Some time ago we got in touch with Steven when he wrote us:

Dear Karin and Bert

I became a certified diver the summer of 1971, however the desire struck in 1961 during my first visit to MarineLand of the Pacific.

There while looking through one of the windows in the large oval tank I saw a man in a smooth, black, 60’s style wetsuit with a helmet on his shoulders feeding the fish, I was hooked for good!

It wasn’t until just over a year ago that I found out the name of the helmet he was using, the Miller-Dunn style 3, I had to have one! And so did many others. Many more trips to the aquarium were made until it’s closing in the early 80’s and everyone knew where to find me, running up and down the ramps at the large oval tank making sure I didn’t miss anything.

 


The Miller Dunn Style 3 helmet that inspired Steve in the 60-ies

Now that I’m all grown up (Haaaaa!) running around the yard with a bucket on my head and the garden hose stuck in the back were making the neighbors start to wonder.


The first test dive: Not only a home made helmet but also home made tenders ! Steve's sons perform marvellous !

After exploring different options I couldn’t find anything affordable, so here we are with the prototype Schultz Divinhood. The reason aluminum was chosen for the prototype was for availability and ease of construction, the soft 6061-0 material formed easily and required no special tooling and allowed for neat, clean tig weld assembly.

The top domes are spin formed, and are the only pieces to be outsourced. The light bases and guards are made from machined aluminum plate and welded to the shell. All weld beads are blended smooth following test dives and prior to application of corrosion control. My sons and myself currently make regular dives to just under 60ft as well as several school friends and neighbors.

 


Recently I made contact with an individual, Richard Lowe of Antique Diving whose excitement for a new project has inspired me to take another challenge, to reproduce the Schultz hood out of copper and brass.

The new hats will have some minor changes to facilitate soldering rather than tig welding and some dimensional changes to the shell and breast plate but will otherwise be the same as the prototype. Castings for the light bases and guards are in production and the copper domes are complete and ready to ship.

 


Final valve check

You have a great site! If you would like further detail let me know.

Steve

Well, we are proud to have 21st century inventors as friends. If you are interested in the copper and brass version of this helmet, please have a look at our shallow water helmet collection. Thanks for your contribution Steve.