Custom made diving helmets

Over the years DESCO has been tasked with creating special helmets to the wishes of our customers. Some times it will be a matter of using the windows, air inlet, or exhaust valve from one style helmet on another top and breastplate. The cost of building a helmet substituting stock parts is often on par with the standard helmet given the substituted parts are of near equal value as the ones replaced. Labor is nearly the same as long as no major modification or fitting is required.

Occasionally we have been asked to create a unique helmet, one which has its own style and details. These helmet can become expensive as each non-standard part has to be fabricated by hand and fitted with all the other pieces. Planning alone can consume valuable man hours.

Below are some of the non standard helmets we have made.

Made for a collector.

This helmet is on the standard lightweight (Sponge) top and breastplate. It has a shallow water helmet front window, and Agar top & side windows. It uses a Browne Commercial air/communications block, air control valve, air distribution system, and comm system. It uses a Agar exhaust valve.

Another helmet similar to the one above.

This helmet has the bars removed from the front guard. The Agar exhaust is more conventionally oriented.

Made for same collector as helmet above.

This shallow water helmet is based on the standard DESCO one light top and breastplate. The windows are from a Browne Commercial helmet with custom guards. A unusual feature to the SW helmet is the incorporation of a exhaust valve. Shallow water diving helmets normally exhaust out under the breastplate. The exhaust valve is a standard Sponge unit. The weights were specially cast for this helmet using a seashell mold.

Another helmet for the same collector.

This shallow water helmet has a lightweight top shell and a specially constructed breastplate. The windows are Abalone, the air inlet is from the lightweight helmets, and the exhaust is a sponge unit. The breastplate was made from a Copper breastplate shell with the bottom collar strap placed under, instead of over the Copper. Custom weights were fabricated and are held on by Mark V flanged wingnuts.

Browne Commercial Helmet with an oversized front window.

The customer wanted a larger front window. From the photo on the right you can judge the difference. The side windows needed to be located farther back.

Custom Mark V Type helmet

This helmet is on a USN Mark V Top & Breastplate. It uses Browne Commercial windows and a custom double exhaust valve. The customer requested three mounting points on the top.

Browne Commercial Helmet with modified exhaust valve.

Many of the other customized helmets borrowed parts from the Browne Commercial helmet. That doesn't mean the BC is immune from modification. This one has a modified exhaust valve like the helmet above. The BC post & lashing eyes have been replaced with Mark V breastplate loops.

DESCO Four Light Commercial Helmet

This Commercial Four light has Mark V side windows, a Browne Commercial air control valve, and exhaust valve,

Binnacle Helmet

This helmet is an exception to the rule that DESCO builds fully functional diving helmets. The customer was a friend and a very good customer . He sent us a box of parts and asked us to make him a helmet from them. This is what we came up with.

The top is a cover from a ship's binnacle. the top window is a lens and guard from a deck light, and the front window is a port hole. the breastplate is a Brass casting of the female mandrel used to form a commercial breastplate shell. If someone tried to dive this they would die. It does have a certain appeal and takes recycling to the next level.

Modifications to existing helmets.

Modified Chinese TF 12

This helmet belongs to a commercial diver. He had us install Browne Commercial windows, air control valve, and a DESCO spring lock on it. It has a Nuclear style air diffuser in the helmet, and a commercial communications cup.

Another TF 12 Modification

This helmet came in three times for mods.

Mod 1: Mark V windows & commercial telephone cup

Mod 2: New commercial front door installed. Loops added to brails and helmet tinned.

Mod 3: New front guard, BC air control valve, BC exhaust valve, BC air/comm block, and ball lever lock.

Here is A TF 12 with Browne Commercial windows

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