USD Catalog/regulator question?

[Bryan]

All you U.S. Divers catalog detectives…..Around 64-66 USD offered a civilian version of the non magnetic Conshelf called the Navcon VI… Can any of you tell me what year they started and stopped listing this regulator in the catalogs?

[captain]

I had one of those in the shop at the time and almost kept it for myself but I can't recall the dates. I think it was closer to 66 maybe a little later when it cam out. That should be an easy one for Sam.

[Bryan]

Sam's a little busy right now, I know he's looking for me but I think he's pretty dug in getting his book and information ready for Portage Quarry.

[duckbill]

Bryan, the Conshelf Vl appeared in the 1965 to 1969 catalogs. The 1967 catalog mentions a "newly modified exhaust system..."

By the way, I took several days just making paginated and categorized JPEG files of all the pdf catalogs from the CD I got from you. It is MUCH more user-friendly for me, mainly because my computer is so darned slow in pdf mode! You just click to the year you want, then click on the thumbnail listed by page number/item description. When I get a chance, I plan to send you a copy. Maybe others would also be interested in the JPEG format.

[duckbill]

Also, it wasn't until 1967 that association with the military regulator was mentioned.

[Bryan]

All you U.S. Divers catalog detectives…..Around 64-66 USD offered a civilian version of the non magnetic Conshelf called the Navcon VI… Can any of you tell me what year they started and stopped listing this regulator in the catalogs?

Then question was....What years was the NAVCON VI in the catalog.....That particular version of the Conshelf is the only one that I'm concerned with at this time. Thank you

[duckbill]

It didn't, unless there were other US Diver catalogs during the 1960s than the ones on your CD. Maybe they were special order. I don't see any "NAVCON"s.

[duckbill]

Ask Ron Miller.

[Bryan]

If I would have wanted to address the question to specific people I would have E-mailed them directly as I did Sam Miller. To the best of my knowledge Sam is largest source of information on this particular series of regulators that I know of. I am not lacking in resources to ask questions to.

My purpose for posting the question on the forum was to get a response from someone who might have run across the information in the past or had shown a similar interest in this model regulator. That individual would post their findings and then it would become information that everyone could read and have for future reference.....Private E-mails don't work that way.

[ovalis]

The Navcon VI is only mentioned in the 1969 catalog. It is not referred to by name Navcon VI, but as "the military version of the Conshelf VI, model number 1065-00, made from non-magnetic materials meets the physiological standards of Mil. specification R 24169"

[Bryan]

Very interesting Mike! I wonder which regulator they are talking about ??? The one that is clearly marked NAVCON VI ? I have had it apart and to the best of my knowledge it contains no usual non magnetic parts at all. Or are they talking about this military version which has many non magnetic parts in common with it’s DA cousin ?? The mystery thickens…..

[ovalis]

That's interesting. I didn't pay close attention to the decal on the regulator in your 2nd picture that has the non-magnetic decal on the bottom. I just assumed it was a Navcon VI, because I haven't seen one for a while. It would seem that the regulator US Divers is talking about in the catalog is the reg in your 2nd picture, because it has the mil spec # decal & non-magnetic decal that they are describing in the catalog. Also the label says Conshelf VI and the catalog makes no mention of the name Navcon VI. It seems that the miltary Conshelf was for the public, and the Navcon for the Navy. But the big question is why didn't the Navcon have non-magnetic parts inside. Somebody must have changed them out along the way for some reason. We need to find other Navcon's and check them out internally. They have to be non-magnetic. As you say, the mystery thickens. Hopefully Sam can shed some light on this.

[21]

I think I might have located it!----but not certain! Checked in the US divers Commerical Catalogs ( these are Catalogs only ones I have seen)

This I do know, it is listed as follows:

Page #8, 1973 US Divers "Commerical diving division catalog,"
part #C 4007-00, price $110.00

It is a Conshelf VI regulator, durable black satin chrome finish, identified as a Com-Dive III regulator.

So what I don't know; are there three black US Divers "Conshelf" type/based regs? The military, the Divcon and the Com Dive?

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[JES]

Sam,

I'm curious, did US Divers ever produce a Military "only" catalog?

Thanks!

- Joe

[21]

Joe,

That is a good question and I don't have the answer.

US Divers did produce manuals for the USN;
NAVSHIPS (no number ) 1954
NAVISHIPS 394-0065 february 1960
etc...

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