U.S. Navy Shallow Water Miller-Dunn Style 3 Divinhood

This Fine Item Has Been Sold! Thank you!

MILLER- DUNN STYLE 3
DIVINHOOD
Dimensions of Helmet:24 1/2” H x 12 1/2″ W X
12” DTotal Weight: 42 poundsFront weight 8 pounds Helmet Weight: bare 33 1/2 pounds
Presented is shallow water 4 light Miller-Dunn Navy Divinhood Style 3, one of the many made. But this one
was made by Miller-Dunn specifically for the Navy and not commercial use. The Style 3 design improved on the visibility of the Style 2, and was more strongly built, and was more comfortable to wear due principally to the extended shoulders and the increased visibility afforded by the additional three ports.
It is complete in all respects and in the same configuration delivered to the Navy. The helmet has reddish paint which has worn off in places with some brown patina and green verdigris over. It comes from a retired airline pilot who has owned it for many years and is now downsizing his collection. This style helmet is one of the more rugged looking of all diving
helmets and is a favorite of collectors. And is a good place to begin a collection.
Maker’s Tag
Navy Serial Number
657 MARKINGS, the tag reads: DIVINHOOD Style 3
Navy Standard
U.S. 1195973 and Foreign Patents
Miller-Dunn Co. Miami, FL
NAVY SERIAL NUMBER 657 is stamped on the main window frame near the top on the right side in line with the maker’s tag.
CONDITION and MARKINGS: The helmet has a nice patina and a minor amount of dings and scratches that one would expect for its age and use. The glass in the ports appears to be original to the helmet. This helmet has not been modified, and it is just as it was originally made for the U.S. Navy. THE LEAD WEIGHTS:
The front weight weighs 8 pounds, and has the Miller Dunn markings. The back weight is missing but we understand that these are available from Desco in Milwaukee.

Front Weight

BRIEF HISTORY OF MILLER DUNN DIVING:
The Miami, FL. company was founded around 1914 with a focus on shallow water diving using helmets and simple equipment that did not requir special training. Its first helmet of consequence, was the No 1 Divinhood first introduced around 1915 which was quickly adopted for use in all forms of shallow water work. The original design was simplicity in its most fundamental sense. This was followed by the No. 2 Divinhood which became the U.S. navy’s official shallow water diving apparatus, and was part of the ships gear on many naval vessels.

In 1939, just before the onslaught of WW II, the No. 3 Divinhood was introduced. It was used by commercial
and navy divers worldwide for shallow water work. During the the first days of World WarTwo, only Morse and then Schrader were making dive helmets for the
navy. DESCO and Miller-Dunn went into production around 1943 with DESCO becoming the number one producer, and Miller-Dunn making the least. In total only about 7,000 MK V helmets were produced by all four companies during the war years. After the war, the need for helmets decreased dramatically due in part to the large surplus of helmets
finding there way to the salvage equipment market. The business o fMiller-Dunn was adversely affected and the company ceased operations sometime in the 1960’s.
Left Side
Right SideThis helmet is for display only, and should not be dived unless certifiedby a competent diving shop.

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