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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.
bbain
Vintage Diver
Posts: 91
Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:02 am

Wither Pinocchio?

Tue Sep 15, 2015 9:23 pm

Of all the masks I've tried the old-fashioned Cressi Pinocchio fits me the best. I had always hoped that they would introduce a silicone version, and for kicks I checked out the Cressi website. No Pinocchio at all! Has it been discontinued? That would be a shame....

Bill Bain
Atlanta

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Britmarine
VDH Moderator
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Joined: Sat Mar 28, 2009 4:52 pm
First Name: David
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Re: Wither Pinocchio?

Wed Sep 16, 2015 2:56 am

I found the mask just now on both the cressi.com and the cressi.it website at http://www.cressi.it/Catalogue/Details. ... croCat=100
Image
It's also on sale as normal on European dealers' websites, e.g. http://www.divingdirect.co.uk/spearfish ... cchio-p195

Perhaps it's a case of Cressi dropping the Pinocchio from the American market, as cressisubusa.com's search facility doesn't respond to "Pinocchio" as a keyword. I don't know about a silicone version of the Pinocchio, but I'd like the Pinocchio also available in colours other than black as it was years ago. It's a shame too that Cressi no longer manufactures even a single model from its excellent historical range of all-rubber Cressi Rondine fins to complement the Pinocchio.

The original Pinocchio mask was designed in 1952 by Luigi Ferraro, pictured here wearing it:
Image
More information about the mask and its cult status on his website at http://www.luigiferraro.it/en/node/1058

Incidentally, there's a Brazilian version of the Pinocchio, made by Cobra sub:
Image
The caption accompanying the image reads: "Máscara mais clássica do mercado, Pinocchio é a primeira máscara com nariz do mundo, originária de parcerias com empresas internacionais Pinocchio transpira tradição. Como é desde seu lançamento, Pinocchio mantem-se sendo feita em borracha natural." The Portuguese text translates very roughly as "The most classic mask on the market. Pinocchio is the first mask in the world with a nose pocket. Originating through partnerships with international businesses, Pinocchio exudes tradition. Just as it was back then when it was launched, Pinocchio is still made of natural rubber."
http://cobrasub.com.br/index.php?route= ... duct_id=64

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oem3102
Diver
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Apr 08, 2013 10:40 am
First Name: David
Location: Middle Tennessee

Re: Wither Pinocchio?

Wed Sep 16, 2015 1:57 pm

I ordered one from these folks when I got home from Sand Dogs this year. Shipping took a little longer coming from overseas. Considering the price, it is hard to beat.

http://www.scubastore.com/scuba-diving/ ... gQodjwsARQ

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USdiver
Master Diver
Posts: 352
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:14 pm
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

Re: Wither Pinocchio?

Thu Sep 17, 2015 8:40 am

I bought mine from the ScubaStore too.

http://www.scubastore.com/scuba-diving/ ... hio/4650/p

It came from Spain, in about four weeks. It is awesome, a real Pinocchio with a rubber skirt and silicon strap. Plus for the price, you can't go wrong. This is the classic Cressi mask at a 1970s price.
Too DAAM Many double hoses, It's not a hobby, it's an addiction.

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8dust
Master Diver
Posts: 551
Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2009 11:39 am
Location: Nashville's North Shore

Re: Wither Pinocchio?

Thu Sep 17, 2015 9:43 am

they've got a bunch of cool vintage masks at super prices. If you click that link, then back out to the mask level filter, click diving, then sort by price low to high; they have a number of choices < $16.00... Too bad they don't seem to have any retro looking fins? seems like they would since they stock these masks?????
Freddo
NAVED member #201

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USdiver
Master Diver
Posts: 352
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:14 pm
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

Re: Wither Pinocchio?

Thu Sep 17, 2015 10:12 am

Freddo,

Here are the fins that I have been lusting over for about three years. They are made in Turkey using the molds from the original Beauchat Jet-Fin, which as you can see were first full-foot fins, before Scubapro licensed and produced them as open heel.

http://www.free-sub.com/eng/acs_fin.html

I'd really like to get together a group buy on these, if we could find a reliable means to get them here.
Too DAAM Many double hoses, It's not a hobby, it's an addiction.

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Bryan
Plank Owner
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Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 11:40 am
First Name: Bryan
Location: Wesley Chapel Florida
Contact: Website

Re: Wither Pinocchio?

Thu Sep 17, 2015 10:49 am

I'm not going to broker a deal or handle anyone's $$$ but I have a DHL import and customs clearance account which I have used from Canada, France and Japan. Shipping will not be cheap but I will be glad to charge the group at cost...Plus the cost of shipping the fins to the individual once they get here in Florida.
If there were problems with quality or other issues with the fins you would need to handle that directly with the seller.
They would need to provide me with exact dimensions and weight of the box or boxes shipped to get an accurate cost. DHL charges by dimensional and or actual weight.
Or, if someone else would be willing to ship the fins out to the other buyers I think....I THINK....I could have it shipped to another destination in the US.
Doing it right should include some common sense, not just blindly following specs and instructions. .Gary D, AWAP on SB

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Britmarine
VDH Moderator
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Joined: Sat Mar 28, 2009 4:52 pm
First Name: David
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Re: Wither Pinocchio?

Thu Sep 17, 2015 11:58 am

USdiver wrote:Freddo, Here are the fins that I have been lusting over for about three years. They are made in Turkey using the molds from the original Beauchat Jet-Fin, which as you can see were first full-foot fins, before Scubapro licensed and produced them as open heel.
http://www.free-sub.com/eng/acs_fin.html
I'd really like to get together a group buy on these, if we could find a reliable means to get them here.
I suspect that Free Sub carry these fins for sale to their Turkish customers (note that they're not offered in the English-language section) and they don't actually manufacture them. The manufacturer of the fins is Adalilar Kauçuk, an Istanbul rubber products company with a website at http://www.adalilarkaucuk.com/
If you click on the Ürünlerimiz link you will navigate to a page illustrating all their products, including the closed-heel Jetfin clones:
Image
Recognise the long-bladed fin next to the world's only existing full-foot model fin with heelstrap? Older freedivers certainly would, because they're reincarnations of Mares Concordes, complete with the Massimo Scarpati signature at the tip of the blade. Mares must have sent Adalilar the moulds after they abandoned making all-rubber fins. You may also recognise while you're on that Products page a pair of Mares Sea Kings, a Mediterranean favourite in the 1960s and 70s, brought back to life as Süper Jets:
Image
I had a little look around to see what the price of these reborn Jetfins might be:
Image
and found a pair of size 44-46 (US 10-12) on sale here: http://www.avistanbul.com.tr/asp/produc ... -JET-PALET
115 TL is about US$39.

I can understand Bryan's reluctance to smooth the passage for purchasing these fins. I doubt that the Avistanbul online retail company is used to customers outside Turkey and my Turkish is non-existent so I certainly wouldn't know how to go about getting hold of this gear, which is why I've never tried to purchase any of it myself.

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