Aqua-Lung Identification Plates
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1949: The Aqua-Lung was first distributed on the east coast by Spaco Inc. of Burlington, Vermont. The ID plate is rectangular in shape, 1-1/4 by 2 inches, and surface mounted with four rivets. It is not countersunk into the bottom box as later models are. The example I have has raised letters and hand stamped numbers. The plate is non-magnetic, so I assume it's made of brass or copper, with what appears to be a satin platinum type finish. Any evidence of a background color is not evident.
1950-1952: West Coast distribution was secured by René Bussoz. The Aqua-Lung was sold through Rene's Sporting Goods at 1045 Broxton Avenue in Westwood, California. The ID Plate remained 1-1/4 by 2 inches and surface mounted with four rivets. The background color was black with raised chrome lettering.
1953-1954: Several changes occurred in 1953. This was the first year that the Aqua-Lung was manufactured in the United States. The ID plate was still riveted on but now it was counter sunk into the bottom box assembly. We'll call this flush mounted and from this date forward all rectangular ID plates are thus. The now famous 1045 Broxton Ave address is still on the plate but the background color is now blue with raised chrome lettering. Sometime about 1954 a green background plate appeared.
1955: U.S. Divers relocated to 11201 West Pico Blvd. This was the first year for the Navy Type DA with the new address. The ID plate was flush mounted with four rivets. The color was black with raised chrome lettering. This was the year the DX over-pressure was first offered. The DX had a riveted plate with a yellow background color and it retained the old 1045 Broxton Ave address.
1956: Two new models were introduced. The DW Stream Air had the new ID plate with two tabs that bent over to attach it instead of the rivets. The background color was red with raised chrome lettering. The DY Jet Air was also new, but it didn't have an ID plate or serial number. It was made of high impact fiberglass phenolic compound, brown in color with the lettering molded into the bottom box. The Navy Type DA and the DX over-pressure continued on as the year before.
1957: The new bend over tabs were now used to attach all ID plates except the DX which continued to use the four rivets. The Navy Type DA had a slight name change to the DA Navy Approved. ID plates for the DA came in four colors: blue, black, yellow and orange, all with raised chrome lettering. The DW Stream Air and the DY Jet-Air continued on from the previous year.
1958-1959: All the rectangular ID plates from 1958 on had the bend over tabs. Gone forever were the rivets. The D Mistral took the place of the DW Stream Air and had a yellow plate with the raised chrome lettering. 1958 was the first year for the DA Aqua Master. Together with the DA Two Stage they had a blue tag with the raised chrome lettering.
1960: U.S. Divers again relocates, this time to 3323 West Delhi Ave., Santa Ana. There are only two models this year, the DA Aqua Master and the DW Mistral. The ID plates are the same color as the previous year.
1961-1963: A slight address change again occurred in 1961; Delhi Ave was changed to Werner Ave. The location was the
same, just the street name was changed. The DA Aqua Master and the DW Mistral continued on and a black plastic Jet Air without a plate was introduced for these three years.
1964-1965: New in 1964 was the Royal Master. It had a beautiful ID plate - a large gold crown dominated most of the tag with a perimeter of blue; raised chrome lettering finished it off. The DA Aqua Master and DW Mistral continued on as
before. In 1965 the Royal Mistral was introduced. It also had a great looking ID Plate. The large gold crown was surrounded by a field of red, finished off with raised chrome lettering.
1966: U.S. Divers line up this year was the same as last except the Royal Master name was changed to the Royal Aqua Master.
1967-1969: Through these years the models remained the same: DW Mistral, DA Aqua Master and the Royal Aqua Master. The Royal Mistral was dropped from the line in 1968.
1970: This year a major change in the ID plate occurred. The familiar rectangular shape was changed to a round silver
stick-on affair. There were no serial numbers on the new sticker, instead the serial number was stamped into the top box assembly. The DW Mistral continued on with the old rectangular plate, but this was the last year it was produced.
1971-1972: Production continued with only two models, the Aqua Master and the Royal Aqua Master. In late 1972 the
Aqua Master was dropped from the lineup.
1973: This was the last year of production for the Royal Aqua Master. Units were still available for a couple of years until
inventories were depleted.
U.S. Divers had about a 25-year run with their Double Hose regulator - not bad for a design that originated in 1943. The
Double Hose regulator dominated the diving scene in the 1950's and early 1960's. Photographers especially prized it because the air exhausted on the divers' backs and didn't interfere with their camera work. Today, countless collectors prize these early regulators. They are restored and maintained with care and are often used at Working Equipment Groups across the country.
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