Early DA or conversion

[swimjim]

I was talking to Bryan about this...... http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n255 ... quamaster/
I scored this DA off ebay recently and rebuilt it. Works great. The reg has no serial number and has no hooka port. From the outside it looks like a DA "Navy approved". On the inside, its all DA Aquamaster except it has two extra threaded holes near the horseshoe mounts. You can see these in the pictures.
I think what we have here is a very early DA Aquamaster using a leftover Navy Approved body retooled slightly by USD. Bryan thinks its either that or it may have been a conversion by someone down the line. Bryan asked me to post this to give everyone a look. It's a nice breathing reg, I can tell you that much. I dove the wreck of the schooner Advance with it and had it down 80 feet. Nice and smooth.

Jim

[luis]

I like the clear dust cap.

That I have never seen.

Actually I haven't seen a DA like that either, but that is not saying much. I wasn't diving when this were new.

[1stab]

Congrats on a nice reg. Use it in good health.

[captain]

I would guess a conversion , as to who did it is anybodys guess. It wouldn't be hard to do by anyone who does machine work. I have one that is just the opposite. It has an Aqua Master body with the stub unmachined hookah port like a non mag and the DA horseshoe and replaceable volcano orfice.

[ovalis]

Jim,

A really nice find you have there.

US Divers released the Aquamaster in the early part or spring of 1958. It initially did not have a hookah port. Then in the late summer or fall of '58, they introduced the 1959 model Aquamaster that came with the hookah port.

So basically you have one of the first AM models. I don't know for sure, but I don't think they sold a whole lot of AM's in the beginning because of the already popular & proven Aqualung. But they did discontinue the Aqualung after they released the AM with the hookah port.

Mike

[Bryan]

Jim,

A really nice find you have there.

US Divers released the Aquamaster in the early part or spring of 1958. It initially did not have a hookah port. Then in the late summer or fall of '58, they introduced the 1959 model Aquamaster that came with the hookah port.

So basically you have one of the first AM models. I don't know for sure, but I don't think they sold a whole lot of AM's in the beginning because of the already popular & proven Aqualung. But they did discontinue the Aqualung after they released the AM with the hookah port.

Mike

But in reality don't you think they were just using bodies they already had from the Aqua-Lung series till they ran out.....From what I have read they were known as a company that did not waste things.

[ovalis]

I bet you're right about that Bryan.

You can definitely see the holes for the Aqualung horseshoe lever screws.
I should open mine up and see if they're threaded. I couldn't tell from Jim's pictures. If they are threaded, then I would definitely think that they were using up old stock, but if they were not threaded, then maybe they were still continuing to use there old forging while waiting for the new forging. I always wondered why they would release the Aquamaster, and then add the hookah port a couple of months later. They had to be using up the old stock.

Nevertheless Jim, you have a rare regulator as far as collecting goes. I'm guessing there wasn't more than 5,000 made before they made the switch.

[Bryan]

The one Jim has looks like it has threaded holes for the old horseshoe design...I know that the DA Navy that I have that has been converted to a DA Aqua-Master has threaded holes but that makes sense as I always figured mine was just an upgrade but after I saw Jims I was more convinced that they were using up NOS parts.....Could be more than one answer??

[swimjim]

The holes are threaded so I guess shes rare. The reg also works great so I'll continue to dive it. I'll take it to Wazee and dive it. If anyone is interested in looking at the innerds I have one of Bryans clamps on it so openning it up is no big deal. Its a great reg regardless and I'm happy to have it as part of my little fleet.

Jim

[Bryan]

Here are a couple of bodies so everyone can see what we are fussing about.

[luis]

In a conversion, how did they add the second stage volcano orifice?

[Bryan]

Mine is buried in all the stuff I need to move but if memory serves me correct they machined out the lower recess where the old one set and made a "fixed" orifice and then the upper section was enlarged and threded so the Aqua-Master style LP seat holder could be screwed on.

[luis]

Wow...that is what I was wondering. It sound like a lot of machining for a retrofit. I guess they didn't want anything to go to waist back then.

[SeaHuntJerry]

Hi All,
I also have one of those early aquamsters with no hookah ports and designed to use either the old or new horseshoe assembly.

I Talked to Mark Howell from the HDS about this a few years ago and said that I was an early one just like Mike Ovarian stated.
Jerry