Inspected Schrader 1944 Navy Mark V Dive Helmet Rose Color

This Fine Helmet Has Been Sold. Thank you! 1944 SCHRADER U.S. NAVY MK V DIVING HELMET - NAVY DIVER'S

US Navy Inspection Stamp

Schrader was one of the original maker's of Navy MK V's during WW II.
This one was Owned by a Navy Diver and in a private collection for last 15 years

TOTAL WEIGHT: 51 lbs BONNET: 29 lbs BREAST PLATE: 22 lbs
SERIAL NUMBER: 1578B DATE: 3 1944

STAND NOT INCLUDED

Copyright 2012 by Land And Sea Collection™, All Rights Reserved

Presented is a Schrader U.S. Navy MK V helmet that was made in the middle of WW II. Much of its history is known making it one of the few which was later owned by the individual that used it during the time he worked as a Navy diver at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. It also has a very appealing Rose color which was only found in some Schrader helmets.

Due to the Rose colored copper used in its construction it has an unusual and very dramatic appearance which makes it an exceptional work of diving and American industrial art

Maker's tag

Navy inspector's mark on cup

Inside of bonnet showing vents

Backside of breast plate

Note the position of the star wheel, and the spit cock

PROVENANCE: It was made in 1944 and presumably shipped directly to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. It saw service in the regular ship yard repair activities until the early 1980's when an order came down throughout the Navy diving commands to destroy all the MK V helmets in their possession. As a general practice, the various superintendents of diving allowed each of their divers to take one helmet, and at that time it became the property of a Navy certified Class 1 Diver who was said to have used it in his work. When the diver retired from the Navy, he started a commercial diving operation and rented space in the Philadelphia Navy Yard. He operated this business until about sixteen years ago when he was told he had cancer. The most recent owner of this helmet knew the man, and purchased this helmet about that time and has had it ever since. He says that the diver was interested in accumulating cash for his wife. About a year later, the diver passed on. An auction was held and all the remaining things were sold.

HELMET & MARKINGS: Authentic 12 bolt, 4 light Schrader Navy MK V dated 3-44 with serial number 1578B on the maker's tag and on all the brails. The brails are also marked, front and back. The bonnet's inside neck ring is marked 186. The U.S. Navy inspectors stamp is on the top portion of the speaker housing.

CONDITION: Considering its 68 years age and use, it is in remarkably fine condition overall. There are very few dents or abrasions, only one of which is a shallow one, right at the top. The air vents are all intact.The right side chin relief valve, spit cock handle, front door wing nut, all turn easily. No speaker is fitted.The dumb bell lock and fittings are in place. The telephone cup carries a Naval Inspection stamp of "U anchor S". One of the very nice things about this helmet is the Rose color copper that was indigenous to Schrader and gives it a very special look. This was enhanced some time ago when it was cleaned, inside and out, by sand blasting.

Like all used diving gear, this is being sold for DISPLAY ONLY. It should not be dived without having passed inspection by a certified dive shop.

Back view showing dumbbell lock

HISTORY OF SCHRADER DIVING: Schrader is one of the oldest names in U.S. diving, second only to Morse. The founder, August Schrader, was a creative and inventive German immigrant who originally set up a shop dealing in rubber products in New York City, NY in 1839, only a few years after A.J. Morse set up shop in Boston .

In 1845, he began supplying fittings and valves for rubber products made by the Goodyear Brothers. Schrader was also a maker of daguerreotype apparatus. His original shop was at 115 John Street in Manhattan, NY . Shortly thereafter, he went into partnership with Christian Baecher. Christian was a brass turner and finisher which provided a foundation for what followed.The two partners, having watched divers at work at a nearby New York Harbor jetty, decided to improve the diving helmets in use at the time. In 1849, with the help of Baecher, he created a new copper helmet. Later his interest in diving led to him to design an air pump.

Around 1890, August Schrader saw the need for a bicycle tire valve. By 1891, he produced the Schrader valve. The Schrader valve was his most popular invention, and is still used today.

In 1917, the United States Bureau of Construction & Repair introduced the MK V helmet and dress, which then became the standard for US Navy diving until the introduction of the MK 12 in the late nineteen seventies. Schrader and Morse Diving were the two original suppliers.

During the onslaught of World War Two only Morse and Schrader were making dive helmets for the navy. Desco and Miller-Dunn went into production around 1943. In total only about 7,000 MK V helmets were produced by all four companies during the war years with DESCO producing the most, then Morse, Schrader and Miller-Dunn. The scarcity of the latter two are the reason they command a higher price in the market.

BRIEF HISTORY of NAVY MK V DEEP SEA DIVING DRESS:

By 1915, the Bureau of Construction and Repair had designed the MK V Diving Helmet which seemed to address many of the problems encountered in diving. This deep-sea outfit was designed for extensive, rugged diving work and provided the diver maximum physical protection and some maneuverability.

The 1915 MK V Diving Helmet had an elbow inlet with a safety valve that allowed air to enter the helmet, but not to escape back up the umbilical if the air supply were interrupted. Air was expelled from the helmet through an exhaust valve on the right side, below the port. The exhaust valve was vented toward the rear of the helmet to prevent escaping bubbles from interfering with the diver’s field of vision.

By 1916, several improvements had been made to the helmet, including a rudimentary communications system via a telephone cable and a regulating valve operated by an interior push button. The regulating valve allowed some control of the atmospheric pressure. A supplementary relief valve, known as the spitcock, was added to the left side of the helmet. A safety catch was also incorporated to keep the helmet attached to the breast plate. The exhaust valve and the communications system were improved by 1927, and the weight of the helmet was decreased to be more comfortable for the diver.

After 1927, the MK V changed very little. It remained basically the same helmet used in salvage operations of the USS S-51 and USS S-4 in the mid-1920s. With its associated deep-sea dress and umbilical, the MK V was used for all submarine rescue and salvage work undertaken in peacetime and practically all salvage work undertaken during World War II. The MK V Diving Helmet was the standard U.S. Navy diving equipment until succeeded by the MK 12 Surface-Supplied Diving helmet in February 1980, which in turn was replaced by the MK 21 in December 1993.

SHIPPING & PACKING: The cost of shipping, packing, handling, and insurance to your destination is an additional charge. We price our shipping honestly, but we expect to be reimbursed for the nominal cost of packaging materials and handling. Within the continental United States, a helmet will generally ship for $100.00 depending on destination and amount of insurance.

International buyers welcome, but inquire first. We have satisfied customers in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Estonia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Nova Scotia, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USVI and the Eastern Caribbean.

ACCEPTED FORMS OF PAYMENT are Bank wire transfer, cashier's check, money order, or personal check in which case the item will be held until cleared. No credit cards or PayPal accepted.