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This Fine Helmet Has Been Sold. Thank you! EARLY MORSE COMMERCIAL DIVING HELMET Ca 1900 -1920! DIMENSIONS OF HELMET: 18 1/2” H x 15 1/2” W x  14 1/2" D  WEIGHT 40 lbs  STAND NOT INCLUDED Copyright 2016 by Land And Sea Collection™, All Rights Reserved Presented is an interesting 3 light commercial diving helmet made by A. J. Morse & Sons, Inc., and carrying serial number 2823 on the breast plate neck ring and the brails and serial number 1536 on the bonnet's neck ring. This dates the bonnet to the late 1800's or the very early 1900's. The breast plate is from Ca 1919-1920.  The chocolate brown patina varies from medium to dark brown with tinges of black, making an interesting contrast of colors. There are numerous small dents all over the bonnet that have accumulated over the 100 year age. These early style commercial bonnets are recognizable by their erect standing rectangular sidelights. This model helmet appears in the 1910 Morse catalog on page 35, but was known to be around around years before. The stand is not included or for sale.    The owner's RCC mark appears on the bonnet side port frames and on the breast plate     Like all used diving gear, this is being sold for DISPLAY ONLY. It should not be dived without having passed inspection by a certified dive shop.     Partial right and left views of this wonderful old A.J. Morse helmet   CONDITION:  The front door unscrews and the early style exhaust valve wheel turns. The air passages are all intact. The chin button is in place and functions. Field repairs were made to stop leaking, and there are two quarter size seals on the bonnet's back. These may have been for communication inlets.  The air inlet elbow looks to need repair. The brails, are original to the breast plate and all marked the same. The bonnet shows numerous small dents in the front and on top. All the port looks to be original. No communication is fitted. There is no comm box on this helmet, but there are two quarter size patches. Drop down lock on right MARKINGS: The Morse name tag reads A.J. Morse & Son, Inc., Boston, Mass., USA, on four lines. The number 2823 appears on the lower neck ring and on the top of all four brails. The two front brails are stamped "front". The bonnet's neck ring is stamped 1536. The initials "RCC" are stamped on the top of the side port frames and under the bottom of the breast plate in two places.   The RCC are on the underside of the breast plate, top.  Inside of bonnet showing the vents, bottom. 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 brass ware, 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 hard hat 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. In 1904, that firm became A. J. Morse and Sons, Inc., under which name it continued until 1940. Then the name Morse was reincorporated as Morse Diving Equipment Company, Inc. Then in 1998, the company changed owners, and became Morse Diving Inc. under the leadership of Ken & Donna Downing where it continued to serve the needs of the Diving Community until 2015 when Morse operations were terminated and much of its assets were transferred to DESCO Corp. of Milwaukee WI.   A. J. Morse & Son, Inc. tag. 2823 serial number on brails and lower neck ring   Left and Right sides of this wonderful old A.J. Morse helmet   OUR UNCONDITIONAL NO NONSENSE GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned, if without damage, within three days of receipt in its original packaging. Return items must be insured for their full value. Only a prior email authorization by us for the return is required. Shipping charges are  included in this offer if the error is due to our fault.   SHIPPING; This is a heavy article and it will be shipped by FedEx Ground Point to Point. Please inquire as to rates by email and include your zip code. Shipping for a helmet in the U.S. within the 48 states is $175.00. 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 Hebrides (Vanuatu), 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, Vanuatu (New Hebrides) 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 for lesser value items incur extra charges. Terms on overseas sales may be different. Copyright 2016 by Land And Sea Collection™, All Rights Reserved