This Interesting Helmet Has Been Sold. Thank You!

 

CLASSIC MILLER- DUNN No. 3 DIVINHOOD

 

 

DIMENSIONS OF HELMET: 25” H x 13 1/2" W X 13” D  

WEIGHT as shown 46 lbs

Copyright 2006 by Land And Sea Collection.com, All Rights Reserved.

 

Presented is a shallow water 4 light Miller-Dunn Navy Divinhood 3. It is complete in all respects except for the missing rear weight, and has a handset telephone installed. The helmet is in its state of last being dived and has dark reddish paint with some black paint marks over.  Mounted on the front weight is a sheath for a Navy MK V knife. Under it is a label imprinted with a diver's name starting with James that becomes illegible with the year 1950 imprinted under. The helmet comes from a single collection where it was for the last thirty one years.

 

Maker's Plate

Inside, none standard telephone

 

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 require special training. Its first helmet of consequence, was the No 1 Divinhood first introduced around 1915 which was quickly was adopted for use in all forms of shallow water work. We have a No. 1, and look for it to be placed at auction. 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 War Two 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 of Miller-Dunn was adversely affected and the company ceased operations sometime in the 1960's.

 

CONDITION and MARKINGS:  This helmet is in the condition it was used in its last dive in order to preserve its character and history. It is being offered as a display item only, and should not be used for any other purpose unless certified by a competant diving shop.

 

The tag that appears on the right side of the helmet reads:

 

DIVINHOOD  Style 3

Navy Standard

U.S. 1195973 and Foreign Patents

Miller-Dunn Co. Miami, FL

 

There is a communication elbow on the back which is a modification, and a non-standard speaker in the telephone cup. A Navy MK V diving knife is fitted, and is included in the sale. The helmet with one weight weighs 46 pounds. We can supply the missing weight.

 

OUR GUARANTEE OF SATISFACTION: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned, if without damage, within five days of receipt in its original condition and packaging. Return items must be insured for their full value. A prior email authorization by us for the return is required. Unfortunately, no refund can be made for the cost of shipping, packaging and handling unless we are at fault.

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS WELCOME, but contact us first. We have customers in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Chile, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Nova Scotia, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, 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 on big ticket items.

  Copyright 2006 by Land And Sea Collection.com, All Rights Reserved.