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CLASSIC DIVE
BOOKS
Author Robert H. Davis.
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I, and therefore you, the reader, express gratitude for additional material provided by UK diver and historical diving enthusiast Phil Thurtle. I have also referenced the excellent article prepared by Peter Jackson in the British magazine The Historical Diving Times, 15th edition, 1996 - an indepth review of the various editions of the respected diving manual by Robert H. Davis, titled, "Deep Diving and Submarine Operations - A History". Paragraphs used are acknowledged through the notation [pj]. I have quoted from both gentleman. |
Sir Robert Davis
was remarkable by any standards. Born in 1870, the eldest of ten children,
he started work at Siebe Gorman in 1882 at the tender age of eleven. From
office boy he rose to be General Manager, then Managing Director; eventually
gaining full control of the company, which he retained unti11960. He retired
in 1962 at the not-so-tender age of 94, having tirelessly given eighty-two
years to the service and advavcement of Siebe Gorman and the field of endeavour
in which it was engaged.
Davis had a boundless enthusiasm for everything to do with diving and breathing apparatus which is evident in what he wrote and how he ran the company. He was always looking at something new and, over the years, developed an extraordinary diversity of products. That he should find time to write at all is of great credit to him and when we consider the scope and depth of his writing it is clear that this was his life. [pj] He is of course remembered by so many divers, both professional and recreational, for his fascinating diving manuals which we know collectively as DEEP DIVING AND SUBMARINE OPERATIONS. (As you will note, the first three editions were not called this). As the title of the cover often differs from the title on the title page. I have listed the title page first (which is generally regarded as the true title of any publication) followed by the text on the cover. |
Early SIEBE GORMAN and
Co. Manuals
[Prior to Deep Diving and
Submarine Operations.]
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MANUAL FOR DIVERS WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMARINE OPERATIONS
1895
Published by: Siebe Gorman and Co Portrait Format; 45 printed pages plus 24 plates. Total of 98 pages, some are blank pages. Everything you need to know about learning to dive in 1895 with really comprehensive instructions. Covers various subjects like “Selecting Divers”, equipment descriptions and directions how to dive from the point of view of attendants and divers. There are four lists at the back of the manual, one a list of equipment needed for two divers, the second is a list of spares required when conducting diving operations with 2 divers. The other two are similar lists for one diver. It continues with “Instructions for Cleaning the Bottom of Vessels”, “Additional Instructions for Diving in Deep Water”, “The Ignition of Gunpowder by Electricity”, “Speaking Apparatus”, “Instructions to Divers when Using the Gorman’s Speaking Apparatus” and finally “Siebe Gorman ? Co’s Improved Diver’s Electric Telephone Apparatus”. Extremely well illustrated with a variety of plates, one frontice and 23 numbered plates varying from diving equipment, methods of work (like cleaning ships bottoms), exploders, submarine lamps, Gorman’s patent speaking apparatus and the Electric Telephone Apparatus. Note: This one is the 1895 manual for divers issued by Siebe Gorman. I have not scanned the cover as it is all one colour and just embossed and can't make out anything so attached is the title page plus some other interesting prints There are also prints of lamps, exploders and other material. I also have the 1900 manual and it's identical except for one word. I don't think there are any others and it was eventually replaced byRobert Davis's diving manual, see below. [pt] .. |
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MANUAL FOR DIVERS AND ILLUSTRATED CATALOG
Published by: Siebe Gorman and Co c1886. Soft covers portrait format; 60 numbered pages. Total pages 118 including 23 block plates.
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DEEP DIVING AND SUBMARINE OPERATIONS |
COVER Click to enlarge. |
FIRST
EDITION, 1909
DIVING SCIENTIFICALLY
AND PRACTICALLY CONSIDERED.
Review of private copy:
This is the first book published
in a series by Robert Davis, ending up as the more familiar book known
as “Deep Diving and Submarine Operations”. It is larger in format
than his later editions but was published using the same high quality glossy
paper. It is extremely well illustrated with 107 numbered photographs,
94 numbered diagrams and many more un-numbered – all monochrome.
In the introduction, it states the object of the book is:
The author acknowledges the
help of some very distinguished people like Professor J S Haldane, Dr A
E Boycott, Lieut G C C Damant and Professor Leonard Hill. As you
would expect, it is divided into many sections and each of those are divided
into further sub-sections. Major chapters are: “British Admiralty
Deep Diving Experiments”, “The Physics of Diving”, “The Physiology of Diving”,
“Diving Dress Working Under Different Conditions”, “Diving Apparatus, Description
and Hints as to the Care of”, “Dressing the Diver and Sending Him Down”,
“Duration of Dives in Deep Water”, “Self Contained Diving Apparatus”, “Life
Saving Devices in Submarine Boats”, “Useful Data Related to Diving”, “Historical
– The Evolution of the Diving Dress” plus much, much more.
Not the easiest book to find
but maybe a must for any true diving book collector. The cover states
the book originally cost 5 shillings – if only that was still the case!
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SECOND EDITION, 1917-18
DIVING SCIENTIFICALLY
AND PRACTICALLY CONSIDERED A DIVING MANUAL AND HANDBOOK OF SUBMARINE APPLIANCES.
The following have been advertised
on the internet:
A DIVING MANUAL AND HANDBOOK
OF SUBMARINE APPLIANCES.
Note:
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. | THIRD EDITION, 1918-19
DIVING SCIENTIFICALLY
AND PRACTICALLY CONSIDERED
Published by Siebe, Gorman ? Co., Ltd., Westminster Bridge Road, London, S.E.1 Phyical: Quarto size, 9 x:
6.25 x 0.25 ins. Bound in buff paper wrapper with black titling on front
and spine. This, as its cover title implies, is an abridged edition, containing
the first 112 or so pages from the previous "red" manual, and is believed
to have been supplied with standard diving apparatus.
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.
Please note: The above is a facsimile of what the dustjacket probably looked like. Click to enlarge. |
FOURTH EDITION
1935
DEEP DIVING AND SUBMARINE
OPERATIONS
Unlike the previous editions, which were published by Siebe, Gorman Co., Ltd., Westminster Bridge Road, London, S.E.., the fourth edition was published by The Saint Catherine Press, Stamford Street S.E.1., and had a circular gold SCP logo near the base of the spine. Physical: Quarto 10 x 7 x 1.75 inches. Bound in dark green ribbed cloth covered boards with gold titling on the front and spine. Pale green dust wrapper with black titling on front and spine. As far as is known, this was the first edition to have a dust wrapper, which was pale green with black titling on the front and spine, and a black circle containing a diving helmet on the front. The paper used was of a coarse texture and did not stand up well to wear and teat. Those that have survived are mostly dog-eared. Contents: 510 pages.
Includes principal contents list, coloured map and alphabetical index at
rear. The contents of the fourth edition were split into two parts. Part
One was essentially the diving manual, similar in content to the earlier
editions, whilst Part Two, titled SECRETS OF THE DEEP, contained most of
the historical anecdotal and other material. Part One, the diving manual,
was published as a separate volume and was printed at least twice. The
first, like the larger volume, was printed by the Arden Press and had the
gold SCP logo on the spine. The second was printed by the De Montfort Press,
with the errata in the first printing
A lot had happened since
1909, when the bulk of the text for the earlier editions had been written.
The Great War had come and gone, with the German fleet scuttled and salvaged
and cut up for scrap. Gold had been recovered from the sunken ships Oceana,
Laurentic and Egypt. The Davis Escape apparatus had been adopted
by the British and other navies and the Admiralty had conducted further
deep diving trials, resulting in new decompression tables. In fact, so
much had
I also have this fourth edition
recorded as:
My comment: It appears
that the first printing of the fourth edition contained only Part One,
whilst the second printing contained Parts One and Two. I'd like this to
be confirmed by a reader with these volumes. As for whether Part Two was
ever printed as a separate volume, I would doubt it, as it was, apparently,
combined with Part One in the second printing of this fourth edition.
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FIFTH EDITION,
1951
DEEP DIVING AND SUBMARINE
OPERATIONS
Published by The Saint Catherine Press. Physical: Quarto 10 x 7 x 1.75 inches. Bound in dark green ribbed cloth covered boards with gold titling on front and spine. Pale green dust wrapper with black titling on front and spine. Contents: 654 pages. Includes principal contents list, coloured map and alphabetial index at rear. Hardcover, dust jacket, 654 pages plus bibliography and index, large fold-out ‘underwater scene' drawing as frontispiece, errata included, appendicies. It may be of benefit to list all the chapters:
The two parts are about equal in pages. Appendicies.
Once again. a lot had happened since the previous edition. This time it was the Second World War. The full potential of self-contained breathing apparatus was realised and the free swimming diver was re-born. During hostilities, Siebe Gorman worked hand in hand with the newly formed Admiralty Experimental Diving Unit, developing and manufacturing a whole range of equipment to meet the needs of the new underwater warfare. The 140 or so extra pages in the fifth edition are mostly taken up with developments which took place during, and as a result of, the war. [pj] I also have a fine green
leather bound copy with title embossed in gold; ribbed spine with title
and author name, in a slip case. I have no reason to suggest that The Saint
Catherine Press produced a special edition - if they did, it would surely
be numbered. Thus I do suggest that this copy was privately rebound, and
the slip case created for it at the same time. [ps]
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It has recently
come to light that there was a 1951 PART ONE edition also.
Deep Diving & Submarine Operations (Part 1 Only) Author: Robert H Davis Published by St Catherine Press London in 1951 Dimensions: 10 ins tall (25.5 cms) by 7 ins (17.5 cms) wide Let collector and contributor
PT tell of the circumstances in his own words:
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SIXTH EDITION, 1955
DEEP DIVING AND SUBMARINE
OPERATIONS
Published by The Saint Catherine Press. Physical: Quarto size, l0 x 7 x2 ins. Bound in dark green ribbed cloth covered boards with gold titling on front and spine. Pale green dust wvrapper with black titling on front and spine. As 5th edition but with 6th EDITION printed on spine. Contents: 693 pages. Includes
principle contents list, coloured map and alphabetical index at rear. Plus
additional pages for index. One page bibliography.
The Introduction to the Sixth Edition includes the comment that since the fifth edition was published (1951), new developments have taken place, which are mentioned here: the Marconi-Siebe, Gorman Underwater Television Apparatus; the search for the submarine Affray, the recovery of vital parts of the Comet jet airliner 'Yoke Peter' which crashed off the Isle of Elba in January 1954, Free Breathing Method of escape from wrecked submarines, a One-Man Escape Chamber, further accounts of successful escapes from wrecked submarines, the ‘Essjee' Aqualung Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus. [ps] |
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. | SEVENTH EDITION, 1962
DEEP DIVING AND SUBMARINE
OPERATIONS
Published by The Saint Catherine
Press.
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. | EIGHTH EDITION, 1981
DEEP DIV1NG AND SUBMARINE
OPERATIONS
This edition was published
by Siebe, Gorman ? Company, Ltd., Cwmbran, Gwent, and is a facsimile of
the 7th edition. The quality of the illustrations is not as good as in
other editions, due to their being reproduced from a previous printing.
Two versions are known, one with a foreword by the (then) Managing Director
and
Physical: Quarto size, 9 x 6 x 2 ins. Bound in green cloth covered boards with gold titling on front and spine. Pale green, film covered, dust wrapper with black titling on front and spine. Contents: 693 pages. As previous
edition.
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. | NINETH EDITION
- 1995
DEEP DIV1NG AND SUBMARINE
OPERATIONS
In 1995, the Siebe Gorman
Company released 1500 copies of the book for its One Hundred aand Seventy-fifth
Anniversary. Printed in two volumes, it sold for several hundred Australian
dollars, and is still available. Cost was US150 plus $US50 for shipment
(to Australia)., but I suspect that this has risen considerably.
As mentioned, it is in two parts and in a hard boxed sleeve stamped Siebe
Gorman One Hundred ? Seventy Fifth Anniversary. The sleeve and books
are numbered (to 1500). It is (was?) available from Hammerhead Press, in
the USA. Link to the particular page for the book Hammerhead
Press.
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Click image to enlarge. Original dust jacket was a dark green. |
BREATHING IN IRRESPIRABLE ATMOSPHERES
And in Some Cases, Also Under Water. Including A Short History of Gas and Incendiary Warfare from Early Times to the Present Day, The Physiology of Respiration Breathing at High Altitudes, Resuscitation, The Evolution of Breathing Apparatus, Modern Gas Masks and Other Respiratory Apparatus with Accounts of Some Mine Rescue and Recovery Operations, etc. Robert H. Davis. Published by Siebe Gorman ? Co, Ltd. (This is advised by a sticker over existing printing at the bottom of the title page). No date; after the author had written 'Deep Diving and Submarine Operations'. Circa 1935. Hardcover, gold embossed lettering on front board, dust jacket, 386 pages, mono photographs, charts. 9 3/4 X 7 X 1 1/8 inches. From the flys: AN AUTHORITATIVE and comprehensive account, by a leading authority, of all that appertains to overcoming the problems of breathing under conditions harmful or lethal. Sir Robert Davis has devoted a lifetime not only to the study but also to the practical side of design and production of apparatus for breathing under abnormal conditions, be they under water, on land or in the air. It was due to his faith and initiative that, in the early days, a practicable form of self-contained breathing apparatus was produced and accepted for use by Mines Rescue Brigades, Fire Brigades and by many others whose vocation called for work in irrespirable atmospheres. His foresight and pioneering spirit were responsible for the development of the research and experimental installations in the works of the firm, Siebe,Gorman & Co. Ltd - long before the Government possessed their own - installations unique at the time and, in many respects, still so to-day. Here, assisted by eminent scientists in this sphere of work was - and is - carried out the research and experiment which have led to the production of modern breathing appliances of all types. This book is the first publication which embraces all aspects of the subject other than that of Deep Diving and Submarine Escape which are dealt with fully in the author's "Deep Diving and Submarine Operations". It includes an Historical section which is not only intriguing, but includes facts that will, no doubt, come as a surprise to many. Amongst other subjects dealt with are the Physiology of Respiration: Breathing at High Altitudes, including a short history of aeronautical achievements; Resuscitation; the Evolution of Breathing Appliances, leading up to a description of the latest apparatus; and an account of Mines Rescue and Recovery Work. A foreward is contributed by the eminent physiologist, Sir Leonard E. Hill, F.R.S., LL.D., M.B. The book is profusely illustrated. [ps] Obtainability: Scarce but
general a copy on offer on the internet. Copy with dust jacket is rare.
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CATALOGS |
SIEBE, GORMAN
? Co., LTD.
ILLUSTRATED PRODUCT CATALOGUE. 1905 An original would be nice, but reproductions have been available on the internet, mainly eBay. 110 pages, generally comb bound. One reproduction edition I saw had the original illustrated BACK cover substituted for front cover, which was missing from the original edition. (It was advertised this way, so fair enough). Contains many photographs of air pumps, helmets, telephones, suits, boots, knives, weights, lamps, torches, re-breathers, diving bells and compressors. Also a section on tools, including drilling machines, blasting machines and water pumps. The book also doubles as a manual with details on the selection of divers, diving in the British Navy, and tales of the recovery of treasure from the Alphonso XII, The Skyro and Hamilla Mitchell. The final section covers aspects of diving such as pearl diving, dockyards, submarine blasting (including choices of explosives), and salvage operations. The final back page contains eight interesting photographs from various parts of the Siebe Gorman factory, presumably "Neptune Works"? Image: Back cover of original. |
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DIVING APPARATUS AND
OTHER SUBMARINE APPLIANCES.
Siebe, Gorman ? Co. Ltd. Neptune Works, London. No date but suggest circa 1910. My copy is stamped in gold as ‘CATALOGUE D'. A rubber stamp on the first page indicates that this copy belonged to W.G.Winterburn, Consulting Engineer, Victoria B.C., sole agent for Siebe, Gorman ? Co. Ltd, London, Engalnd. (Victoria BC is British Columbia, Canada). Hardcover, A4 oblong size, binding is by two steel clips, 101 pages, fully illustrated throughout on quality gloss paper, mono photographs. This is a fascinating book, a catalogue, of the famous ‘hard-hat' diving company. The contents include all the standard dress diving and respiratory equipment produced by the company, including full dress and several helemt designs, air-pumps and compressors, air hose, knives, and all accessories including gloves, air cases, underclothing, and a ‘portable rubber irinal' for those divers who ‘when udner pressure are unable to retain their urine and are often obliged to ascend and undress, or discharge into their dress'. Telecommunications equipment is included, also blasting equipment, a ‘catoptric' tube (look it up!!), and lofe vests, oilskins, and smoke helmets. This is an extremely valuable book, both in a financial sence, and with respect to information on standard dress ‘hard-hat' diving. [ps]. This from PT: Siebe Gorman Catalogue D. Diving Apparatus and Other Submarine Appliances Printed covers in landscape format 116 printed pages. (There are actually 134 pages but some are numbered with “A”, eg 11, 11A ? 11B) The catalogue opens with details of the Siebe Gorman ? Co’s exhibit in the Western Australian Section in the 1908 Franco-British Exhibition in London. It continues with details of salvage of treasure from the Alphonso XII and SS Skyro using equipment supplied by Siebe Gorman and Co. The catalogue is split into six sections: Section 1 deals with complete sets of equipment with various types of hand and mechanically driven pumps and helmets dependant upon job requirements. Also included here is the “Halls Reece Patent Independent Breathing Apparatus”, an early helmet with r-breather – rather resembles the early submarine escape sets. Section 2 continues with various details of types of helmets, dresses and wading suits. Section 3 is filled with diver’s air hoses and connectors. Section 4 concentrates on diver’s ancillary equipment including watches, compasses, knives, woollens, weights and boots. Section 5 looks at electrical equipment including diver’s telephones, lamps, torches, exploders and blasting machines. It also tells of the steam driven electrical lighting set. Section 6 displays mechanically driver air pumps and even an “Air Lock Diving Bell Plane”, basically a boat combined with a diving bell! It also includes a variety of other bells, water pumps, drills, cutters and other tools. Completely illustrated with many photographs showing all the equipment available. As well as photographs of equipment sold, there are some interesting monochrome photos taken in and around the Siebe Gorman ? Co factory. Absolutely crammed with all sorts of interesting diving equipment and ancillary items. Further note from PS: My catalog differs from PT's very slightly with reference to the first few pages. Mine starts with a blank page; then a page headed 'Siebe, Gorman ? Co's Chief Specialities, on which it listss other catalogs - (this) 'D' Catlog of 'Diving Apparatus and all other Submarine Applicances'; 'B4' catalog, Oxygen Breathing Apparatuws (etc); 'AC', Air Compressors; 'WP' Water Pumps; 'IR' India Rubber , Canvas and Leather goods. There are nine numbers sections in my catalog. The third page is a title page as shown below left. Page four (and these pages are numbered as such) shows two illustrations of 'Divers of the Royal Navy', using of course, Siebe Gorman equipment 'exclusively'. Page five os that of the Western Australian Section of the London exhibition as mentioned above - why the WA section should stand out as so important I do not know, but it does show the Siebe Gorman exhibition which looks as though it is contructed from the bottoms of Foster beer cans!. Pages six and seven are headed 'Record Deep Sea Salvage' showing the remains of a flag from SS Laurentic. Pages 8 to 10 are a list of Contents. Page 11 is 'Introductoin', writen by the managing director R.H.Davis. Page 12 has twp views of the Siebe Gorman factory. Section One then starts on Page 13. . |
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SIEBE GORMAN DIVING APPARATUS CATALOGUE DA
“Everything for the Diver and for Submarine Operations” Portrait format 108 printed pages. There are actually 116 pages as some are numbered “a” and “b”. Issued in the early 1930’s. The catalogue is introduced with testimonials of details of salvage of treasure using Siebe Gorman equipment from the Alphonso XII and the SS Skyro. The introduction gives a brief history of the firm and details of what is included in the catalogue. Section 1 deals with complete sets of equipment with various types of hand and mechanically driven pumps and helmets dependant upon job requirements. Also included here are decompression chambers and self contained equipment. Section 2 continues with various details of types of helmets, dresses and wading suits. Section 3 is filled with divers ancillary equipment including hoses, watches, compasses, knives, woollens, weights and boots. Section 4 looks at electrical equipment including divers telephones, lamps, torches, exploders and blasting machines. Section 5 is only a small part dealing with a “catoptric tube” of water telescope. A super device that lets someone look through what looks like a huge long set of binoculars to see underwater. I suppose a fore-runner of an ROV? Section 6 mainly contains survival suits and other safety devices like life jackets, grapnel anchors, ships fenders, line throwing guns and line throwing rockets. Section 7 deals with submarine chain cutting machines, underwater oxy-hydrogen cutting equipment, an air lock bell vessel, diving bells, water pumps, underwater drills, collapsible pontoons, inflatable boats and huge lifting pontoons. Completely illustrated with many photographs showing all the equipment available. Absolutely crammed with all sorts of interesting diving equipment and ancillary items. [pt] |
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SIEBE GORMAN CATALOGUE D4
Diving Apparatus and Other Submarine Appliances. Hard covers printed in landscape format 93 printed pages. Issued in the late 1930’s. The catalogue opens with testimonials and details of the salvage of five million pounds worth of gold from the SS Laurentic in the first world war using Siebe Gorman ? Co’s equipment. There is an introduction by Sir Robert Davis with a brief history of the firm and an overview of the equipment for sale. Then it moves onto diving equipment. It starts with various combinations of pumps, helmets and ancillary equipment needed, including a self contained helmet set with a variation on the “Proto” re-breather. Next a section for helmets, dresses, and all other individual items needed by a standard helmet diver. There’s a section for recompression chambers and observation chambers and the catalogue continues with survival suites and other life saving equipment with indirect reference to the loss of the Titanic. Extremely well illustrated with countless monochrome photographs of divers and their equipment. [pt].[ps-copy] |
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SIEBE GORMAN CATALOGUE D5
Diving Apparatus and Other Submarine Appliances Soft covers, printed in landscape format, 93 printed pages. Issued in the 1950’s but this edition dated 1958 The catalogue opens with testimonials and details of the salvage of five million pounds worth of gold from the SS Laurentic in the first world war using Siebe Gorman ? Co’s equipment. There is an introduction by Sir Robert Davis with a brief history of the firm and an overview of the equipment for sale. Then it moves onto diving equipment. It starts with various combinations of pumps, helmets and ancillary equipment needed. Next a section for helmets, dresses, and all other individual items needed by a standard helmet diver. There’s a section for decompression chambers and observation chambers but a whole interesting section for self contained diving which includes the Mine Recovery Suit, re-breathers (Mk V Amphibian plus the “Human Torpedo” gear wearing the Sladen Suit) and early scuba with the ESSGEE aqualung (twin hose) used with various combinations of suits including a Sladen Suit and an early two piece dry suit. As you would expect with this sort of catalogue, it is extremely well illustrated with countless monochrome photographs of divers and their equipment. Never get tired of looking at it. [pt].[ps-copy] |
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SIEBE GORMAN DIVING EQUIPMENT CATALOG
Published by Siebe, Gorman ? Co Ltd in 1969. Printed card covers in portrait format; 20 printed pages. (Catalogue has 24 pages including covers) This small, general, low budget catalogue contains a selection of the companies vast range of “submarine equipment”. It contains diving helmets (6 bolt, 12 bolt and utility lightweight), suits, boots, weights (for standard and scuba), knives, telephones, underwater tools, lamps, torches, scuba regulators (Mistral double hose, Merlin double hose and Mercury single hose), surface demand equipment, masks, fins, gauges, compressors and decompression chambers. As you may have guessed, there is lots of equipment listed in this small book but not all photographed. There are many pictures but not a very good quality, nothing like earlier catalogues produced. [pt]
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SIEBE GORMAN ESSGEE 'MISTRAL' AQUALUNG CATALOG
(Cousteau – Gagnan Patent) And Ancillary Underwater Swimming Equipment Soft printed covers in landscape format; eight printed pages. Issued in 1957. Very small catalogue issued when Siebe Gorman introduced the “new” Mistral twin hose regulator. The valve is shown in single cylinder and twin cylinder configurations. Initially the regulator seemed to take a step back from the earlier Mk 1 and Mk 2 valves as they had a HP take off for a pressure gauge and the Mistral was initially produced without one, relying on a reserve valve on the tank like the continent and USA. The catalogue continues with a compressor, various suits (dry and wet) plus other ancillary equipment like fins, weights, mask, knives, depth gauges, compass and watch. [pt] |
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THE BLUE BOOK OF UNDERWATER SWIMMING
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THE SALVUS ANS BREATHING APPARATUS
Published by: Siebe Gorman and Co Ltd c1940 Portrait Format – 29 printed pages. This small booklet (approx A5) published by Siebe Gorman as instructions for the use and care of the Salvus re-breather. It covers the use for on land (firefighting and mines) and underwater. It is divided into 6 sections: “Explanation of the Self Contained Principle”, “General Description”, “Directions for Use on Land”, “Directions for Use Underwater”, “Care and Maintenance”, “The Action of the Reducing Valve” and “Description of the Cylinder Valve”.Many monochrome photographs, a fold out line drawing of the complete set and a coloured cross section of the tank valve. [ pt] |
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR OPERATING THE OXY HYDROGEN UNDERWATER
CUTTING 1950
Siebe Gorman / BOC Catalogue and Operating Instructions Soft covers printed in portrait format 12 printed pages (including covers) This small book published by Siebe Gorman ? Co Ltd starts with an introduction containing a “potted history” of Siebe Gorman and details of the connection between the company and The British Oxygen Company Ltd. It then follows with another “potted history” of the Oxy-Hydrogen cutting systems and a view of what is included if an oxy-hydrogen underwater cutting set is purchased. Finally, it concludes with some brief (very brief) underwater cutting instructions. [pt] |
OTHER TITLES by ROBERT
H. DAVIES
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THOMAS GRAY LECTURES
Presented by: The Royal Society of Arts Title:DEEP DIVING AND UNDERWATER RESCUE Given by: Sir Robert H. Davies. February 1934. In February 1934 Sir Robert gave a series of these four Thomas Gray Lectures; this book has them printed. They may al;so have been issues as single lecture sheets. The lectures were held over four presentations but only the first is fully dated, as February 1934. The lectures are a condensed and and easy to read version of the general diving scene and history at that time. Sixty-two page soft covered book. 1. 12 Feb 1934 Some of Nature's Divers. 11. Feb 1934 The Beginnings of Modern Dress. 111. Feb 1934 Research Work which has led to the latest system of Deep Diving in the flexible dress of Siebe's Principle. 1V Feb 1934 A few notable salvage operations. There are forty illustrations within the printed release. [ad]
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A BRIEF PERSONAL RECORD OF THE FIRM OF SIEBE GORMAN ?
CO. 1819 to 1957
By: Sir Robert Davis Published by the Author and Siebe Gorman for Private Circtlation Hard blue covers with gold titling - 220 printed pages (Actually 239 pages as some are numbered “A”, eg 115A) This has to be the definitive history of the firm of Siebe Gorman ? Co Ltd by the man who everyone associated with Siebe Gorman – Sir Robert Davis. It covers the time of the company, started by Augustus Siebe in Denmark Street, London up until 1957 when the book was written. As well as recollections from Sir Robert, it also contains many anecdotes, stories and letters from some very eminent people. It is divided into 12 extremely large chapters: “Augustus Siebe (1788-1872)”, “Siebe Gorman ? Co”, “Relations With Government Departments”, “The First Central Mines Rescue Station”, “Robert H Davis – Knighthood, a few letters”, “Robert H Davis – Doctor of Science (Hon)”, “Submarine Escape Apparatus”, “Mount Everest Expeditions”, “The Drinker Mechanical Respirator (Iron Lung) For Poliomyelitis”, “Chapter 10 deals with various individuals like Professor Sir Leonard Hill, Captain G C Damant and Professor J S Haldane” and finally “A Few Examples of Submarine Escapes”. As you would expect, each chapter is further broken down into many other subjects, not just diving. Until I read this, I hadn’t realise that A Siebe didn’t just make diving equipment as there are examples of Siebe’s Breech loading gun (1819), Weigh scales, Siebe’s tap for cutting hollow screws, welding machines, hydraulic machines, refrigeration machines, plus much more. It also tells of Siebe Gorman’s involvement with Mount Everest expeditions (including Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing), water speed records (Donald Campbell), flying at altitude in aircraft and submarines. As you would expect from a book of this magnitude, it is extremely well illustrated with countless photographs and diagrams, only one photo in colour, the rest in monochrome. Included are photographs of old factories, including pictures taken in workshops, various equipment made by the firm and many people who were involved in some way.pt] |
A FEW RECOLLECTIONS OF AN OLD LAMBETH FACTORY AND ITS
VICINITY
INCLUDING SOME OLD NOTES Robert H. Davis. Published by the author ? Siebe Gorman in 1959, for private circulation. Soft green covers, portrait format – 151 printed pages. Sir Robert Davis published a book called “A Brief Personal Record of Siebe Gorman Co 1819 to 1957” in 1957 and it was thought that the recollections of Sir Robert’s early days at Siebe Gorman had been all to brief in that publication. As a result, this book was produced. Sir Robert started work at the factory in January 1882 and this is a collection of his recollections end experiences in the area. He recalls buildings, people and inventions that came along and tells many funny stories. One amusing story is his recollection of the “Siebe Gorman ? Co’s employees Annual Supper” at “The Butlers Head”, a pub in the area. It was held on October 21st (Trafalgar Day) each year and Sir Robert recalls: “At these functions we often engaged a local soprano named Bessie Whelks. Her top notes were, not perhaps, of the highest musical standard, neither were her professional fees”. She usually gave us one or two tear producers, such as 'A Boy’s Best Friend is His Mother' and a couple of patriotics like 'We don’t want to fight, but by jingo, if we do, We’ve got the ships, we’ve got the men, We’ve got the money too', in which the boys joined lustily. Bessie was a well built lady of generous frontal proportions, and was very popular indeed, she carried all before her”.Throughout, the book is full of stories like this and it amazing who gets mentions, like Field Marshall Montgomery, William Blake Sir Arthur Sullivan (Gilbert ? Sullivan) and Charles Dickens to name but a few. [pt] Phil adds: Incidentally, The Historical Diving Society in the UK had held a similar evening as The Old Butler’s Head is still there. |
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HENRY (HENRI) SIEBE and SIEBE GORMAN Co. |
THE CONQUEST OF THE SEA
Subtitle: A Book About Divers and Diving by Henry Siebe Published by Chatto and Windus, London. First Published 1874. Hard Cover with 299 printed pages. Dimensions 18.0 cms tall by 12.0 cms wide Contains very many fine wood engravings, several of which are full page. When published in 1874 by Henry Siebe, this was a very comprehensive history of diving from early times to the year of 1874, possibly the first credible book about diving. Henry Siebe was the son of Agustus Siebe, founder of the company of Siebe Gorman. The book is split into seven chapters: 1 Man’s Natural and Unaided Efforts 2 The Great Importance of Submarine Topography 3 Progress of Invention 4 Apparatus Used in Diving - Instructions - Method of Working – Signals to Be Used 5 Useful Works Performed by Modern Machinery 6 Old Divers and Their Yarns 7 Conclusion Each chapter is split into many subjects, too many to list. A diverse range of contemporary equipment is explained and listed, not only as supplied by the company of Siebe & Gorman but also by Rouquayrol & Denayrouze and others. Not the easiest of books to find but a must for any serious diving book collection. [pt] |
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Also....
CONQUEST OF THE SEA. A BOOK ABOUT DIVERS AND DIVING Henry Siebe. THE CONQUEST OF THE SEA, a book about Divers and Diving by Henry Siebe published by Chatto and Windus, London. No date but 1873 from preface. Edinburgh Collegiate School Charlotte Square gilt embossed emblem on front board. Measuring 6 3/4 by 5 inches with 299 ppp. The embossed letter boards with gilt lines and school badge. Front board bowing, with 3/4 inch tear to bottom of spine hinge. Wear to the spine edges and top of boards but generally good condition. Internally, removed bookplate from front pastedown, some spotting to front few, and last couple of pages text block generally clean and bright. A truly fascinating scarce Victorian book on Divers and Diving Content: Mans natural and unaided efforts. The Great importance of submarine topography. Progress of invention. Apparatus used in Diving- Instructions Methods of working signals to be used. Useful works performed by means of modern machinery. Old divers and their yarns. Recapitulation In February 2016 the book shown below was sold on eBay. . ... |
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Also................
British collector AD advises that he has a copy of CONQUEST OF THE SEA. A BOOK ABOUT DIVERS AND DIVING published by George Routledge and Sons, 416 Broome Street, New York, and printed by Stevens and Richardson, Printers,5 Great Queen Street Lincoln's Inn Fields,W.C. The collector bought this copy from a dealer in the USA and believes it is a cheaper version that the Chatto and Windus edition. The collector also advises that he has seen three other copies of the Chaddo and Windus edition in three different coloured decorative boards. The George Rutledge/Stevens and Richardson edition has a total of 299 pages' the preface indicates it was published in London, December,1783. {This should read 1883. Augustus Siebe was born in 1788. His son Henri was born in 1832 - I think) The following images are from this book: .. |
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Note:
Is now available an a print-on-demand basis but is not a true copy, only the text which has been reset after pages were scanned into OCR software. THE CONQUEST OF THE SEA, A BOOK ABOUT DIVERS AND DIVING Henry Siebe. OCR scanned copy, reprint, by General Books, 2009. Softcover, 79 pages, no illustrations. Dimensions 23 x 15 cm. Note: twenty-four of these pages are listings of previous publications by the original publishers, no doubt reproduceed from the original of course. There is a note at the beginning of the book stateing the fact that this is an OCR scanned book and that this "can result in a lot of typos and missing text .... but we feel it is more important to make the book available for a low price or not at all". I'm not so sure that this is a reasonable philiosphy if this book is an example. There are many errors in the scanning, both in the letters/words and in the paragraph layout. This could have been rather quickly overcome by a manual edit by reading and correcting where required; it is thus rather annoying to read. Again, with further effort, and admittedly cost, any illustrations could have been scanned and included (especially of the excellent wood engravings in the original). The General Books company should have realised that anyone wanting to read this historic diving book would have a very keen interest in diving history and would not mind, I am sure, paying for the priviledge of a good facsimile - ideally a photographic scan of the book pages including the engravings, and a separate edited OCR reading text. This has been superbly achieved by the several mongraph productions produced by the (UK) Historical Diving Society. Henry Siebe deserved better - and so do we. [ps] |
SIEBE GORMAN ? CO. LTD
A RECORD OF WAR AND PEACE 1819 to 1946 Published by: Siebe, Gorman ? Co Ltd Issued in 1946 This booklet (roughly A4 in size) tells the potted history of Siebe Gorman from its early days through 2 world wars up to 1946. It has no index but is divided into 5 headed sections: “The Founder of Siebe Gorman ? Co Ltd”, “The Years of Development and Expansion”, “The War of 1914 to 1918”, “The Inter War Years of Progress” and “The War of 1939 to 1949”. Landscape format – 35 printed pages; forty pages including printed covers. During WWII, Siebe Gorman suffered severe damage from air raids on its Instrument Works in September 1940 and its main works at Westminster Bridge Road London), May 1941. Fortunately they had moved the majority of its operations out to Chessington before then. It is extremely well illustrated throughout with photographs of the bombed out factories in London and 48 monochrome pictures in the workshops of the Chessington factory. There’s also pictures in their museum, a diagrammatic view of the “Research and Experimental Department”, two whole page photographs in the form of a collage of all the equipment manufactured in WWII, a “Diagramatic Impression of Underwater Activities” (like seen in the front of Deep Diving) and finally another two full page collage prints of items sold by the company in 1946. The back cover has an illustration of a gas mask, in the same format as the helmet on the front cover. In all, this small publication holds so much information and is a wonderful read. [pt] ... |
DECOMPRESSION TABLES
Issued by Siebe Gorman and Co Ltd, Neptune Works, Davis Road, Chessington, UK Published: possibly early 1950's (not dated) Plain blue card covers, stapled with title "pasted" on the front - 20 printed pages Dimensions: 25.5 cms tall by 20.5 cms wide The booklet is divided into four parts, an introduction and three sections. The introduction deals with "Decompression of Divers" and its history covering the pioneering work with Prof. John Scott Haldane, Captain G C C Damant, the Davis submersible decompression chamber and the 300 foot trials at Loch Long in Scotland. It goes on to outline the "modified tables and rules" up to 204 feet, the "Necessity for Decompression" and "Recompression". Section 1 - "Routine Decompression": Explains the normal method of decompression by stages along with some worked examples. There are 2 sest of tables included, Table I "Showing Ordinary Time Limits I Deep Water and Stoppages During Ascent" while Table II "Shows Stoppages During Ascent After Exceeding the Ordinary Limits of Time on the Bottom Given in Table I". Both sets of tables cover up to maximum of 200 feet (approx 61 metres). Section 2 - "Decompression Illness and its Treatment": This section deals with symptoms of "compressed air illness", the procedure for using the recompression chamber, use of oxygen, fire danger, treatment, recurrance of symptoms and a "treatment decompression table". The table contains a guide of symptoms and possible treatments. Section 3 - "Treatment of Decompression Illness When No Recompression Chamber in Available": This is a single page giving a guide of what to do if there's no chamber. It includes some scary stuff like getting the diver re-dressed and underwater as quickly as possible. It even goes on to say that if the diver is unconcious, a second diver should be sent down to look after them! Inside the front cover is a page pasted on. The printed text refers to "Air Required for Stops" with stops at 30 feet, 20 feet and 10 feet, time for each stop and the air required for each stop in cubic feet. In addition, there are details hand written showing "Output of Compressor" plus several other formulae like "Air From Bottom to 1st Stop". As there is no mention of work with Cdr George Wookey, I believe these were published before 1956? The only clue to age is a reference to chapter 7, pages 136-179 of "Deep Diving and Submarine Operations", referring to the "Davis Submersible Decompression Chamber". A second clue to date could be an inscription on the fromt, "Capt Shelford - Not To Be Taken Away". [pt] |
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4th. 1935 Part 1. No dj. 4th. 1935. Parts 1 and 2. No original dj. Computer generated facsimile dj. 5th. 1951 Signed by Robert H. Davies. Computer generated facsimile dj. 5th. 1951. Custom bound, ribbed spine, green, no dj. In magazine-style box. 6th. 1955, in double slip case. 9th. 1995. Two volumes, blue djs, in slip case. |