Presented is an authentic 12 bolt, 3 light Morse Commercial diving helmet, Serial Number 4673 which dates it Circa 1942/1943. It's dimpled bonnet shows considerable use and has a rich dark reddish brown patina that was built over many years. There are some white, yellow, and red paint spatters. The Morse Commercial helmet was used extensively throughout the world and had many of the features of the Navy MK V including the distinctive banana exhaust. It differed by having two rectangular side lights, and a screw in front door which in this case is missing the two knobs, a different shaped breast plate, and a spring loaded lock. The helmet comes from a collection where it was for the last 13 years.

CONDITION and MARKINGS:  This helmet is left in essentially  the condition it was used in its last dive in order to preserve its character and history. The knobs are missing from the screw in front door, and a non-standard telephone speaker is fitted. The front door is frozen in place. It is being offered as a display item only, and should not be used for any other purpose unless certified by a competent diving shop. The number 4673 appears on the top of each braile (strap), and on the inner and outer ring of the helmet. The helmet was built without a spitcock. The number on the helmet's neck ring is 467III. All the air passages inside are intact. The check valve is imprinted with the Morse name.

HISTORY OF MORSE DIVING: In the arena of deep sea diving, there are few companies with the longevity and history of Morse Diving.  The company was founded in 1837 as a Boston maker of brassware, three years before Englishman Augustus Siebe manufactured its first closed air dive helmet. During the Civil War, the firm commenced building maritime fittings and began experimenting with early underwater hardhat designs from Siebe-Gorman and other pioneering makers. In 1864, Andrew Morse bought out his partner, introduced his sons into the business, and began to focus on creating new products for underwater salvage expeditions. Morse was the first company to make the Navy MK V helmet, starting production in 1916.  As their expertise and experience grew over the years, they developed a worldwide reputation as a major supplier of hardhat diving apparatus.

 

 

 

The oval shaped lead name plate, over painted in white, has is riveted to the breast plate. It reads:

 

MORSE

DIVING EQUIPMENT

COMPANY

BOSTON, MASS

 

Contrary to some belief Morse used three different shaped tags during the war years made out of both lead and brass. The chest plate weighs 24 pounds, the helmet 26 pounds, for a total of 50 pounds.