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There is quite a bit of confusion as to what the
bar is on most WW II Navy MK V dive helmets' left side between the front and
side port. Many highly knowledgeable old time divers and numerous collectors of
vintage MK V dive helmets refer to it as an "Anode Bar" under the mistaken
belief that this was its intended use so we thought this analysis would be
helpful to all that are interested in the history of the Navy MK V dive
helmet.
Here
is the story
behind this bar which was specified by the Navy for mounting the Welder's Lens
in the specifications that were up-dated in April 1942.
MOUNTING BAR HISTORY: The original 1915 Military
Specifications did not include a welding lens for the MK V helmet. Hence the two
original makers did not always include a bar to mount it on for the MK V’s they
made in the early years, and it was not shown in the plans relating to that
date. However, some helmets were ordered
with the bar prior to WW
II, so it is not an iron fast rule that all early helmets did not have the bar.
For example, here is a 1918 Schrader MK V with the Lens Bar. There does seem to
be a preponderance of early helmets that had a thinner bar than you will see on
those made to the 1942 specifications.
|
1918 Schrader MK V without Welder's Lens mounting bar
|
For details on this 1918
Schrader MK V helmet click here
http://landandseacollection.com/id628.html
The Mil-Spec’s introduced in April 1942 had
the complete specifications which included the swing out lens that went over the
face plate, and a clip on the bar between the front port and the side port,
which is frequently but incorrectly referred to as the Anode Bar. This is
correctly called the “Welder’s Lens Bar”.
Before welding, the lens was in the open
position, and held there by the clip on this bar which is what it is for. There
also are certain clips that mount where the front guard normally would be to
hold the Welder’s Lens in place in the closed position. Four of the following
pictures show this procedure.
|
The Welder's Lens
clip mounted on the
bar. |
