Presented
is
a nearly all original 1943 Morse MK V, 4 light, 12 bolt, dive helmet, which has
acquired a very attractive silver blue patina with light green overtones over
the years. It is one of the best looking dive helmets we’ve seen and makes a
dramatic appearance.
It will act as a great focal point in any decor. Morse was one of the original
Navy suppliers of the MK V Diving System, but their helmets were made in fewer
numbers than MK V helmets from DESCO and Schrader which are much more prevalent
on the market. This makes it ideal for a serious collector or someone interested
in its smashing good looks. The stand is not included.
Morse records show that Tag number 870 was made in
1943, and shipped to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The matching build numbers, 4583
appear on the two neck rings, as well as on three of the four brails. The right
front brail is iron. It was obviously precision made in a foundry or metal
working shop since it fits the shape and curves of the breast plate perfectly.
We had planned on having a replacement made, but Morse’s foundry is closed for
vacation until mid-August. If someone, thinks this would improve this helmet, we
will order one, but keep in mind that this is part of the helmet’s history. It
is unfortunate, that we don’t know the story behind this anomaly.
There is no USN special anchor inspector’s marks on
this helmet. Morse recently told us that the Navy inspectors did not stamp all
the helmets in a production order, they used a statistical sampling technique,
and when the whole production lot was inspected only a few were stamped.
PROVENANCE: The
helmet comes from a famous, massive and eclectic collection of nautical antiques
that included fine examples of rare antique navigation instruments, a collection
of French Prisoner of War models, numerous scrimshaw, log books, charts, and
marine relics. They were acquired by a professor of oceanography, with a love of
all things nautical, over many years, and were last located in Hawaii which was
his residence at the time he passed. This helmet is estimated to have been in
the collection for at least the last 30 years.
CONDITION: All the
glass and brails except one are original. All the wing nuts except one are
original. Both the bonnet and the breast plate are a matched pair. There are a
few dents and dimples, mostly on the top and back, all of which are minor and
should be expected. There are some marks acquired in moving the helmet from one
place to another over years. A great deal of the original tinning remains and
has turned dark pewter with age. The helmet’s silver, blue with light green
overtones are strikingly beautiful. All the vents are intact and original. There
is no speaker. The gate that holds the dumb bell lock is a replacement as is the
chain and cotter pin. It is in excellent condition overall. All moving parts
operate. All
the air passages inside are intact. The helmet weighs
55 pounds.
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 spit cock, 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-1920’s. 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 In February 1980 which in turn was
replaced by the MK 21 in
December 1993.
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