>Draeger’s diving operations date back to 1902, and they are
one of the few of these early companies that continue in business today, and they were one of the first to use rebreathing
technology. Their helmets are in use worldwide by the Navy, commercial divers and collectors. This Ca 1917
helmet is a near perfect example.

< DIMENSIONS:
18 1/2″H x 17″ W x 18″ D
Weight 40 1/2 pounds

SERIAL NUMBERS:
Bonnet 15xx        Breast Plate 15xx

Presented is a WW I Era Antique 3 bolt, 4 light Draeger Air Hat from the collection of  a second generation deep
water diver who had a collectors’ compulsion of gathering everything he could related to diving. The helmet is in excellent condition overall which is surprising after 97 years. This
is an Air helmet referred to as Style DM 20, which means that air is supplied from a surface pump rather
than using attached tanks in which the air is recirculated, as is done in Draeger’s DM 40 model. In this helmet,
the air enters from a central location next to the front port and there is a single duct just abov e the neck ring. The
numbers on the bonnet and breast plate match and date to Ca 1917.  There are also matching build numbers, 24 on the upper
and lower flange at the back below the center nut CONDITION: Overall excellent. Frequently the front
of the breast plate on this style helmet is bent horizotal, but not on this helmet. The front port rests on a rubber
gasket and the added friction keeps it from opening. It’s glass is a replacement and is slightly loose. There are
three shallow dents on the back, and the cap on the back left elbow does not seat properly.  The
speaker appears to be quite recent.Like
all used diving gear, this is being sold for DISPLAY ONLY. It should not be dived without having passed inspection by a cert ified
dive shop.
          Right
and left sides of antique Draeger 3 bolt Air Hat PROVENANCE:
From the estate of a hardscrabble character and second generation hard hat diver, and the son of a member of
the salvage team of the 17 month project to refloat the French ocean liner Normandie on the Hudson River that completed in
1947. Not only did the deceased have an incredible hard helmet and diving equipment collection, he also, in his lifetime,
managed to assemble an amazing collection of anything related to diving. MAKER’S
BRIEF HISTORY: The Draeger company was founded in Lübeck in 1889 as Dräger & Gerling by J. Heinrich
Dräger and Carl Adolf Gerling. The first patent was taken out for a reduction device for carbon dioxide in use to tap
beer. In 1902  the company was named Drägerwerk Heinr. und Bernh. Dräger. In 1912, the Drägerwerk had developed a standard diving dress without an umbilical. Air supply
came from a rebreather.Since 1941, Hans Hass used bag-on-back
rebreathers originally built by Dräger for self-rescue of submarine crews (Tauchretter, like the Davis Escape Set). The
first Dräger-Tauchretter had been built in 1907. In 1926, the Bade-Tauchretter was brought into action for rescuing drowned
swimmers. Today. it makes the popular Atlantis, Ray and Dolphin
line of sport diving semi-closed-circuit nitrox rebreathers. It also makes the LAR-5 and LAR-6 military oxygen rebreathers,
and LAV-7 military rebreather (switchable between closed-circuit and semi-closed-circuit). It has two subsidiaries.
One services the health care industry and the other is a manufacturer
of personal protection and gas detection technology, and a supplier of safety systems for industry, fire prevention, mining
and other hazardous areas. The products and services from Dräger Safety warn and protect people from airborne pollutants
and enable people to breathe reliably even in extreme situations.

Back of helmet showing the comm elbow far right and the
air supply at the left. Note matching numbers , 24.

Inside of  bonnet showing speaker over picture of
air vent

The maker’s name on the left and matching
serial numbers to the right shown over underside of corselet