AUTHENTIC Genuine Siebe Gorman 6 Bolt Admiralty Pattern Diving Helmet

Description

Famous Siebe Gorman 6 Bolt Admiralty Pattern Diving Helmet
In 1840, August Siebe invented the deep sea diving helmet as we know it today. This 6 Bolt Royal Navy Admiralty Pattern No 14650, is an excellent example.
SERIAL NUMBER: 14650
DATE OF MANUFACTURE: Late 1930s to Early 1940s (WWII)
WEIGHT: 46.5 lbs
DIMENSIONS: 20 3/4“ H x 16“ W X 16“ D
BRIEF HISTORY
Augustus Siebe the German-born founder of the firm which bears his name (1788-1872) is considered "the father of diving." Siebe's 'closed' diving helmet, first produced in 1840, allowed divers to dive safely to greater depths than ever before. Attached to a rubber suit, it became the 'Standard Dress' that revolutionized diving and made the underwater worker an essential part of both salvage operations and civil engineering. Many of the great building projects of the Victorian era - bridges, tunnels and lighthouses still in use today - could not have been built without divers.
Siebe's design was so successful that it remained in use, essentially unchanged, until 1975. However, the Royal Navy required one of their own design, and the British Admiralty requested a helmet made to their specifications which used heavier materials in 1938. This was the Royal Navy six bolt helmet, as seen in this offering. The rest of the "Jake" was standard commercial equipment, except for the front weight which had a light fitted to it, to aid the diver. The chest weights weigh about 40lbs. each and are tied down to stop the helmet rising from the diver’s shoulders. The weights are hung from weight hangers on the front of the breast plate.
The Royal Navy set out to extend the limits of deep diving and established a world depth record, in 1948, of 540-feet wearing a Siebe Gorman helmet of this design, but incorporating a Davis Injector system, flexible dress, and used the fast dwindling supplies of American Lend-Lease helium. Petty-Officer Bollard set the depth record that was to last eight years. Not until 1956 would the baton pass to another.
In October of that year, Senior Commissioned Boatswain George Wookey, descended to a depth of 600-feet, setting record for a helmeted diver wearing flexible dress to that time.
DESCRIPTION
See also photos for selling history, descriptions and 2011 selling price.
Up for auction is an increasingly rare and highly collectible Siebe Gorman six bolt three light British Admiralty Pattern diving helmet in truly excellent condition. The six bolt Admiralty Pattern helmets as used by the British Navy are really getting tough to find these days in even fair to good condition and this helmet rates excellent. More and more of the Siebe Gorman helmets you see on the market today are heavily used and dented. This helmet is used but most certainly not abused. This is a well documented helmet.
The standard configuration for this model utilized oval windows on the side, and a round threaded window on the front. The 6 bolt pattern only requires 2 brails rather than the four found on 12 bolt helmets. The back of the bonnet features the original air & communications fittings. When looking at vintage photos of English military hardhat divers, this very model is most likely what you will find being utilized.
The helmet is perfect for display in your home or office. The copper body and brass hardware exhibit a wonderful patina. The helmet is complete with all its glass (no cracks), 6 wing nuts, 2 brails, exhaust valve, air fitting, communications fitting, spitcock valve, dumbbell safety latch, window guards, neck ring gasket, original reproducer (speaker) and internal air vents. The serial number is 14650 which dates the helmet to the late 1930's to early or mid 1940's.
The helmet, breastplate and screw in face plate are all matching numbers 14650.
There are only a few minor dents to the bonnet which could easily be removed if the purchaser so desires but in my opinion, the dents are part of the history of the helmet.
I haven't removed the bonnet since I purchased it in 2011. Bonnet is somewhat off-center and requires more pressure than I wish to apply to either remove or straighten. I'll leave that to the new owner.
This helmet exhibits a classic English look and beauty. Hints of light use are evident in the copper bonnet. Such a classic design and model do not turn up often, especially in the American market. This helmet makes for an excellent example to sit next to a US Navy Mark V to show the peak of copper/brass helmet design by both nation's militaries.
The display stand shown in the photos is not included. The option to purchase one after the auction will be provided. All helmets will be shipped in two double boxed boxes via UPS.