Sea Horse Pittsburgh Silver
Sea Horse Pittsburgh
In the early 1950s, dive and spearfishing clubs began forming, and Skin Diver magazine reported their activities. Due to the high cost of Aqua Lung equipment, many club members decided to modify Oxygen Diluter Regulators to create their own gear.
The July 1953 issue of Popular Science featured an article titled “Build Your Own Diving Lung.” This article inspired enthusiasts to customize Diluter regulators and encouraged companies to develop commercial diving units.
In 1952, Dive-Craft Industries started in Pittsburgh, PA. They produced Diluters known as “Sea Horse Diving Lungs,” available in single and twin tank configurations. Later, Dive-Craft rebranded as Diving Industries.
Sea Horse regulators and units, with 42 cubic foot tanks, reached global markets and competed with brands like Aqua Lung, Desco, and Scott Aviation until 1957. Notably, Dive-Craft chose not to use serial numbers on their regulators or units.
The Diving Industries “Sea Horse” Diving Lung, dating to the mid-1950s, came from a military oxygen diluter demand regulator. They coated the original diaphragm with latex rubber to ensure waterproofing. Additionally, Supreme Divers of Canada likely manufactured the hose assembly. The regulator connected to a standard oxygen valve with a “B” nut, a common feature for oxygen regulators of that time. In 1956, the regulator cost $32.50, while a complete unit, including the tank and harness, sold for $69.00. Dive-Craft marketed these units from Pittsburgh, PA, but they were available for only a few years.
Today if you can find one of these regulators you can expect to pay in excess of $2000 US for a good example.
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