This is one of my double hose regulators. It is one of only three that I know of but I’m sure there are more like it. What makes it so unusual is that it labeled (view the gallery here to see the label) as an Aqualung Mistral, but more closely resembles the J. C. Higgins regulators once sold through Sears. On one of these I saw, the Mistral decal was peeling and revealed the J. C. Higgins label underneath. I’m not going to peel the label on mine to check for that.
I read some speculation that these were once sold to the Canadian military, but I can’t validate that.
My hope is that someone will see this post who knows something about it. I’d love to know if there was a special purpose for its manufacture. I have a suspicion that when the J. C. Higgins deal ran its course, these were the regulators that were left over. Aqualung simply re-branded them for sale.
In any case, I feel fortunate to own such an unusual piece. It is still working, but I haven’t taken it into the water for quite a while.
Hi Joe!
This is an old thread I know, but I have the same exact regulator. I was in a boat yard with a friend and it was in the dollar bin. I know nothing about scuba diving, but I thought it was a great looking little piece. Did you ever find out any more about it? Mine has the same little corner lifted to show that yellow possibly jc higgins label underneath.
Yours is the only thing I can find online about it!
Hi Christa,
That’s a great find! I honestly don’t know anymore about it. I actually sold most of my vintage collection a few years ago to a collector I have gotten to know a bit online. Since so much of my diving involves great depths and helium, my vintage diving equipment was just sitting in boxes. Sometimes I regret that move. I did keep a few pieces, and still take them diving on occasion.
I’d love to see pictures if you wouldn’t mind sending some. I’m sure others would too.
Thanks,
Joe
Hey Joe! That was fast!
Not sure how to attach pictures here. I’ve listed it on eBay (because as fantastic as it is, I don’t dive and I’m incredibly broke) and my friend who is a big diver has encouraged me to sort of see where it goes. Who knows.
Thanks again for responding! If there’s a way to message me for pictures I’ll send them right away.
Christa