the vintage rig irrespective of the regulator.

Hey guys, check this out, what year do you think the D ring equipped pack came from?

130263592955

I am a long time fan of the Voit Snug Pack. Lot's of people hate them but what can I say. They can be fragile however and easily broken if roughly handled.

Nem

Voit Snugpacks rule! They're the greatest thing since sliced bread and the shirt pocket IMO.. And yes, as long as you take care of them they're fine. I've been using them for 2 years now and nary a crack in any of them..

[Ron]

It is true there is a single hose forum but we are talking more about the general nature of the vintage rig irrespective of the regulator.

Hey guys, check this out, what year do you think the D ring equipped pack came from?

130263592955

I am a long time fan of the Voit Snug Pack. Lot's of people hate them but what can I say. They can be fragile however and easily broken if roughly handled.

Nem

this one is sweet man, two D-rings, no quick releases, the cool black and yellow thing that US Divers had. Wonder what year it's from...

[luis]

It is true there is a single hose forum but we are talking more about the general nature of the vintage rig irrespective of the regulator.

Hey guys, check this out, what year do you think the D ring equipped pack came from?

130263592955

I am a long time fan of the Voit Snug Pack. Lot's of people hate them but what can I say. They can be fragile however and easily broken if roughly handled.

Nem

this one is sweet man, two D-rings, no quick releases, the cool black and yellow thing that US Divers had. Wonder what year it's from...

That back pack is from the early 70’s. I am not sure if it dates back as early as 1970 or even 71, but if not it was very close. Just need to check a catalog.

Those are very nice backpacks with some great ideas. The rings on shoulder buckles doubled as pull tabs (when you pulled up) to loosen the straps. It didn’t totally release, but did allow for quick removal of back pack if needed.

The best feature of the buckle is that it allowed for very quick and easy adjustment of the shoulder straps.

You could still use the D rings since pulling down or to the front did not affect the straps.

The backpack had other nice features, but it had one flaw. The straps were soft which at first seamed like a great idea. The soft straps looked and was somewhat comfortable when you are wearing it, but did not hold a shape when you are putting it on. When you are trying to put it on the straps would flop around and would never be were you wanted them, they sometimes twisted or hung down without any shape.

Over all it is still a good back pack and if can deal with the soft straps it is a good looking pack. I own one, but I haven’t use one in years.

It also had a very effective SS tank band.

[Ron]

I am starting to realize why some of you have integrated what Allan called eclectic part into your vintage gear. I'm trying to make this setup at flexible as possible, while still making it as vintage as possible. I have noticed though that all the vintage tank packs will only fit 6.8" tanks. Many modern tanks will not fit in these older packs. So it appears there are trade-offs when making these setups.

I may use a more recent tank pack, and do it up to look more vintage. I'd like to be able to dive different size cylinders. I'm in the process of getting a steel 72, but I know I'm not going to be able to take that with me everywhere I go, and if I have to dive an AL80, I'd like it to fit. It's funny because I'll think I have my setup figured out and then be like "Wait, then I can't do this other thing..." Another example of this is how I really want to dive without an octo. I've already had a few people around here tell me that they wouldn't dive with me if I didn't have one. I tried to explain that we could just buddy breathe, but that doesn't seem to be a good enough answer to them.

I may have to make a few concessions with this project. I'd like to dive it often, so if that means that my tank pack has to be a little more recent than 1970, then I may have to accept that. My friend brought up that when I go to Hawaii, I'm not going to have access to LP72's so it's either bring a rig that can fit a larger cylinder, or I can only dive my vintage rig around here in GA. I bet you guys have already run into this, so I am probably singing to the choir.

S

[1969ivan1]

Forget the backpacks and go with a Travel Harness by Allan K. They will use tanks of all sizes and they are much more comfy than a back pack.



Here I am playing with a rifle I found while wearing a steel 104 PST mounted with a travel harness.


Here I am on Swimjims boat predive with a green travel harness on a 104.


And here I be in action again with the travel harness by Simonbeans aka Allan K.

Some of the best moolaa I ever spent.

[Ron]

I don't want to sound dense or anything, and I'm sure Allan's harnesses are the dog's bollocks, but that just doesn't look stable enough for me. I'm sure many of you guys will disagree, but I just don't think wearing a tank with straps and nothing else is going to trip my trigger. I'm not saying they don't work great, I'm sure they do, but that thing has to roll on your back.

[luis]

I don't want to sound dense or anything, and I'm sure Allan's harnesses are the dog's bollocks, but that just doesn't look stable enough for me. I'm sure many of you guys will disagree, but I just don't think wearing a tank with straps and nothing else is going to trip my trigger. I'm not saying they don't work great, I'm sure they do, but that thing has to roll on your back.

Allan does a great job at reproducing the basic harness and for double tanks I would not use anything else than a basic harness attached directly to the tanks bands. It is very stable.

For a single tank you are correct in that the tank is not very stable with just a plain harness for most people. Ivan is not most people…

I do like the travel harness for some occasions…heck, I believe I was the first one to specify and order one, but for most diving I do prefer a backpack.


Many back packs had enough adjustment to accommodate the larger Aluminum 80. I started working on a dive shop in 1971 and I remember the concern when aluminum 80 were first introduced. Some back packs could not adjust to them, but most did even if it was at the edge of their adjustment range.

For traveling purpose you may want to get the style of back pack that came out in the 80’s with the tank strap. It just packs a lot easier than the metal band.

[Ron]

Luis,

I think that I am going to go that route. Ultimately I want to dive this vintage gear a lot. I really want the streamlined configuration, simplicity, and skill mastery required to dive it well. I think that if having a regular tank band means I dive more than if I have a steel one, than that's fine for me. I was watching a guy dive with no BC the last time I was at the springs and just cruise along like he was weightless. It looked amazing.

[1969ivan1]

Nothing is more stream,lined and simple than a Allan K harness, but I am apparently confused. Anyone that tells you the tank rolls all over and is all out of control has either never used a harness like Allan's or they have used one incorrectly.......JMO And we all know what opinions are like.
There are Eclectic divers who happen to use a 2 hose reg, and then there are Vintage divers. I thought you wanted to be vintage, simple, and streamlined. Backpacks are very easy to come by and you should have not problem getting one. I in fact have several that I can sell you.

[Ron]

There are Eclectic divers who happen to use a 2 hose reg, and then there are Vintage divers. I thought you wanted to be vintage, simple, and streamlined. Backpacks are very easy to come by and you should have not problem getting one. I in fact have several that I can sell you.

I understand that to some in order to be vintage I have to have all vintage stuff, but if that means I dive it a lot less than it just isn't that useful to me. If something simple like a nylon tank band instead of a steel one means I can dive the cylinder that the boat has instead of either mailing my own or using my modern day rig, than I'm going to use a nylon strap. If that changes my label, then I think I'm okay with that. I just hope that this doesn't turn into another "you either are...or you aren't" type of place. I refuse to take GUE courses for that reason. I hope there isn't a streak of elitism here... I don't want to be the only straight leg infantry guy surrounded by a bunch of paratroopers. I really do appreciate all the help, and I am not ungrateful.

[luis]

Don’t pay too much attention to Ivan.

He is a good buddy of mine and he is trying to rattle my cage, but at the end, he is just a nice kid who mostly frog kicks while he thinks that he is playing frogman.

Yes there is occasionally a bit of elitism around here from time to time (but we try to keep it under control). I think it is just part of human nature, but we try to just have fun with it.