KIRBY MORGAN Super Lite Model 17 Diving Helmet
KIRBY MORGAN “SUPERLITE” MODEL 17 
This
helmet appears to be in good condition but should be thoroughly checked out by the factory. If you are looking for something
special at an entry-level price, this is the diving helmet for you.
DIMENSIONS:17“
W x 9 3/4″ H add 1 1/2”
TOTAL WEIGHT 22 lbs Presented is a Kirby Morgan
Model 17 SUPER LITE, patent number 3958275, which we believe to be a Model A made in 1976. It’s serial number is 5083. It
comes from the collection of the former owner of a diving company with extensive overseas operations whose abbreviated resume
is below.
Space Age materials, technology and appearance 
SuperLite Model 17 tag and flow valve
Distributor’s tag
PROVENANCE:From the collection of a USMC
1st Force Recon veteran, who after serving two tours in Vietnam, and five years service, began a diving career that spanned
four continents, and 20 years underwater experience before becominga manager. The next years were spent as Oceaneering Manager of the Deep Diving Bell and Saturation Systems
for a large diving company. In 1981, he founded his own deep saturation
diving company specializing in 300+ meter / 12 man / split level operations serving
the needs of such companies as PETROBRAS. His company holds the longest running safety track record
in the world for deep diving operations to 300 meters, having performed more than twenty years of safe diving operations without
a FATAL ACCIDENT. The dive support ship “Toisa Sentinel” under his supervision has performed more than 4000 saturation
dives in deep water to 300 meters without a fatal accident as well. One of his personal engagements during this period was with a US Nuclear Submarine operations scientists
in Russia where they performed confidential shallow water work off of the coast of Murmansk inside the Arctic Circle. Murmansk
was a central base of the Soviet Nuclear Submarine fleet during the Cold War.Private operations were
also conducted near the naval base of Severomorsk; which today is still the Headquarters of the Russian Northern Fleet In 1994 his company mobilized another vessel
with a 22 man split level saturation system on the Support Vessel Toisa Sentinel. His crew on the DSV Toisa Sentinel had been
operating continuously performing 24 hour days,. Deep diving operation for Petrobras from 1994 until 2011.Selling his dive company
in 2001, he continued with them until 2005, at which time he began a saturation diving consulting business in which he is
active today.
Missing the neck dam yoke!
CONDITION:
We specialize in vintage and antique dive helmets and not contemporary helmets such as this. Make special note that the neck
dam yoke is missing and other parts might be as well. The interior is clean and has a new looking appearance. It is wired for communications
and the speaker is present. It has not been tested.
Except for some minor pitting of the
chrome, there is little other evidence of use.
