Some remarkable pieces
from the SPIRO VINTAGE collection
The replica of the AIR LIQUIDE Cousteau system regulator from the 1943 film "Wrecks."
The replica of the AIR LIQUIDE Cousteau system regulator from the 1943 film "Wrecks" began one day in November 2024, when a collector friend from the Paris region contacted me quite unexpectedly. "Tell me, would you be interested in a reproduction of the CG43 regulator housing exhibited at the Sanary museum?" he asked me. Needless to say, my response was immediate and without hesitation: a resounding "yes" full of enthusiasm! Imagine: having the opportunity to add to my collection a replica of the very first prototype of the Air Liquide regulator - Cousteau system, often mistakenly referred to as CG43. This mythical piece indeed marks the starting point of the entire underwater adventure of La Spirotechnique and the legendary saga of Commander Cousteau. For a diving history enthusiast like myself, it was an absolute no-brainer.
Over the course of our exchanges, my friend explained that being from Sanary-sur-Mer, he had the rare privilege of handling the original regulator before its restoration in 2017 by Pierre Blanchard. On that occasion, he had accurately noted the dimensions of the housing but had never found the time to materialize the creation of a 3D reproduction.
A few weeks later, in January 2025, I finally managed to acquire a housing. It immediately passed into the skilled hands of the "Spiro-Vintage" workshops. The work was meticulous: painting of the housing, artisanal fabrication of a membrane from an old inner tube, and assembly of corrugated hoses matched with a MISTRAL regulator T-piece.
The result was superb - a faithful and elegant replica, perfect for display. Yet, something was missing. It was merely an empty shell, a beautiful static object devoid of any internal mechanics. And for me, who enjoys understanding and replicating every technical detail, this absence was a real frustration.
I then delved into my personal archives, exploring old patents, period photographs, and documents related to the CG45 prototype preserved by AQUALUNG. From these sources, I was able to reconstruct the technical plans of the internal mechanism of the regulator.
However, a major difficulty remained: finding the person capable of modeling and manufacturing the missing parts. I activated several contacts, knocked on a few doors, but to no avail. I had to resign myself to waiting, hoping that fate would one day lead me to the right opportunity. Days passed, then weeks. In the meantime, my collection grew with new remarkable pieces - including a splendid TRI-MONSIEUR still retaining its original paintings and stickers.
And then, in mid-May, the miracle happened. A message from Italy was about to change everything. My collector friend Maurizio Baldinucci - to name him - had seen a photo of the CG43 regulator replica on the Facebook page of my collection. Barely looking at the image, he immediately recognized the prototype and was amazed that such a piece was among my acquisitions. And for good reason: there is only one known specimen today, carefully preserved at the Frédéric Dumas museum in Sanary-sur-Mer. The other three prototypes had unfortunately disappeared in the fire of the building where they were stored during the Provence landings on August 15, 1944.
Curious and passionate, Maurizio immediately contacted me to learn more. I then explained to him that the piece displayed in my showcase was not an original prototype, but a partial reproduction - an incomplete reconstruction work, as the second stage housed no internal mechanism and the first stage was missing.
As I believe that passion is meant to be shared, our exchange quickly turned into a true conversation between two enthusiasts. I told him the entire story of the CG43 regulator, the circumstances of its creation, its foundational role in the development of the autonomous diving suit, and how the sole surviving specimen eventually joined the collections of the Sanary museum. I also shared all my personal research: patent records, measurements, technical notes, as well as the study of the successive evolutions of the prototype between 1943 and 1944, a period during which each of Cousteau's dives brought its share of modifications and improvements. My goal was clear: to reconstruct step by step the complete evolution of the regulator and, if possible, bring it back to life.
However, a major difficulty stood in my way: the severe lack of precise technical references. Apart from the plans contained in the original patents, no industrial drawings, no complete overview of the mechanism's configuration seemed to have survived. As for the few period photographs, especially those showing Cousteau's early dives in the Marne, they did not allow for a clear view of the internal configuration of the device.
The only filmed trace of this remarkable device in operation was found in the famous documentary "Wrecks," filmed by Jacques-Yves Cousteau in 1943. This film represents a true world first, as it features the first underwater cinematic images showing an autonomous diving suit in action. It was on this documentary that the team at the Frédéric Dumas museum relied in 2017 to undertake the complete reconstruction of the Air Liquide - Cousteau system autonomous diving suit as it appeared in the film, shot off the coast of the Planier island near Marseille. The restorers meticulously analyzed nearly fifty images extracted from the film, allowing them to reconstruct the arrangement of the internal components of the regulator and understand its overall logic. Their work culminated in a faithful and functional reconstruction in 2020, presented in an article in the Subaqua magazine (issue 291, July-August 2020), the official publication of the French Federation of Underwater Studies and Sports. The effort was colossal, but the result now represents a crucial historical milestone in understanding the evolution of the first autonomous diving apparatus. The complete diving suit is now visible in one of the rooms of the Dumas museum, a precious witness to that heroic era.
During our exchanges, Maurizio explained to me that he had been working in hydraulic design for nearly forty years and that he owned a small family workshop near his home capable of machining precision mechanical parts. His technical expertise and our shared passion sparked an obvious idea: to reconstruct together two presentation models of the CG43 regulator, identical in their configuration to the original prototype preserved in the museum, and in line with the version seen in the documentary "Wrecks." Our goal was ambitious: to manufacture two complete units, including the first stage and all the internal components of the second stage. Since we did not have the original bottles or valves, it was, of course, impossible to reproduce the exact set displayed at the Dumas museum, but we aimed to come as close as possible.
To achieve this, we first needed to understand the internal structure of the second stage. The patent plans provided us with a valuable foundation, describing the mechanism's kinematics in the longitudinal plane, but they were silent on the lateral views and the complete three-dimensional arrangement of the parts. This is where my photos of the CG45 prototype held by AQUALUNG played a crucial role: as the second stage of the CG45 was identical to that of the CG43, we could refer to it to reconstruct the missing volumes.
With this information and the precise dimensions of the housing, Maurizio created a complete 3D model of the regulator, including all the internal components, the corrugated hoses, and the mouthpiece. However, during the modeling, an inconsistency emerged: during the restoration of the Dumas museum diving suit, the expiration tube had been reversed compared to the original regulator contained in the box given by the Buffaz family. This error, unknowingly replicated by my collector friend in Paris in his 3D version of the housing, also appeared in our project. This was normal since he had taken the measurements before the museum's restoration of the diving suit.
To correct this inversion and obtain a faithful replica of the device seen in "Wrecks," we modified the 3D model: moving the expiration tube orifice to the opposite side of the cover, adapting the connection to the duckbill valve, and redesigning its fixing flange. These new parts were then 3D printed in plastic before being manually adjusted. The internal components of the second stage were then machined in a specialized mechanical workshop, using brass for the turned parts and stainless steel for the cut and folded elements.
As for the first stage, we knew it would be impossible to find an identical pressure regulator to the original. Maurizio then embarked on extensive research and found an old gas pressure regulator from the same period in the United States. Although its fittings differed slightly from those of the original model, it proved to be perfectly suited to our project. Several modifications were then made:
- removal of the high and low-pressure gauges, replaced by suitable plugs;
- removal of the high-pressure relief valve;
- repositioning and modification of the high-pressure connection;
- adaptation of the low-pressure connection to make it compatible with the second stage body;
- precise adjustment of the downstream pressure screw and addition of a locknut;
- finally, silver painting of the regulator body to reproduce the appearance of the one preserved in the museum.
The only thing left was to reproduce the famous Fernez metal mouthpiece, so characteristic of the time and clearly visible in Cousteau's film. The original mouthpiece, contained in the box given to the museum, likely belonged to a Mistral regulator added later. The authentic Fernez model, made from welded brass tubes and then chromed, would have required a complex and costly process. Therefore, we chose the modern route:
A 3D print followed by meticulous sanding and a chrome-effect coating, for a visual result very close to the original. As for the corrugated hoses, the vintage models were made of rubber and notably longer than those of classic double-hose regulators. Therefore, I decided to use "vintage" ARI firefighter hoses, whose dimensions matched perfectly. Lastly, for the duckbill valve, I chose to use an original CG45 model, ensuring historical and technical consistency of the ensemble. The final result not only brought two functional replicas of the AIR LIQUIDE - Cousteau system regulator to life, faithful to the spirit and form of the original model, but it also demonstrated once again that shared passion and collaboration can achieve results far superior to what one could hope for when working alone.
C'est une réplique d'un des détendeurs originaux utilisés lors du tournage du film "épaves" en 1943. Il y avait 3 exemplaires: un en version narguilé, 1 comme la réplique, et l'autre avec lequel plongeait Frédéric Dumas, où le bec de canard était à l'extérieur du boitier, mais protégé par une plaque métallique.
Détail du montage en série du premier étage et du boitier du second étage. Vue de coté.
Détail du montage en série du premier étage et du boitier du second étage. Vue de dessus.
Détail du premier étage de détente du détendeur AIR LIQUIDE.
Détail du montage du bec de canard.
Capot extérieur de la chambre humide où se trouve le bec de canard.
The CG45 Prototype
At the end of September 2025, after successfully completing — together with Maurizio Baldinucci — our ambitious reconstruction of the Air Liquide “Cousteau System” regulator, identical to the one used during the filming of Épaves in 1943, we were carried by a genuine wave of enthusiasm.
Buoyed by this success, we decided to take on an even greater challenge: to build a faithful replica of the CG45 prototype, a mysterious regulator now preserved by Aqualung.
This prototype remains shrouded in mystery, as no document or photograph known to date proves that it was ever used in actual diving conditions. No image shows it in operation, and all evidence suggests that it never left the design office’s workshop.
It appeared publicly for the first time in 1993, in the hands of Commander Cousteau himself, during the Paris Boat Show. On that occasion, the La Spirotechnique team proudly presented this remarkable rediscovery, unearthed from a simple dusty box — a moment immortalized by a famous photograph that has since appeared regularly in the press.
The story began in the late 1980s, when Frédéric Jacomet accidentally came across the device. It had been lying dormant for decades in a forgotten box, left behind after La Spirotechnique relocated to Carros. This fortunate oversight, however, allowed a rare and invaluable piece to survive — a silent witness to a lesser-known phase in the history of the modern diving regulator.
Upon examination, everything suggests that the object is more of a study model than a functional prototype. My analysis, supported by that of Manuel Cabrère, indicates that this design, conceived by Émile Gagnan, never reached the testing stage. The project was likely abandoned in favor of a more advanced version featuring a round diaphragm — which would later evolve into the CG45 we all know today.
Having already collected a series of photographs of the prototype, I contacted Manuel Cabrère to obtain more detailed images along with precise measurements. The objective was clear: to reproduce the regulator in every detail, with the highest possible degree of accuracy.
Disassembly of the original device revealed several noteworthy details: a piano wire inserted through the duckbill tube to stiffen it; a solid, non-functional tubing design — undeniable proof that the apparatus was never used for actual underwater testing.
Yet another unexpected discovery piqued our curiosity: by closely inspecting the circular openings of the low-pressure spring housing in the first stage, we noticed that it did not contain a single spring, as seen in the commercial version, but seven separate springs — a completely new and surprising configuration.
However, a full disassembly of the prototype was out of the question. Given the fragility and historical value of the piece, any risk of damage was strictly avoided.
As is often the case with such prototype or study models, the designers had resorted to economical materials to keep manufacturing costs low. This explains, for example, the use of fiberglass on the duckbill housing — an unusual choice for a device intended for underwater use.
After careful consideration, we therefore agreed to base our reconstruction on the first-stage mechanism of the production CG45, while maintaining the external appearance and structure of the original prototype.
This approach allowed us to preserve both the historical integrity of the original design and the mechanical reliability of our replica — a perfect balance of passion, technical precision, and respect for underwater heritage.
Vue d'ensemble du détendeur prototype du CG45. On remarque que le boitier est de forme rectangulaire alors que le détendeur AIR LIQUIDE système COUSTEAU est arrondi sur une des largeurs.
Vue de face.
Vue de face du détendeur.
Vue de coté
Vue arrière avec vue sur le corps HP.
Détail de la face arrière du détendeur où le premier étage de détente est intégré au boitier contrairement au détendeur AIR LIQUIDE système COUSTEAU.
Détail de la vue arrière.
Détail de la gamelle interne d'expiration.
détail prototype CG45
The first Cousteau-Gagnan scuba suit was launched in July 1946. Its aluminum cylinder, painted black, was equipped with a harness made of flimsy cotton webbing. The wooden crate used to store the cylinder closed with a rudimentary system using two screws.
As for the regulator, it bore no markings, except for a serial number engraved on the back, at the base of the yoke. It also had a curved metal Fernez-type mouthpiece, which was uncomfortable in the mouth.
The 1947 diving suit differs from the 1946 model by the addition of an imposing manufacturer's plate, riveted to the front of the regulator. Furthermore, the Fernez-type metal mouthpiece has been replaced by a lighter rubber version, designed by the manufacturer GODEL for LA SPIROTECHNIQUE.
The 1948-1949 version of the Cousteau-Gagnan scuba diver is distinguished by its silver or blue anodized cylinders. Its harness is designed with a reinforced webbing for greater strength, and the accompanying wooden case is equipped with lever latches.
The "Tri-Monsieur" three-cylinder diver was launched in 1960. Designed specifically for men, it stands out for its imposing size, with three 6.8-liter cylinders each. Due to its weight and size, it was reserved for an elite group of seasoned divers.
The "Tri-Madame" three-bottle was launched in 1960. Designed specifically for women, it stands out for its tailored format, with three 3.33-liter bottles each, providing a perfect balance between weight and stability. Its image was magnificently showcased by Mireille Darc, who promoted it by appearing on the cover of L'Aventure sous-marine magazine that year.
The RAID, designed by TECHNISUB at the request of Captain Cousteau, was launched in 1975.
This new streamlined diving suit, more comfortable than its predecessor, was intended to equip his diving team.
Its name, RAID, is the Italian acronym for Respiratore Aria Idro Dinamico, which in French means
"hydrodynamic air diving suit."
Used by the Cousteau team from 1975 to 1999, it was initially yellow from 1975 to 1982, then painted silver from 1988 to 1999. Available in two 9-liter and two 10-liter versions, it also came in white and red, which are much rarer to find commercially.
The AQUALE underwater exploration board from LA SPIROTECHNIQUE, designed by Belgian Jean de Wouters, one of Cousteau's first companions. He also designed the CALYPSOPHOT camera, which later gave rise to the NIKONOS series.
This is one of the very first models of this board, and probably even a prototype that I date to around 1947.
This is one of the face masks used in 1963 during the filming of "The World Without a Sun" off the coast of Sudan. It was a gift from a friend of Frédéric Dumas.
It was worn by one of the two divers (nicknamed the "black masks") of the COUSTEAU team in charge of the "deep station," André Portelatine or Raymond Kientzy.
This was a mini-breathing set designed for AMX-30 tank crews during submerged river crossings. In the event of a breakdown underwater, each crew member was equipped with this equipment to safely exit the tank and resurface. Specially trained and certified engineer divers, known as "crossing assistance divers" in the French Army, were also tasked with providing underwater assistance and identifying the best crossing points for the tanks in advance.
This device included a nose clip and a harness for attaching a "pony" tank equipped with a SPIRO 8 regulator to the ventral position. The set was supplied in a khaki bag bearing the SPIROTECHNIQUE logo.
This item is rare and hard to find. I was very lucky to acquire one, especially since the SPIRO 8 has retained its manufacturer's plate and still bears its serial number: 11147.
A complete 1968 hookah set, complete with its original wooden case, fully preserved with all its accessories.
A true collector's item, exceptionally rare today, as professional divers often removed the upper storage tray as well as the compartment for weights or mask storage at the bottom of the case.
Complete ERUS wireless communication system with two diver units.
Used by the COUSTEAU team since 1963 for the filming of "The World Without Sun."
AQUAVOX wired communication system complete with 3 diver units.
12-litre bottle from LA SPIROTECHNIQUE from 1961 with the first valve allowing the use of an O-ring instead of a flat seal.
Complete emergency diving suit with AQUAMATIC regulator and 3.33 litre aluminium block.
Complete diver's set from the COUSTEAU team from the "rediscovering the world" period (1986 - 1999) with helmet, wetsuit and AQUARAMA mask.
Test bench for LA SPIROTECHNIQUE regulators.
The AQUADAG used in the 1961 film "Tintin and the Golden Fleece," with a dedication from Jean-Pierre Talbot, who played Tintin on screen.
This dagger's distinctive feature is its red scabbard and the inscription "AQUADAGUE" in French on the handle.
Before the CALYPSO PHOT, the world's first waterproof housing, LA SPIROTECHNIQUE marketed the Focascaph' in the 1950s.
This small housing was specially designed to allow underwater use of the FOCA camera, an iconic post-war camera, widely used and beloved by our parents and grandparents.
The CALYPSO PHOT was the world's first waterproof housing. Designed by Belgian aeronautical engineer Jean de Wouters, who would become one of Cousteau's first crewmates, it marked a major breakthrough in underwater photography.
Manufactured by ATOMS and distributed by LA SPIROTECHNIQUE starting in 1960, it came in two versions. On the left, you can see the very first version from 1960, recognizable by its black logo on the front and its "single-frame" viewfinder, which distinguished it from the second version produced in 1961 and 1962.
In 1963, Nikon bought the CALYPSO PHOT patent and launched production of the NIKONOS, equipped with NIKKOR optics to replace the original SOM BERTHIOT and ANGENIEUX lenses.
Goodies from 1960 offered to LA SPIROTECHNIQUE dealers. There are four ashtrays retracing the history of scuba diving.
- Antiquity
- Middle Ages
- Modern Times
- Today... with LA SPIROTECHNIQUE.
Goodies from 1972, an ashtray made with a ROYAL MISTRAL pan and a manufacturer's plate inside with the number 1972 ... My year of birth ;)
A complete set of Hookah No. 133 from 1965, accompanied by its original wooden case, fully preserved with all its accessories.
A true collector's item, exceptionally rare today, as professional divers often removed the upper storage tray as well as the compartment for storing weights or the mask at the bottom of the case.
