Item: Great Very Old Morse Helmet Ca 1900 with Alfred Hale Tag Fine Condition History
Sold For: $6,000.00
Bids: 1
Date: Sep 06, 2012
Auction: Ebay
Description and Image By: authentic_nautical_antiques
Dimensions of helmet: 18 1/2” h x 16 1/2” w x 16″ d weight 37 lbs
stand not included
Presented is a very rare 12 bolt, 3 light helmet with an alfred hale tag, on the breast plate. The tag is in lieu of the more customary name of the company stamped there. The serial number 1179 matches on the neck rings and all four brailes. The patina on this helmet is an unusual, even reddish brown color on both the bonnet and breast plate suggesting it was refurbished at some time in the past. That said, it is in outstanding original condition with all moving parts functioning. The only modification to this helmet from the original design is the addition of a cup on the back which is sealed on the Inside, and has no obvious use.
Alfred hale was established in boston in 1837 which is the same year as a.j. Morse started business. Morse became a supplier to alfred hale rubber co. After they entered into the commercial diving business. This may account for this Helmet having a tag rather than the name imprinted on the breast plate as was the case with breast plates made by hale. These customarily had the company name stamped in the same position as seen in their catalog sheet. This same style helmet appears in the 1910 morse catalog on page 35 which by no way means it was not made earlier Since this catalog is the earliest currently available as a reprint at the present time. The hale catalog sheet reproduced is Of 1917. What is even more interesting is that both a.j. Morse and alfred hale made the same style helmet so it is not Easy to be sure which company made this one since there are no records that go back beyond 1910. However, ken downey of morse diving tells us that the bonnet is typical of hale rather than morse, and that he believes the breast plate was made by morse with the tag added which he also says is correct for the period.
Like all used diving gear, this is being sold for display only. It should not be dived without having passed inspection by a certified dive shop.
Provenance: purchased approximately 40 years ago by a then airline pilot, now retired, from property owned by the natoma company. The natoma water and gold excavating company was founded in 1851 to provide water to mines In the area and was one of the largest owners of water rights in sacramento county, california. They completed building
The folsom dam in 1893, and during the process went through a reorganization in which their various subsidiaries were consolidated into the natomas consolidated of california in 1912, which in turn, became the natoma company. In 1953 Much of the south fork holdings were sold to the u.s. Government for the folsom reservoir project. And certain of their Assets were put in storage.
markings: the morse name tag is not always present on helmets made during this era. We have sold a number of them without it. However, the design is clearly that of alfred hale or of morse. The number 1179 is stamped on the brails, upper and lower rings of the bonnet and breast plate.
Condition: a cup was added on the left back sometime in its life, but it is sealed on the inside, and was never wired for communication. The front door unscrews and the early style exhaust valve wheel turns. The air passages are all intact. The chin button is in place and functions. Field repairs were made to stop leaking using what appears to be epoxy. It also was coated with a lacquer like substance at some time. The bonnet shows numerous small dents in the front and on top with a large dent around the air inlet on the back. The red lead bedding compound on the left port shows it to be an old replacement.
Prior helmet sale: about three years ago we sold a later version of this generation morse helmet with a serial number of 1285. It was dated by morse as being made in 1912. However, the design of the current offering, with the elevated crown of the bonnet and the deeper breast plate, is distinctively different. The two helmets are pictured here for the sake of comparison and the original verdigris patina helmet is not included in this offer. It too was a remarkable helmet.
Brief history of alfred hale rubber co: like morse, hale started business in 1837 as alfred hale & company at 17 covington st., boston, mass. However, in the early years, it was a manufacturer and supplier of rubber wading pants, rubberized cloth, rubber cement and other rubberized goods. It did not start in the diving business until sometime around 1870 when helmets with their name first appeared. In 1869, their catalog stated they were located at 23 school street, boston, and their product line consisted of hale’s improved submarine armor and diving apparatus, complete. Air pumps, helmet dresses, hose, weights, and every article necessary for a complete diving outfit. The next record we find is in their 1917 catalog where it states that the company was established in 1837 and conducted business in that form until 1900 when it became a corporation,. I.e. The alfred hale rubber co, inc. It also stated that they were a pioneer in the manufacture of diving outfits with 80 years of experience.
History of morse diving: In the arena of deep sea diving, there are few companies with the longevity and history of morse diving. The company was founded in 1837 as a boston maker of brass ware, three years before englishman augustus siebe manufactured its first closed air dive helmet. During the civil war, the firm commenced building maritime fittings and began experimenting with early underwater hard hat designs from siebe-gorman and other pioneering makers. In 1864, andrew morse bought out his partner, introduced his sons into the business, and began to focus on creating new products for underwater salvage expeditions. Morse was the first company to make the navy mk v helmet, starting production in 1916. As their expertise and experience grew over the years, they developed a worldwide reputation as a major supplier of hard hat diving apparatus. Morse continues in business today in rockland, ma.