Lillywhite Equipment Catalogs.
 
 

See also 
Catalogs (general, equipment).
Siebe Gorman catalogs.
Instruction manuals.
 

TO MASTER LIST

The following details have been kindly provided by UK collector and master diver Phil Thurtle.

Phil advises that he has access to the following Lillywhite catalogues:
1955 to 1960 (Unbroken run of the annual catalogue)
1961 is missing so far but we are working on it.
1962 to 1964 
1965 is missing but again we are looking. (Can anyone help).
1966 
1967 ?
1968 to 1969 (Now a 2 year catalogue and the last one we have).

Phil writes: What I have noticed with and fascinated with the catalogues is the scuba equipment development from 1955;  it confirmas some of the dates I have put on my double hose collection - most of which are restored and working. Each year's covers are different and the format changes from portrait to landscape, increased in size and finally back to portrait and another increase in size. 

CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO INCREASE ITS SIZE.

This issue  is possibly a first publication of the catalogue - until another earlier one comes up that is.  The whole of the catalogue, including the covers, is printed on quality heavy shiny paper, produced in a small booklet in portrait format.  Contents includes "Underwater Harpoon Guns", "Swim fins", "Swimming Goggles and Diving Masks", "Breathing Tubes", "Underwater Diving Apparatus", "Beach Equipment", "Aquatics Equipment" and "Underwater Exploration and Hunting Books".  Scuba equipment was limited only to the "Siebe Gorman ESSJEE Breathing Apparatus" which came for the princely sum of £65 complete with all relevant equipment except face mask.  Two types of swim fins were available, the "Turnbull Swim Flippers" from Australia and the "Propuls Swim Fins" from France.  Four diving masks were available including one endorsed with Hans Hass's name while there were four books advertised: "Submarine Spearfishing", "Silent World", "Under the Red Sea" and "Diving to Adventure".  The "Aquatics Equipment" includes water skis, surf boards and water polo equipment while the "Beach Equipment" included various inflatable LiLo items.
Compared to later editions of the catalogue this is quite crude.  At this time, they only advertise the shop at Picadilly Circus in London and an agency at J  J Allen, Old Christchurch Road in Bournemouth England.

This is the second issue of the catalogue issued by Lillywhites.  It is slightly larger in format than the previous year and has the front and back illustrated with coloured photographs, supplied by Heinke's.  The company still advertise the three Lillywhites branches in Piccadilly (London), Princes Street (Edinburgh) and "The Quadrant" in Bournmouth.
The catalogue has improved a lot in this issue with items for sale being illustrated with monochrome photographs rather than the line drawings used in the 1955 edition.  Scuba equipment advertised is now supplied from two manufacturers; Siebe Gorman and Heinke.  Models advertised are the Essjee Aqualung Mk 2 from Siebe's and the famed twin horn from Heinke's.  More suits were available from various mabufacturers including Typhoon, Lillywhies (own brand), Siebe Gorman (Essjee Mid Season) and Heinke (Dolphin).  Other scuba equipment included is neoprene boots/gloves, fins, masks, snorkels, cameras, gauges, harpoon guns, knives and torches.  The choice of water ski boards has been
increased and even a powerboat for waterskiing is available (The Albatross).  Canoes and yachts feature along with inflatable beach goods.  Inside the back page once again is a selection of diving books from the time including "Down to Ships in the Sea" by Harry Grossett, "Treasure Diving Holidays" by Jane and Barney Crill, "The Master Diver and Underwater Sportsman" by Captain Hampton and "A Manual for Free Divers by D M Owen plus many more.

Note:  Notice that Siebe Gorman are advertising their scuba equipment range as "ESSJEE" which is thought to be an error as the name should be "ESSGEE", using the SG from Siebe Gorman and not "SJ".  It should be noted that even Siebe Gorman published the name "ESSJEE" which was corrected at a later time. 

Scuba equipment advertised for sale has increased slightly to equipment
from a wider range of manufacturers. 
Siebe Gorman continue to show
their ESSGEE Mk 2 aqualung but also introduce their new ESSGEE Mistral (note the reference to ESSJEE referred to in 1956 has been corrected).
Heinke continue with the "Heinke Lung" (twin horn) and there is a first appearance from Submarine Products with their "Sea Lion" regulator.
Typhoon show a single hose regulator called the "Pro", imported from the USA - I think we know it better as the "Rose Pro".  Diving suits are available from Typhoon, Siebe Gorman and Heinke.  Other pages display "swim fins", "diving masks" and "snorkel tubes". 
Underwater camera cases seem to be coming more popular with the "Lewis Photo-Marine" and "Dart Submarine Camera Container" advertised along with the "Aequalux Underwater Exposure Meter".  There's also room for harpoon guns as well as gauges, torches, knives and other various scuba ancillary equipment.
The catalogue concludes with water skis, surf boards, a folding canoe (The Granta) and an inflatable rubber dingy called "The Dolphin". 
There is now only a single page for the LiLo beach and garden "toys" and a page of 15 "books on Underwater Subjects" available including "The Silent World", "Free Diving", "Diving to Adventure", "The Reefs of Taprobane", and "Underwater Exploration".
The company advertise two branches of "Lillywhites", in Picadilly London and Princess Street in Edinburgh.  The cover photograph is attributed to the author Arthur C Clarke, taken off the coast of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in preparation for his book "The Reefs of Taprobane".

The 1958 edition is almost identical to the 1957 catalogue with a few exceptions.  The Siebe Gorman Mk 2 regulator has been dropped, just leaving the Mistral otherwise it is the same range of regulators for sale. 
Suits include the "Heinke Delta", Typhoon One-Piece Suit", "Dunlop Aquafort Two Piece Suit", "the Heinke Dolphin Suit" and the "Heinke Falla Suit".  There is once again "Swim Fins", "Diving Masks", "Snorkel Tubes". 
There was the same range of camera cases but an additional one called the "Aqua-Eye". 
The range of gauges, knives, torches and other accessories is virtually unchanged from the previous catalogue.  There is also a range of water skis and a LiLo inflatable kayak in single seater and two seater models as well as the usual LiLo range of toys for beach and garden. 
There's 17 books advertised including "Silent World", Diving to Adventure", "Holidays Under The Sea", "The Coast of Coral", "The Master Diver and Underwater Sportsman", "Your Guide to Underwater Adventure", plus more.

In 1958, there were still two branches, in Picadilly (London) and
Princess Street (Edinburgh).  The cover photograph is a "still" from the
film "Silent World" and the back cover photograph is printed by "kind
permission of the makers of the Arbelete Champion Gun" (harpoon gun that
is) - advertised in the catalogue for the princely sum of 7 pounds 2
shillings and 6 pence.

Once again, the catalogue is a similar format to the 1958 edition but items vailable are becoming slightly more comprehensive.  Regulators available ontinue with the Siebe Gorman ESSGEE Mistral but the Heinke twin horn has been replaced with the “Heinke Lung”, i.e. Mk3 and Mk 4. 
For the first time we see the Normalair Compressed Air Breathing Set, omplete with full face mask and inverted cylinder configuration.  Also new for 1959 is the “Typhoon Scuba” regulator but Submarine Products continue with the “Sea Lion” demand valve.  For the first time we see a compressor advertised, the Lillywhites “AQUACHARGA Portable Air Compressor”. 
The catalogue once again continues with diving suits, swim fins, diving masks, snorkel tubes, underwater camera cases, harpoon guns, gauges, knives and torches. 
Only two camera housings are shown this year, the “Lewis Photo-Marine Case” and for the first time the “Albacore Universal Underwater Camera Housing”.  Lillywhites also introduce an underwater “tug” called “The AQUAMOBILE” from Submarine Products 
As with other years it also shows water skis and a folding canoe but the LiLo inflatable beach toys has been dropped. 
Finally there 12 books for sale, including the “new” British Sub-Aqua Club Diving Manual.

In 1959, there were still two branches, in Picadilly (London) and Princess Street (Edinburgh).  The cover photograph is supplied by Dimitri Rebikoff, author of a book called “Free Diving” while the back cover picture is a repeat of the previous years cover photograph which was taken from Cousteau’s film “Silent World”.

Although the dimensions of the catalogue has remained the same as most of the previous years, it has started to swell in page numbers, now 24 sides including the covers but only 20 numbered pages.  Regulators advertised are similar to the previous year with the Siebe Gorman Mistral, “Heinke Lung” and Normalair but more emphasis is given to twin cylinders and full face masks.   Submarine Products must have launched a new regulator as they advertise their “Atlantic” double hose.  Camera cases have an additional two from the previous year, the “Page Perspex Case” and the “Aquasnap Camera Case”.   The remainder of the catalogue is very similar to the previous except there is now an inflatable boat for “Skin Diving” called the “INCA”.  New for the year was a selection of swimming pools in 9 different sizes up to 49 feet long by 17 feet wide and 3 feet deep for the sum of £357 (it says they were easily erected).  Every stately home should have one!  Scuba books continue to be sold including a second edition of the British Sub-Aqua Club manual.

In 1960, there were still two branches of Lillywhites, in Piccadilly Circus (London) and Princes Street (Edinburgh).  The front and back cover photographs are supplied by Dimitri Rebikoff, author of a book called “Free Diving” – the back cover photo having been shown on the cover of the 1959 catalogue.
 

Copy not available at the moment! Can you help.

The catalogue is now in landscape format and slightly  larger in size than the earlier ones but still with card covers and shiny paper inside.  Regulators displayed are from various manufacturers including the new company of Siebe Heinke, the new name after the Siebe Gorman take over of Heinke’s.  Their regulators include the Mistral and the Merlin.  (Although advertised as the Merlin, photographs in the catalogue still show the Mk III Venturi Jet).  The Normalair is still for sale but new is the Drager “Pacific Triple” (three cylinder set with double hose ) and the Healthways “Scubair” single hose regulator.  Suits, fins, masks, snorkels, gauges and harpoon guns still fill the pages while several ne cameras appear – namely the “Calypso  Phot” camera and the “Aquafoto” camera housing.  There’s many more sets of water skis and inflatable boats, the “AVON Redshank Part Boat” and the “Pirelli Nautilus E”.  Inside the back cover there’s 14 diving books advertised covering various subjects.

In 1962, there were still two branches of Lillywhites, in Piccadilly Circus (London) and Princes Street (Edinburgh) and also an agency in John Webbers (Sports) Ltd in Exeter and Torquay.  The front and back cover photographs were supplied by Barry Blair, diving instructor in Club Mediterranee.

Format exactly the same as 1962 except there is an indication on the cover that Lillywhites had been “A Century in the Service of Sport”.  Remarkably, the main catalogue is reduced in size with 16 printed pages but there is a loose supplement of 6 pages containing the underwater breathing equipment.  Regulators include the Siebe Gorman Mistral & Merlin, the Drager “Pacific Triple” & “Baltic Double”, the Normalair and the Healthways “Scubair” plus a Drager PA61/II.  There was also a curious “ad onn” for the “Normalair Throat Mounted Adaptor” that converted the Normalair regulator into a double hose regulator.  There was also three compressors available, two from Bauer (KA10B & KA14B) and one with a Lillywhites badge (Aquacharja).  Other equipment includes swim fins, snorkel tubes, diving masks, harpoon guns, underwater cameras & housings, gauges and torches.  New for 1963 is the “SOS Decompression Meter”, a mechamical forerunner of the modern electronic dive computer.  There is also still several pages of water skis and inflatable boats.  Inside the back cover, 13 books are listed including “Underwater Work” by Crayford and the new revices third edition of the British Sub-Aqua Club manual.  There’s even still some room for “The Silent World”.

In 1962, there were still two branches of Lillywhites, in Piccadilly Circus (London) and Princes Street (Edinburgh) and also an agency in High Street Exeter and Torwood Street in Torquay.  Sadly, the photos on the front and back covers are the same as 1962 with photographs once again supplied by Barry Blair, diving instructor in Club Mediterranee.

Note the J-valve lever mechanism on the yellow tank on the backpage photograph. They were soon to be made redundant as it was recognised that they posed more danger than they were worth. The idea was that when the air in the tank diminished to such a low level that the dive could feel difficulty in taking a breath, the diver could pull the lever to give another 300psi - just enough to get back to the surface safely. Unfortunately, the lever was often accidently released, or sometimes the diver simply forgot to set it, thus when it came to take a breath from the 'safety reserve' there was nothing left. Appropraie conmtents gauges were soon used, and what with common use of depth gauges, and underwater watches, the J--vale was relegated into one of those 'it was a good idea at the time' buckets. 

And by the way - there is nothing like good buoyancy control !!!
 

For 1964, the catalogue has returned to the portrait format but as with last year, the catalogue is only 16 numbered pages with a loose supplement inserted headed “Underwater Breathing Equipment”.  Printing is now on a blue coloured background rather than the plain white paper.  There is an increased number of regulators, with items advertised as the previous year plus the Swiss “Colombomatic” double hose regulator and a lot of cylinder twin sets on show.  Other equipment includes swim fins, snorkel tubes, diving masks, harpoon guns, underwater cameras & housings, gauges and torches.  For the first time there is a waterproof cine camera called the “Autosub 8”.  There is still a considerate amount of water skis and surf boards along with several inflatable boats from AVON.  As with previous years, there are a number of books for sale described on the inside of the back cover.  Lillywhites now advertise themselves in Piccadilly Circus (London) with branches in Princes Street (Edinburgh) also in High Street Exeter and Torwood Street in Torquay. 

Credit for the photographs on the front and back covers is given to Mr Reg Vallintine. 

The catalogue pages are now a coloured background, rather than the printing on white pages.  Regularors for sale are the “Pacific Tripple” and “Baltic Twin” from Drager, the Spiro “Royal Mistral”, the “Merlin” and “Mistral” from Siebe Gorman, and the Nemrod “Snark II Silver”.  For the first time we see the “Saro Type 5 one person Decompression chamber”.   There’s the usual swim fins, snorkel tubes, diving masks, harpoon guns, underwater cameras & housings, gauges and torches but there are two underwater communication systems called the “Yak-Yak Underwater Communication Set” and the “Aquaphone Direct Voice Communication Set”.  Cameras seem to be in the ascent with five cameras or housings including a futuristic “Cosmic 8 Nautic” looking more like an aeroplane, a housing called the “Zenith Nautic” and the Niconos.  Inside the back cover there’s the customary selection of books on diving related subjects.  Lillywhites now only advertise themselves in Piccadilly Circus (London) with a second branch in Princes Street (Edinburgh)

The cover photographs have been “specially selected for Lillywhites by Ron Church of La Jolla, California, Gold medal winner of the 1965 B.S.A.C. Film Festival.
 

The catalogue is now to cover two years, 1968 and 1969.  The pages are once again printed on a coloured background and for the first time, there’s more single hose regulators than double hose.  The two double hoses included are the Spiro Royal Mistral and the Siebe Gorman Merlin Mk VI.  There’s three single hoses, two from Nemrod: the “Snark II Silver” and the “Snark II Servo” plus the “Aquilon” from Spirotechnique.  Under a section named “Safety Equipment”, there’s a one person decompression chamber by “La Spirotechnique” along with several emergency life jackets (not BC’s as there were not available then).   As usual, there’s dive suits, swim fins, snorkels, masks, harpoon guns, gauges, torches, knives and the SOS Decompression meter is still included.  Cameras and housings offered include the “Baraflex Underwater Housing”, “Zenith Nautic”, “Cosmic 8 Nautic”, “Niconos”, “Siluro” and the “Taipan 8mm Cine Housing”.  Once agan we see underwater communication equipment, namely “The Aqua-Chat” and “The Sonad”.  There’s three pages of water skis and anciliary equipment and one page of inflatable boats and surf boards.  As always, the inside of the back cover includes books for sale at the time.  Lillywhites only advertise themselves in Piccadilly Circus (London) with a second branch in Princes Street (Edinburgh).

The cover and back page photographs are accredited to the “Club Mediterranee Travel Counsellors Ltd”.