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

Re: Divair Plastic vs Metal

Sat Jan 30, 2021 1:09 pm

I think the difference is in the way the lever is cut out, not length. The newer ones have more material left in between the fingers, so they are shorter, but the over-all length is the same. Eben's and Mark's photos show the short fingered levers, mine shows the long fingered version.

The retaining plate on mine has no adjuster, and theirs do. So you have one that has no adjuster, as well?

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2THDIVR
Master Diver
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Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2010 4:01 pm
First Name: Scott
Location: Venice,FL

Re: Divair Plastic vs Metal

Sat Jan 30, 2021 6:45 pm

Yes, 1 with no adjuster.
Serial # are C6046 with no adjuster and 7989 with adjuster.

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

Re: Divair Plastic vs Metal

Sun Jan 31, 2021 9:53 pm

That is very interesting. No adjuster on the plate. Huh. That's 2 so far.

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REDWINEPETER
Diver
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2014 9:01 am
First Name: Peter
Location: Perth, Western Australia.
Contact: Website

Re: Divair Plastic vs Metal

Wed Jun 16, 2021 10:34 pm

Hi All
Thanks for the great info on this post.
I am rebuilding my metal and had great service from a guy Jeff in Canada who is making the diaphragms and hoses (coloured).
Hope to dive it soon.
Will post when completed.

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

Re: Divair Plastic vs Metal

Tue Aug 10, 2021 7:03 pm

I'd like to address Eben's first post in this thread.

He asked if the plastic bodied DivAir was to be avoided, due to the breakage that WILL occur if you try to remove the valve body from the reg body.

At the risk of pricing myself out of the DivAir market, my answer to the question is "Absolutely not".

Any DivAir is a great regulator, and the fiberglass (it's not plastic) version is the best.

The problem with the first two is the material they used to make the reg body. The first was bronze, and the second, aluminum. Both are awesome performers (for 1955) in fresh water. They will work well in the ocean, but you'd better be right on top of neutralizing the corrosive effects of salt water immediately.

Not soon. Immediately.

You don't need to remove the valve body from the reg body, unless the second stage seat is munched. If it is, it's junk. However, I've had about 10 Divairs, and they were all fine.

Every vintage diver should try a DivAir!

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

Re: Divair Plastic vs Metal

Tue Aug 10, 2021 7:20 pm

REDWINEPETER wrote:
Wed Jun 16, 2021 10:34 pm
Hi All
Thanks for the great info on this post.
I am rebuilding my metal and had great service from a guy Jeff in Canada who is making the diaphragms and hoses (coloured).
Hope to dive it soon.
Will post when completed.
Jeff Heaton, in BC, is the go-to guy for DivAir diaphragms and colored (coloured, for you Brits/Canadians) hoses. Git you some!

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REDWINEPETER
Diver
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2014 9:01 am
First Name: Peter
Location: Perth, Western Australia.
Contact: Website

Re: Divair Plastic vs Metal

Mon Dec 13, 2021 11:51 pm

After leaving this reg in the bottom of a box of surplus i bought for a song i started cleaning it out. After some checking i found out what this Divair was all about. Jeff H was great in helping with original blue hoses and a new diaphragm.
Love the pic of the grey mouthpiece. Anyone know where i can get one as i would like to move my hopepaige back to its Healthways from where it came.

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REDWINEPETER
Diver
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2014 9:01 am
First Name: Peter
Location: Perth, Western Australia.
Contact: Website

Re: Divair Plastic vs Metal

Mon Dec 13, 2021 11:56 pm

Finished and working
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

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ScubaLawyer
Master Diver
Posts: 1649
Joined: Thu Apr 08, 2010 11:25 am
First Name: Mark
Location: Laguna Beach, CA

Re: Divair Plastic vs Metal

Tue Dec 14, 2021 3:02 pm

REDWINEPETER wrote:
Mon Dec 13, 2021 11:56 pm
Finished and working
Beautiful!
"The diver who collects specimens of underwater life has fun and becomes a keen underwater observer. .. seek slow-moving or attached organisms such as corals, starfish, or shelled creatures." (Golden Guide to Scuba Diving, 1968) :D

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antique diver
Master Diver
Posts: 2210
Joined: Sun Dec 10, 2006 12:50 pm
First Name: Bill
Location: North-Central Texas

Re: Divair Plastic vs Metal

Tue Dec 14, 2021 3:26 pm

Those bright blue hoses really dress up the regulator nicely! I used the same source for the rubber goods in my Divair. :D
The older I get the better I was.

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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: Divair Plastic vs Metal

Wed Dec 15, 2021 5:07 pm

Beautiful DivAir Peter. I'm admiring that you have a Hope Page mouthpiece to put on it for best authenticity. The gray rubber mouthpiece I put on mine is just a Voit Hourglass mouthpiece that can be ordered from the Scuba Museum.
http://thescubamuseum.com/Online%20Stor ... y=20208391
SurfLung
The Freedom and Simplicity of Vintage Equipment and
Vintage Diving Technique are Why I Got Back Into Diving.

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

Re: Divair Plastic vs Metal

Thu Dec 16, 2021 10:27 pm

I have 5 Hope-Page mouthpieces in exc condition for sale. They are rare, and not cheap. I will include new non-return valves, but I only have a couple of vintage bite pieces.

$100 + shipping. I'm posting to the "For Sale" area, also.

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