J.C. Higgins/Healthways Tank

[gj1963]

Just a neat decal I had not seen before:

[21]

Sears, Pennys & Wards - During that era were know as Sears & Roebuck, JC Pennys & Montgomery Wards all rebranded diving equipment of the major manufactures; US Divers, Sportsways, Drager and Healthways.

This was one paths for the introduction of recreational diving to the hinterlands prior to established dive shops on every corner complete with with fuzzy faced clerks.

What ever you do don't destroy the Decal..It validates the tank.

Some years ago I collected all their (Sears, Pennys & Wards) diving catalogs and have an article ready to publish- Not certain where-So Should you like I will dig into my files and and tell you when it was Marketed, Part Number and Price...but give me time.

sdm

[gj1963]

Hello -
Yes - any such information would be much appreciated. That is how this one came - mail ordered from Sears by a good friend of mine and delivered to him in British Honduras in the early 60's.

[21]

re; SEARS HEALTHWAYS SCUBA TANK

MARKETED 2 YEARS: 1963 & 1965

1963
PAGE 733
PART # 6A 57224N
PRICE $53.50 ( tank only)

NO SCUBA SOLD IN 1964

1965
PAGE 829
PART # 6K 57220NZ
PRICE $ 96.50 -- ( Only sold as a package, tank , Helthways single hose reguator & Backpack)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Re J C Higgins
Real name John Higgins ( No middle name) "C" was added to give better sound
Sears book keeper 1898 to 1930
Died in 1950
Avid outdoors man

Name first appeared on Base ball gloves in 1908
After WW 11 JC Higgins appeared on all Sears sporting goods

Hope this helps...

Aren't you glad you belong to this board?

[sitkadiver]

Those dates are interesting since the Ted Williams brand was introduced in the early 60's. I'm wondering how many were made. Can be but a few... Definately save it.

That is a nice find. All you need is the blue reg to go with it.

[21]

Correction...
A letter from Sears stated the did not market SCUBA in 1963, but in in 1964, yet my catalogs indicate 1963 & 1963 and no SCUBA after 1963...even Sears can be wrong
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"...That is a nice find. All you need is the blue reg to go with it...."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Depends on hydro date

1962 was a Healthways double hose or single hose
1963 was a Healthways single hose only

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ray Hogland of Chicago wrote a training manual for Sears "A complete study of SKIN DIVING." It cover was a Red & White dive flag wuth the title in contrasting colors
Last reports Ray left Chicago moved to the south became a bounty hunter. If still around would be in his mid 80s...

sdm