Nation’s Attic Inc. delves deep into diving helmets Sept. 14

Galeazzi three-bolt diving helmet, one of a just a handful ever made for gold mining in rivers. It has a unique design and a fantastic visual appearance. Nation’s Attic Inc. image

WICHITA, Kan. – Nation’s Attic Inc. is conducting a no-reserve auction of antique diving helmets, related equipment and memorabilia. The stars of the Sept. 14 auction are 26 lots of authentic copper and brass diving helmets dating to the 19th and 20th centuries. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers. The live auction begins at 11 a.m. Central Time/noon Eastern.

Top-lot honors may go to an extremely rare Italian helmet. With only four or five known to exist, this Galeazzi helmet (above) was used by gold miners in South America.

Additional highlights include four examples of the famed U.S. Navy Mark V helmet. One dates to 1918 and comes with the complete “jake,” i.e. all the gear a diver would need to make a dive 101 years ago (below).

1918 U.S. Navy Mark V diving helmet with full ‘jake.’ Nation’s Attic Inc. image

A rare mixed-gas Mark V helmet nicknamed the “Widow Maker” from 1944, made to go to the most extreme depths possible, is also available (below).

The U.S. Navy Mark V diving helmet, nicknamed the ‘widow maker’ by some divers, was designed to go to the deepest depths possible. Nation’s Attic Inc. image

Helmets used by commercial divers from the 1800s and into the Great Depression era are represented well. A “five-bolt” helmet made in Boston around 1906 is rare and has amazing visual appeal (below).

1906 A.J. Morse five-bolt diving helmet, a design was used by the U.S. Navy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Most were destroyed or updated, making originals rare. Nation’s Attic Inc. image

Nation’s Attic Inc. has been in business for 14 years and is the largest dealer of authentic diving helmets in the world. Located in Wichita, Kansas, their unlikely location for such items has not hindered the company from sending these pieces of diving history to all parts of the world. Discovering antique diving helmets in the most unlikely places and then finding new homes for them is Nation’s Attic passion & specialty.

This auction is Nation’s Attic Inc.’s first with LiveAuctioneers, with plans to continue the specialty events multiple times a year.

For details contact Don Creekmore at Nation’s Attic Inc.: 316-371-1828, djc@nationsattic.com.