Working under water has always been a challenge for humans. We react rather poorly to prolonged exposure in this environment particularly without protection from external pressures. Since the early 1700’s many have worked hard to limit the exposures to pressure and extend the range of operation. Currently the Hardsuit is at the apex of this development effort. From here you view a brief history of this development. The information appears in aquaCorps Journal N8 pp26-27.

LETHBRIDGE 1715 (UK)

The earliest recorded attempt at protecting a diver in rigid armor was made by John Lethbridge of Devonshire, England in 1715. The oak suit had a viewing port and holes for the diver’s arms to protrude. Water was kept out of the suit by means of greased leather cuffs, which sealed around the operator’s arms. The device was reported to have made many working dives to 60ft/18m. Lethbridge’s device probably performed as claimed. We know this from the painstaking work of Belgian expert, Robert Stenuit. Working under the aegis of Comex with assistance from Comex’s founder, Henri Delauze, Stenuit replicated and operated the "Lethbridge Engine," using only materials and techniques available in the day.

PHILIPS 1856 (US)

The first atmospheric diving suit was designed in 1856 by Canadian ex-patriot, Lodner Philips. His design consisted of a ‘tubby’ barrel shaped upper torso and was the first to incorporate ball and socket type joints. Phillips was best known for a serious of small submarines, at least one of which bore the name "Fool-Killer." Apparently, he didn’t suffer gladly. There are no details available on the joint design, so it is not possible to say whether or not it may have had a fighting chance. It would be nice to know if the ever actually built a working suit, or if details of the proposed joint design exists in some archive.

CARMAGNOLLE 1882 (France)

The Carmagnolle brothers designed an atmospheric diving suit in 1882 which used a rolling convolute joint. The joints were made of partial sections of concentric spheres formed to a close fit and keep watertight with a loop of waterproof cloth attached to both sections of the joint. The Carmagnolle suit was a brilliant design for its time though it suffered from many problems. However, the basic idea works fine at a few pounds of pressure, and an updated version is currently being proposed for the "hinge" joints (knees and elbows) on hard carapace space suits. A CARMAGNOLLE suit is on display at the National Maritime Museum in Paris.

BOWDOIN 1915 (US)

Harry Bowdoin of New Jersey, filed a patent in 1915 for a new type of oil-filled rotary joint and a design for an atmospheric diving suit. The design was unique in that it used ambient pressure to balance the joint, however there is no evidence that the suit was ever built. Bowdin’s joint shows a clear grasp of principles both the seals would not function past a couple of revolutions, since there was no provision for lubrication. This problem would have become immediately apparent with the construction of a prototype suit.

NEUFELDT AND KUHNKE 1917 (Germany)

In 1917, the German firm Newfeldt and Kuhnke built two ADS models based on their patented ball and socket joint which utilized ball bearings to transfer the pressure load. The German Navy tested the second generation suit to 530f/163m in 1924 but limb movement was very difficult and the joints were not "fail-safe." Even so, the suit afforded intervention at depths which were previously unheard of. The German Navy had several N&K suits (called "Panzertauchen") during World War II which later found their way into allied hands after the war. Copies were later built by the Russian Navy. The Italian designer Sgnr. R. Galeazzi, also built and ADS system based on their joint design.

CAMPOS 1922 (US)

In 1922, Victor Campos of New York, patented an atmospheric diving suit with oil-filled rotary joints which were not pressure-compensated. The suit was reportedly taken to a depth of 600f/184m. Though clearly the suit could have reached 600 feet, it would have the dexterity of a brick. However, such devices were sometimes used quite successfully as observation chambers. The Campos joint is a fail-safe design.

PERESS 1922 (US)

In 1922, Joseph Peress patented the first spherical type joint which used a fluid to transfer the pressure. He went on to build his first suit in 1925 which unfortunately, did not operate successfully. Peress later redesigned the joints on an annular cylinder and piston resting on a cushion of fluid, which came to be known as Type 1. He completed a second suit in 1930 that was dived to 447f/137m and was later successfully tested by the British Royal Navy. The suit was not used again until 1935, when Jim Jarrett dived the wreck of the Lusitania in 312f/96m and was retired from diving in 1937. The second suit he built is owned by the British Science Museum and is on display in Cornwall.

UMEL 1969 (UK)

In 1969, Underwater and Marine Equipment Ltd. located and restored the old Peress suit, known as the JIM 1 (named after its first operator, Jim Jarrett), and re-engineered the suit and joints. The new joint, named Type 2, was a fail-safe design. UMEL successfully dived JIM2 to 400f/123m in 1972 and later built twelve suits. By 1974, UMEL had patented a Type 3 joint which was eventually retrofit to previous JIM suits. In 1975, the rights to the JIM suits were purchased by Oceaneering International Inc. In 1976, a JIM suit made a series of historic dives to 905f/278m under 16 feet of ice cover for PanArtic Oil in the Canadian high arctic.