Healthways Scubair Scuba Regulator.

Healthways Scubair Scuba Regulator.  Circa 1962-1968 time frame.

 

First stage with captive yoke nut.  This design cut down on obstructions getting caught on a traditional style yoke screw/nut set-up.  Another innovative feature by the Healthways Company.

First Stage with selector knob to allow Diver to use either the reserve feature built into the regulator or the reserve on the tank valve (J-Valve setting).

      Today I thought I'd share one of my favourite vintage Scuba regulators.  The Healthways Scubair Single Hose Regulator.  

    The Healthways company was one of the first companies in the United States to get into the burgeoning Scuba Diving Sport in the 1950's.  They were not the most popular, today or back then, but they had some innovative features incorporated in their designs.  In today's small world of vintage Scuba Divers, Healthways is not at the top of the heap, which is a shame really.  However it seems there is a growing group of Divers that are starting to take notice.  

   Back in the day this company had a reputation as an "entry level" budget level of gear, but in actuality their kit is well made.  And to boot in the early 1960's they launched a performance grade of gear that they called "ScubaPro".  This branch morphed into its own brand and is still going strong to this day.  So I think that the way a lot of modern people think about their gear might be unfounded.  

    Anyway...the regulator in this episode is their redesigned for 1962 Scubair Regulator.  This regulator is a piston regulator, the version of the Scubair that was before was a diaphragm based first stage version.  Personally, and this is my opinion, I think the piston version is less problematic.  At least most piston first stage regulators I have overhauled have been much easier to get back up and running.  I have had good luck with them.  

    Healthways had a whole line of Scubair regulators.  The base model (in this episode),a version called the "Scubair 300" that had a sonic alarm that buzzed when tank pressure dropped to 300, and a version called the "Scubair-J" that featured a built in J-Valve Reserve.  

    The base model has a knob on the side of the first stage that allows the Diver to select between the built in reserve feature that restricted the air flow (not completely cut off) at 300 PSI or to switch to the "J-Valve" setting and let the Diver use the J-Valve Reserve on the tank valve.

    For the non-Divers on here...  In the early days of Scuba up to sometime in the 1970's the use of a gauge to let Diver know of the air left in the tank was not common.  One way to ensure a Diver did not run out of air was the use of a tank valve that has a reserve feature.  This valve restricts or cuts off air (I have heard about both) to the Diver when the tank drops to a certain pressure (usually 300-ish PSI).  This gets the Divers attention and then the reserve lever is pulled and the air supply is back on and the Diver accends to the surface.  The reserve feature that was built into the tank valves was commonly called the "J-Valve".  I use them regularly and they work just fine, but the thought of using them by modern Divers horrifies them.  They are not that scary!!!

   The other setting on the Scubair regulator is the "Reserve" setting.  This incorporates a built in restriction plate that restricts air flow and gets the Divers attention.  This restriction of the air flow happens at around 300 PSI tank pressure.  When used in conjunction with a J-Valve and the Scubair regulator set to "Reserve" a Diver can be warned about dwindling air at around 600-PSI.  I have used this combination many times, however at this time I'm getting better at instictivly knowing that my tank is getting down there in air supply.  

    The built in Reserve/J-Valve was one of the innovations that Healthways brought to the Diving World.  I don't know of any other Scuba gear maker that featured the reserve restrictor plate?  Another great feature is the captive nut on the yoke screw (how the regulator attaches the the Scuba tank for the non-Divers).  This would lessen the obstructions that could get hung up on things like fishing line, kelp, etc that love to snare Divers.  

   As for performance...I love diving my Scubair!  Despite what a lot of people think, this regulator is a good performer.  At least I think it is!  I have quite a few single hose regulators from the 1960s and 1970's and this one is the one that gets the most bottom time.  I have a couple that were top of the line in their time and I like diving this cheap Healthways Scubair the most.  I don't know?, maybe it is the way it looks?  It has more chrome than a '56 Buick!!!  There are no other Scuba regulators that look anything like it.  

    The regulator in the photos is actually my second Scubair.  This one needs to be rebuilt in the future.  The Eagle eyed reader might notice the missing rubber mouthpiece on the the second stage.  These are fairly simple to rebuild, despite having the added reserve feature.  

      This and other regulators made by Healthways are plentiful and easy to find.  They are fairly simple to rebuild and they are worth checking out if you want to try and dive something different

My Healthways Scubair Regulator about to get some bottom time at White Star Quarry, Gibsonburg, Ohio, US.