DESCO Browne Utility Diving Helmet

This page gives information on the Browne Utility Diving Helmet. The first section gives a historical overview and the second section gives details on the current Browne Utility Diving Helmet.

Historical:

The Browne Utility Helmet is a variant of the Buie Helium Helmet development program. In 1942 the Navy was looking for a lighter weight diving rig for the explosive ordinance disposal teams. As the design was developed different configurations were experimented with. The development program was guided by Emerson D. Buie for the Navy. The final design of the Buie helmet incorporated a flat three sided window. Curved glass underwater causes some distortion in the field of vision. This is undesirable when working with high explosives. The faceted window has a complex assembly of several parts.

Stripping the mixed gas capability and using the simpler curved window a new low volume helmet was introduced to the commercial market in 1945. Little did they know that this helmet was ahead of its time by about twenty years. In the mid 1960's the commercial diving industry moved away from the standard helmet & breastplate to the low volume helmets that are typical today.

Basically the Browne Utility shed the canister attachments and became a low volume free flow air hat. The helmet first appeared in the 1945 catalog and was last on the price list in 1959. The 1945 price was $155.00 and in 1959 $225.00. In 2001 a helmet collector approached us about making a Browne Utility helmet for him. We searched through the old patterns and drawings and found there was enough surviving to allow us to make them. A few pieces needed to be reverse engineered. Other collectors came through for us and we were able to borrow the necessary parts to copy. There were no surviving sales records from the period so we gave the 2001 helmet serial number 200. Another Browne Utility Helmet (number 201) was sold in 2007 to a collector. At this time (Oct. 2010) we are making two Browne Utility helmets for collectors.

BU #200 built in 2001

Browne Utility Helmet 201 built in 2007

Browne Utility Helmet #203 November 2010

Buie helmet with BU #203 in our display room

From the 1945 catalog:

Browne Utility Helmet

Cat. No. 29131

The Browne Utility Helmet and dress is the most practical all-around diving outfit that has ever been constructed. The Complete outfit, which weighs 135 pounds, operates with compressed air to 300 feet maximum depth, allowing the diver greater comfort and providing more efficiency than any other diving suit with a helmet. No breastplate is necessary and either the Browne two-piece dress with entry through the waist, or the Browne back entry type can be used. The diver has a wide range of vision with a comparatively small, light helmet which, with its streamlined construction includes all the latest features for efficient underwater work.

The helmet shown is equipped with telephone communication and standard navy combination lifeline and cable. Special note should be taken of the diver's exhaust valve with the non-leak back features. It is impossible for water to enter the helmet through the exhaust valve regardless of the position the diver is in. A diver operating this suit is more comfortable and can do considerably more work under water in a limited period of time. Dresses are supplied in sizes A, B, and C with medium or light-weight material and with either cuffs or gloves. The chest weight or belt is optional.

The helmet is constructed of spun copper and is heavily tin plated and has cast brass fittings which are highly polished. The window is high grade durable plastic.

Weight - 21 lbs. Standard size only.

Order by name and catalog number, specifying exact type of dress and weights desired.

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From the product description it is not possible to determine if the standard Browne Utility Helmet was a base model or if communications were standard or an option. The line "with its streamlined construction includes all the latest features for efficient underwater work." suggests that communications would be standard but "The helmet shown is equipped with telephone communication and standard navy combination lifeline and cable." hints that it might have been optional. We have decided new Browne Commercial Helmets will have the communications as standard. The options offered will be the Buie top light and the small spitcock.

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The dress options were the DESCO Two Piece Dress or The DESCO Back Entry Dress.

The helmet was designed to be used with chest and back weights. The weights were tethered together with adjustable straps clipped onto openings on the weights. It could also be used with standard weightbelts.

Re-issued as of 2001 Browne Utility Diving Helmets:

Current:

DESCO Browne Utility Diving Helmet

Cat. No. 29131

The Browne Utility Helmet is a low volume, free flow air hat. It is direct descendant of the original U.S. Navy Buie Helium Helmet development program. The Browne Utility Helmet features a wrap around window, integrated air inlet/non-return valve elbow, and double exhaust valve. The air inlet elbow has the non-return valve built in. It used similar technology to the USN non-return valve of the period. The transceiver receptacle doubles as a telephone cup and communications elbow. It is made to mate to the U.S. Navy combination lifeline and cable plug. The double exhaust valve developed for the Buie Mixed Gas Helmet was very innovative for it's time. This exhaust arrangement was rare at the time (the USN Helium Helmet would not receive a double exhaust valve until the 1950's). Double exhaust valves wouldn't become standard on many helmets until the 1980's and 90's.

The Browne Utility Helmet neck ring will accept the DESCO Air Hat neck dam or a dry suit fitted with a DESCO yoke.

Standard features include:

Wrap around acrylic window
Integrated air inlet and non-return valve
Double exhaust valve
Transceiver receptacle that integrates the telephone cup and communications elbow into one installation

Options:

Small Spitcock
Buie type top window

Note:

It is recommended that while diving this helmet some form of head liner is used. In the 1940's and 50's the diver wore a leather football helmet. We recommend using a head liner from the currently available low volume helmets. While the headliner does not perform the same function as in their proper helmets (conforming the helmet to the diver's head) in this application they provide padding against incidental contact between the diver's head and the helmet shell.

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