Diving Helmet - 12 Bolt Siebe, Gorman & Co. (1881 - 1904)

Very rare 12-bolt Siebe, Gorman & Co. diving helmet (Circa. 1881 -1904) with non-matching serial numbers on corselet (breastplate) and bonnet.

According to David L. Dekker (www.divinghelmet.nl), there were approximately 4000 helmets built when the company operated in its London factory as Siebe, Gorman & Co., with the earliest known serial number being '2016'.  Moreover, although the company traded as Siebe, Gorman & Co. for the period 1881 -1904, the maker's name was only stamped directly onto the copper breastplate up until 1900. From 1900 onwards, they attached a cast brass name badge to the breastplate.

So the corselet (breastplate) of the helmet can be dated somewhere between 1881 and 1900 - it has the stamped name of SIEBE, GORMAN & Co., and it has a serial number of '2337'. However the bonnet has a later serial number (3957), which puts it in the middle of the range of serial numbers made under the name of Siebe, Gorman & Co..

Other features of the breastplate include the two posts for attaching the front weight and a circular copper patch covering what may have been a 'Pepper Pot' exhaust. The brass brailles are fully marked, however there are two bolts and three butterfly nuts missing.

The 12 mm (½ inch) thick glass behind the cast brass grill face plate has been recently replaced (the original was cracked). The cast brass plate appears to be marked with a part number of sorts (1051 OPC).

The air inlet ducting to the ports, on the inside of the bonnet, has suffered some damage (see detailed images).

Dents and scratches are considerable, but that is to be expected for a working helmet nudging 135 years old. A small tear is evident at the top of the copper bonnet (see detailed images).

Price includes custom made solid pine stand.

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