Diving into History

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harrier@zonnet.nl - 06 Feb 2005 14:37 GMT

The 'Rouquayrol' diving device of 1865 vintage, (named after its inventors
Benoit Rouquayrol and Auguste Denayrouze) was one of the very early halfway
succesfull attempts at making autonomous breathing under water a
possibility.

(Christ, this is long for the intro of a simple question!)
Here goes:

Can anyone help me to printable pics of the device, for a history flash back
in a new diving instruction book?
Pics of the real thing are fine, but sharp repro's of pictures from early
editions of Jules Vernes book '20.000 Leagues under the Sea' will do nicely,
too.
Moreover, these are free of copyrights after all those years.
Anything in the way of 4x5" at 300 dpi would be most welcome.

Pics from the Disney movie are no good, alas. They depict varyous fantasy
devices.

Please mail to hes.van.schoonhoven@zonnet.nl

HES van Schoonhoven
Life is a learning experience

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Matthias Voss - 06 Feb 2005 15:31 GMT

> The 'Rouquayrol' diving device of 1865 vintage, (named after its inventors
> Benoit Rouquayrol and Auguste Denayrouze) was one of the very early halfway
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Can anyone help me to printable pics of the device, for a history flash back
> in a new diving instruction book?

Give Gerd Augustinski at GSI Darmstadt a call. He rebuilt one and dived
it.

Groetjes
Matthias

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mike gray - 06 Feb 2005 15:56 GMT

> The 'Rouquayrol' diving device of 1865 vintage, (named after its inventors
> Benoit Rouquayrol and Auguste Denayrouze) was one of the very early halfway
> succesfull attempts at making autonomous breathing under water a
> possibility.

The autonomous RD regulator was a commercial success, but more
often used in surface supply mode. There is a very good book
about RD (in French) available from the HDSUS.

> Pics of the real thing are fine, but sharp repro's of pictures from early
> editions of Jules Vernes book '20.000 Leagues under the Sea' will do nicely,
> too.

The book was only completely and accurately translated into
English recently. The version you want is the Mendor T. Brunetti
translation. There are no illustrations. Walter James Miller
translations are also good. The book specifically describes the
RD device adapted to the ultra-high pressures available from the
Nautilus' compressors.

> Pics from the Disney movie are no good, alas. They depict varyous fantasy
> devices.

None of the movies have been anywhere close to the book, in
plot, in character, or in technology. The 1916 movie by the
Williamsons has wonderful underwater footage, but using Siebe
Gorman and Hall-Rees rebreathers.

regards
m

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Rudy Benner - 06 Feb 2005 16:20 GMT

>> The 'Rouquayrol' diving device of 1865 vintage, (named after its
>> inventors Benoit Rouquayrol and Auguste Denayrouze) was one of the very
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
> regards
> m

What an interesting thread this is becoming. Thanks.

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mike gray - 06 Feb 2005 16:23 GMT

>> The 'Rouquayrol' diving device of 1865 vintage, (named after its
>> inventors Benoit Rouquayrol and Auguste Denayrouze) was one of the
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> used in surface supply mode. There is a very good book about RD (in
> French) available from the HDSUS.

BTW, the book is "Trois Inventeurs Meconnus" by Michel.

The HDSUSA site is http://www.hds.org/

m

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