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THB1900 A.J. Morse Diving Helmet w/ Documented History & Photos
About Seller
448 S. Pattie Ave
Wichita, KS 67211
United States
Nation’s Attic Incorporated is located in Wichita, KS. As a full time business we offer expert factory correct restoration & repair services for antique slot machines made from the 1880’s to 1950. Only dealing in authentic examples of antique slot machines, we are one of the few remaining full time ...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Two ways to bid:
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| $20,000 | $2,500 |
About Auction
LiveDec 10, 2022
Nation's Attic Inc. helmets@nationsattic.com
View Full Catalog (139)
- Lot Description
It is rare that a diving helmet retains its history and even has photos of it in action nearly 100 years ago. We are proud to offer just such a rarity in this circa 1900 A.J. Morse & Son diving helmet.
Let’s start with the basic details of this helmet. First, it is a 4 light (windows) 12 bolt Morse commercial diving helmet. The brass ID plate pre-dates their incorporation in 1908 and the serial numbers on the brails date to the 1900 time period. The helmet has received numerous repairs and modifications while in use to keep it on the job. The most notable modification is the caping of the top window, which is important and a detail we will expand up later.
The four Morse brails feature the serial number 1115 on three and 1111 on one. At the turn of the century Morse would also place the serial number on the front edge of the bonnet and breastplate neck rings. These numbers have been covered by modifications made to the helmet. However, it would be a safe bet that the top and bottom are matching and 1115.
On the back of the bonnet, miraculously, the original non-return valve, a section of air line, and a communications line are still hooked up to the helmet. Inside, the ancient communication equipment is still present, including a component behind the blanked off 4th window. This helmet literally is sitting just as it did on its last day of work so many decades ago!
This helmet will be accompanied by multipe high resolution scanned copies of the original photographs the family has kept over the generations of the diver. Included in the photos is a fantastic image showing the diver climbing a ladder, clearly using this helmet. Another notable photo is a crew posing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge during its construction in the mid 1930s. While difficult to make a 100% positive ID, one of the three divers appears to be wearing this helmet.
In addition to the photos, copies of multiple pages from the divers family diary will be included. In 1940, the diver and his family settled in Honolulu, Hawaii for diving work. During November 1940, while 70 feet down his air line became obstructed, resulting in a horrific accident. He was rushed to the hospital, where somehow he made a recovery, but could never dive again. The diary also mentions the attack on Pearl Harbor among other events in the life of a working divers family.
While we are fortunate to have the honor of handling a relatively large number of antique diving helmets every year, it is incredibly rare for any helmet to have its history documented and photographed. The helmet has remained with the same family for nearly 100 years, and now it and its history will be passed on to the next caretaker. The high bidder will also have the option of contacting a family member of the original owner for further research if so desired.
All diving helmets in this auction will be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Nations Attic. The certificate will have a unique number that will match the number on a tamperproof hologram decal placed inside the helmet. This information will be kept on permanent file at Nations Attic and help ensure the provenance of the helmet and authenticity.
All items will be shipped with a signature required upon delivery and full insurance either via FedEx or the USPS Priority Mail. Worldwide shipping is available; however, no ocean freight will be offered on large items. DHL Express is an option for international shipments under 600 pounds via air. Payment via bank wire for customers outside the USA is required. A shipping quote prior to the auction can be provided by emailing your postal code. - Shipping Info
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Shipping fees listed with each lot pertain to domestic shipping only (contiguous or lower 48). International bidders are subject to higher shipping fees. Please inquire about shipping to a particular country before the start of the auction. Purchased items will be shipped on a first paid, first shipped basis and may take up to twenty (20) business days for said shipment to leave our (Nations Attic, Inc.) business. For time sensitive shipments, we (Nations Attic, Inc.) will expedite payment processing and shipping for a nominal fee. Items paid for by personal check are subject to a ten (10) business day hold for funds clearance. All domestic mainland items are shipped via FedEx ground or via USPS unless otherwise specified or requested by the customer. International shipments are shipped via DHL Express or FedEx Express. USPS is no longer used for international shipments due to issues with tracking packages. Insurance: All items are insured for the full purchase amount less carrier shipping charges, or the maximum amount allowed by the carrier and/or country of destination. Insurance is included in the specified shipping amount listed in the shipping section of the final invoice pricing. All invoices are sent with insurance already factored into the shipping charge. The customer has the right to waive any insurance amount by providing written consent that the customer will not hold Nations Attic, Inc. or its shipping carriers responsible for damaged and/or lost shipments due to uninsured/under insured packages. In some instances, we (Nations Attic, Inc.) reserve the right to only ship certain items if insurance is purchased for the full amount of the item(s) being shipped. International buyers are responsible for all duties and taxes. If shipment is rejected, buyer is responsible for all return shipping costs or disposal fees incurred.
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