DIMENSIONS OF HELMET: 24 1/2” H x 12 1/2" W X 12” D    TOTAL WEIGHT 59  1/2 pounds

Back weight 18 pounds Front weight 8 pounds Helmet weight bare 33 1/2 pounds

 

Copyright 2013 by Land And Sea Collection.com, All Rights Reserved .

 

Presented

is a 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 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 L278

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARKINGS, the tag reads:

DIVINHOOD  Style 3

Navy Standard

U.S. 1195973 and Foreign Patents

Miller-Dunn Co. Miami, FL

 

NAVY SERIAL NUMBER L278 is stamped on the main window frame near the top on the right side in line with the maker's tag.

 

Dent on shoulder

Small area of solder loss

 

CONDITION and MARKINGS:   This helmet has had the glass in its ports replaced after it came out of Navy service. The glass in the left port has a small round chip of about 1/4 inch. There also is a portion of a seam at the rear that has lost its solder.  Some of the screws are replacements and the screw at the top left front of the main port is missing. This helmet has not been modified, and except for the few replaced parts, it is just as it was originally made for the U.S. Navy. 

 

THE LEAD WEIGHTS: The front weight weighs 8 pounds and the rear weight weighs 18 pounds. One hole on the rear plate is slightly off and

doesn't line up correctly. It needs to be re drilled. They are not original to the helmet, but carry all the Miller Dunn markings of the period.        

The studs and wing nuts are replacements. 

 

Inside showing the simplicity of the design

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 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 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.

Left side

Right side

This helmet is for display only, and should not be dived unless certified by a competent diving shop.

 

3/4 side view of right front 3/4 side view of left front

SHIPPING & INSURED PACKING by FedEx Ground to the 48 contiguous States, $135.00

OUR UNCONDITIONAL NO NONSENSE GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned within five days of receipt in its original packaging if without damage. Return items must be insured for their full value. Only a prior email authorization from us for the return is required. Shipping charges are included in this offer within the continental United States if an error is due to our fault.

International buyers welcome, but inquire first. We have satisfied customers in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, Republic of China, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Estonia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Nova Scotia, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, St. Maarten, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USVI and the Eastern Caribbean.

STANDARD 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. Our prices are quoted net to us so that the use of credit cards or PayPal incur extra charges. Terms on overseas sales are different. 

Copyright 2013 by Land And Sea Collection™, All Rights Reserved