Bidspirit auctions | Nation's Attic Auction May 30
Nation's Attic, May 30. 279 lots, estimates 15 - 13000 $.
Nation's Attic - Nation?s Attic is proud to present the 2026 "Diving Into History" auction, a landmark event scheduled for Saturday, May 30th. This year?s sale features the esteemed collection of The Ocean Corporation, a cornerstone of the commercial diving industry founded in Houston in 1969. As the school continues its legacy of excellence, it has chosen this moment to share museum-quality pieces of diving history with the global collecting community. The auction offers an unparalleled selection of 19th and 20th-century copper and brass diving helmets from legendary makers such as Morse, Schrader, and Siebe Gorman, including exceptionally rare and unique configurations. Beyond the helmets, the catalog includes a deep dive into the history of the working diver with authentic vintage dive dresses, heavy lead boots, weight belts, and specialized equipment. Collectors will also find a vast array of maritime treasures including vintage underwater lights, original manufacturer catalogs, and historic photographs. The second half of this spectacular event shifts focus to a diverse array of high-quality collectibles selling at no reserve. These offerings include historically significant Japanese swords, a curated selection of US coinage, and an elegant collection of designer handbags, many of which remain in their original packaging. As the world?s largest dealer of authentic antique diving helmets, Nation?s Attic provides a secure and professional platform for enthusiasts and investors alike. The full digital catalog will be available for preview and pre-bidding on LiveAuctioneers approximately one month prior to the sale date. We encourage all bidders to register early to ensure approval for this high-profile event. For detailed condition reports or inquiries regarding specific lots, please contact us at 316-371-1828 or via email at helmets@nationsattic.com. Join us on May 30th for this extraordinary opportunity to own a piece of history from the deep.
Lots in this catalog (279)
- Lot 1: Scuba & Professional Divers Regulators Lighting & Backup Air Equipment — $50 - $200
- Lot 2: US Divers Aqua Lung Double Hose Regulator & Mask — $50 - $100
- Lot 3: Kirby Morgan KMB-8 Dive Band Mask 1960s — $500 - $1,000
- Lot 4: Vintage Ikelite SLR Underwater Camera Housing Case — $100 - $300
- Lot 5: Vintage Underwater Diving Color Video Camera & Housing — $100 - $300
- Lot 6: Kirby Morgan KMB 10 US Navy Mark 1 Band Mask — $500 - $1,500
- Lot 7: Vintage Underwater Speargun A.B. Biller Co — $50 - $200
- Lot 8: 46 Issues Of Skin Diver Magazine 1952 to 1958 — $50 - $250
- Lot 9: General Aquadyne DM-5 Dive Mask With Helmet Shell Circa 1970 — $500 - $1,000
- Lot 10: Bob Ratcliffe Rat Hat Grouping Headliners Boots, Faceplate & More — $100 - $200
- Lot 11: Kirby Morgan Superlite Model 27 Diving Helmet — $1,500 - $3,000
- Lot 12: David Clark Model S-5005 Fiberglass Diving Helmet — $250 - $1,000
- Lot 13: Italian Mares Star Underwater Divers Flashlight — $100 - $200
- Lot 14: Handmade Lighted Wood Lighthouse Display 23 Inches Tall — $50 - $200
- Lot 15: General Aquadyne DMC-7 Vintage Fiberglass Diving Helmet — $2,000 - $4,000
- Lot 16: Rare French COMEX Diving Band Mask With Hood and Neck Ring — $300 - $600
- Lot 17: Lady With Spear – Dive – Island Of The Fisherwomen Hardcover — $50 - $200
- Lot 19: Bob Ratcliffe Oceaneering Gas Rat Hat Diving Helmet — $3,000 - $6,000
- Lot 20: Bob Ratcliffe Oceaneering Gas Yellow Diving Helmet — $3,000 - $6,000
- Lot 21: Bob Ratcliffe Oceaneering Gas Blue Diving Helmet — $3,000 - $6,000
- Lot 22: Vintage Helle Model 2216 Divers Comms Box Oceaneering — $50 - $200
- Lot 23: Prisoners of the Deep. Chino Hands. Very scarce book! — $150 - $300
- Lot 24: Advanced Diving Equipment Co Swindell Diving Helmet — $1,000 - $2,000
- Lot 25: Scarce Widolf RAM Engineering Aluminum Diving Mask — $300 - $700
- Lot 26: 1950s Widolf Cast Bronze Abalone Dive Mask — $300 - $700
- Lot 27: Carson Dive Systems 1970 Mark 3 Fiberglass Diving Helmet — $750 - $1,500
- Lot 28: Vintage Scott Hydro-Pak Full Face Diving Mask Cadillac Of Diving Lungs — $50 - $200
- Lot 29: Jack Browne DESCO Full Face Mask In Excellent Condition — $50 - $200
- Lot 30: David Clark Style Fiberglass Diving Helmet In Original Mold — $50 - $200
- Lot 31: The Compleat Goggler. The first book on sport diving and spearfishing — $400 - $600
- Lot 32: The History of Oilfield Diving An Industrial Adventure — $150 - $200
- Lot 33: General Aquadyne AH-GS-2 Fiberglass Mixed Gas Diving Helmet — $1,500 - $3,000
- Lot 34: 1960s Kirby Morgan MM-3 Style Fiberglass Dive Mask — $100 - $300
- Lot 35: DESCO Browne Mask - Underwater Camera Housing & Helmet Speaker — $50 - $100
- Lot 36: 1969 General Aquadyne AH-2 Fiberglass Diving Helmet — $1,500 - $3,500
- Lot 37: 1964 Kirby Morgan MM-3 Mask – 1 of 20 Made — $50 - $200
- Lot 38: Drager Gr III Dive Dress & Other NOS Dive Equipment — $200 - $400
- Lot 39: General Aquadyne DMC-7 1970s Fiberglass Diving Helmet — $1,500 - $3,500
- Lot 40: Buie Helmet book. Dear Mother, I Did Not Dive into The Ocean Today — $100 - $200
- Lot 41: 20,000 Jobs Under The Sea 1st Edition Torrance Parker — $150 - $300
- Lot 42: David Clark Co Fiberglass Training Diving Helmet — $750 - $1,500
- Lot 44: US Navy Sealab I II & III Man In The Sea Challenge Coin — $15 - $50
- Lot 45: Early Bob Ratcliffe Dual Port Rat Hat Diving Helmet — $2,000 - $4,000
- Lot 46: Bob Ratcliffe Dual Port Rat Hat Diving Helmet Unrestored — $1,500 - $3,000
- Lot 47: CSI Industries Confined Spaces Life Support Helmet — $250 - $500
- Lot 48: USN Mark 1 Knife USMC Ka-Bar & Survival Knife — $50 - $100
- Lot 49: Advanced Diving Swindell Diving Helmet With Breastplate — $3,000 - $6,000
- Lot 50: Fishes Of Bermuda Beebe – Black Elephant Hunter – Ship Ashore — $25 - $100
- Lot 51: Sea Of Cortez John Steinbeck & Ed Ricketts Hardcover 1941 — $50 - $200
- Lot 52: Antique Cast Iron Shallow Water Mystery Diving Helmet — $600 - $1,200
- Lot 53: Snead Willis 1930s Cast Iron Shallow Water Diving Helmet — $600 - $1,200
- Lot 55: Unusual Diving Equipment & Supply Co Shallow Water Helmet — $4,000 - $7,000
- Lot 56: Rare Person Sao Paulo Brazil Shallow Water Diving Helmet — $1,500 - $3,000
- Lot 57: Morse Model 15 Shallow Water Diving Helmet w/ Curved Glass — $2,500 - $4,500
- Lot 58: WW2 Morse Diving Equipment Model 15 Shallow Water Air Pump — $200 - $400
- Lot 59: WW2 Era Ohio Rubber Diving Mask w/ Regulator — $250 - $500
- Lot 60: 1916 Miller Dunn Style 1 Divinhood Shallow Water Helmet — $3,500 - $6,000
- Lot 61: 1920s Miller Dunn Divinhood Style 2 Burley Metal Works Diving Helmet — $6,000 - $9,000
- Lot 62: WW2 US Navy Miller Dunn Style 3 Divinhood Shallow Water Helmet — $3,500 - $5,500
- Lot 63: Miller Dunn #1 or #2 Divinhood Helmet Lead Weights — $350 - $600
- Lot 64: Miller Dunn #3 Divinhood Helmet Aluminum Weights — $100 - $300
- Lot 65: Unusual Morse Diving Equipment Model 15 Style 12 Bolt Helmet — $2,500 - $5,000
- Lot 66: DESCO Air Hat Free Flow Copper Helmet Serial #200 — $1,000 - $2,000
- Lot 67: Stainless Steel Joe Savoie Serial #49 Diving Helmet — $3,500 - $6,000
- Lot 68: Heavy Metal Divers Gladiator Bronze Diving Helmet Unused — $3,500 - $6,500
- Lot 69: Bronze Miller Model 400 Vintage 1980s Diving Helmet — $3,000 - $6,500
- Lot 70: Hard Hat Divers Wear Dresses. Bob Kirby’s Autobiography — $100 - $250
- Lot 71: Pearl Diver’s Luck Benham Hardcover 1950 1st Edition With Dustjacket — $25 - $75
- Lot 72: DESCO DIVCON Abalone Presentation Diving Helmet — $2,500 - $5,000
- Lot 73: Vintage US Navy Style Lightweight Divers Boots — $50 - $200
- Lot 74: Rare Yokohama International Divers Santa Barbara Helium Diving Helmet — $6,000 - $15,000
- Lot 75: Vintage Yokohama Size 4 Dive Dress — $100 - $300
- Lot 76: Early Kirby Morgan Modified Yokohama Copper & Brass Diving Helmet — $4,000 - $8,000
- Lot 77: The Coast-Watchers 1946 Commander Feldt With Dustjacket — $25 - $75
- Lot 78: Uniquely Modified Square Front Diving Helmet by Kirby — $3,000 - $6,500
- Lot 79: Antique Diving Helmet Horseshoe Style Weights - Aluminum — $50 - $150
- Lot 80: Antique Diving Helmet Horseshoe Style Weight - Aluminum — $50 - $150
- Lot 81: 1918 AJ Morse & Son Antique Diving Helmet Copper & Brass — $3,000 - $6,000
- Lot 82: Impressive Antique Brass & Leather Divers Boots — $250 - $600
- Lot 83: Antique Cast Iron Divers Shoes or Boots — $100 - $300
- Lot 84: 1920s A Schrader’s Son Brooklyn Antique Diving Helmet — $4,000 - $7,000
- Lot 85: Antique Brass Ross Evans London Ships Spyglass — $50 - $200
- Lot 86: Black Horse Of The Sea 1929 Merritt Chapman Company History — $200 - $400
- Lot 87: AJ Morse & Son Diving Helmet Circa 1909 w/ Photographic History — $4,000 - $8,000
- Lot 88: Morse Diving Equipment NOS Diving Helmet Faceplate w/ Tag — $150 - $300
- Lot 89: Morse Diving Equipment Helmet Brass Welding Frame & Lens — $350 - $700
- Lot 90: AJ Morse & Son Brass Underwater Torch Flashlight — $250 - $500
- Lot 91: Solid Brass 2.25 Inch Underwater Jetting Nozzle — $50 - $200
- Lot 92: Solid Brass 2.25 Inch Underwater Divers Jetting Nozzle — $50 - $150
- Lot 93: Antique White Rubber Divers Air Hose 50 Feet Rare — $150 - $300
- Lot 94: Antique Black Rubber Divers Air Hose 50 Feet — $150 - $300
- Lot 95: WW2 US Navy Mark V DESCO Air Control Valve & Whip — $250 - $500
- Lot 96: WW2 US Navy Type J Battle Lantern — $25 - $75
- Lot 97: US Navy Canvas Dive Boots Parts Bag and Helmet Pad — $25 - $75
- Lot 98: Antique Divers Dress Brass Wrist Clamps, Cuff Expander & Wing Nut Wrench — $50 - $100
- Lot 99: WWII Era Brass Air Line Fittings Morse DESCO & Non Return Valve — $50 - $100
- Lot 100: Vintage Divers Airline Compressor Filter Housings — $25 - $75
- Lot 101: Morse Top Side Divers Telephone Box & Cables — $100 - $300
- Lot 102: Vintage Divers Dress Size 3 For Morse Helmet — $100 - $300
- Lot 103: AJ Morse & Son Five Bolt Antique Diving Helmet Circa 1912 — $7,500 - $12,500
- Lot 104: 1940 Johnson & Joseph Ship Chandlers Marine Hardware Catalog — $100 - $200
- Lot 106: A.J. Morse & Son Circa 1908 Antique Diving Helmet — $3,500 - $5,500
- Lot 107: AJ Morse & Son Diving Helmet Threaded Faceplate — $100 - $200
- Lot 108: AJ Morse & Son Antique Diving Helmet Faceplate Guard — $100 - $200
- Lot 109: Rare Alfred Hale Rubber Co Boston Antique Diving Helmet — $5,000 - $10,000
- Lot 110: 1937 AJ Morse & Son Diving Apparatus Company Catalog — $200 - $400
- Lot 111: 1935 A. Schrader’s Son Diving Apparatus Company Catalog — $100 - $300
- Lot 112: 1800s Alfred Hale Neck Feed Antique Diving Helmet — $7,500 - $15,000
- Lot 113: Rare AJ Morse & Son Mechanical Trigger Lock Dive Knife — $3,000 - $5,000
- Lot 114: Unused Morse Diving Equipment Leather & Lead Weight Belt — $500 - $1,000
- Lot 115: Unique & Rare Daspit Inman One Of A Kind Diving Helmet — $7,500 - $17,500
- Lot 116: 1929 I Like Diving Tom Eadie S-51 Salvage — $50 - $100
- Lot 117: Fathoms Below. Salvage diving by USN Master Diver Meier — $50 - $100
- Lot 118: Rare John Date Montreal Canada Vintage Diving Helmet — $7,000 - $10,000
- Lot 119: Rare John Date Montreal Canada Mark V Style Dive Knife — $500 - $2,000
- Lot 120: Historical Diving Society USA Journals 1993 to 2016 — $200 - $500
- Lot 121: 1950s Craftsweld Equipment Copper / Brass Diving Helmet — $3,500 - $5,000
- Lot 122: Diving Equipment & Supply DESCO Weight Belt — $350 - $800
- Lot 123: US Navy Standard Diving Knife Used With Mark V Helmet Replica — $50 - $250
- Lot 124: Jenny Caribbean 300 50th Anniversary 1000m Dive Watch — $500 - $1,000
- Lot 126: 1917 US Navy Mark V Diving Helmet A. Schrader’s Son #82 — $7,000 - $15,000
- Lot 127: Rare US Navy Diving Apparatus Nov. 1st 1917 Manual Supplement — $50 - $250
- Lot 128: United States Navy Mark V Diving Helmet Aluminum Plaque — $25 - $50
- Lot 129: United States Navy Diving Apparatus Schrader Aluminum Plaque — $25 - $50
- Lot 130: Original Brass Divers Heavy Weight Belt Buckle — $25 - $50
- Lot 131: United States Navy Diving Apparatus Schrader Brass Plaque — $25 - $50
- Lot 132: WW2 Schrader Air Control Valve With US Navy Inspection Stamp — $200 - $450
- Lot 133: 1951 US Navy Mark V DESCO Diving Helmet Korean War — $6,500 - $9,500
- Lot 134: DESCO US Navy Mark V Divers Brass & Canvas Boots — $200 - $500
- Lot 135: 1945 DESCO Air Control Valve With US Navy Inspection Stamp — $200 - $500
- Lot 137: DESCO US Navy Mark V Diving Helmet Belt Buckle — $50 - $200
- Lot 138: Single Pin Communications Line Fitting For US Navy Mark V Helmet — $50 - $200
- Lot 139: G.I. Joe Deep Sea Diver Danger Of The Depths New In Box — $100 - $300
- Lot 140: 1944 Morse US Navy Mark V Diving Helmet #’s Matching — $7,000 - $11,000
- Lot 141: US Navy Mark V Divers Dress Size 2 Converse — $200 - $600
- Lot 142: US Navy Mark V Divers Brass & Canvas Boots — $200 - $400
- Lot 143: WW2 US Navy Mark V Diving Helmet Morse Air Control Valve — $200 - $400
- Lot 144: US Navy Mark V Diving Helmet Morse Communications Brass Cap — $75 - $150
- Lot 145: USN Mark V Diving Helmet Welding Shield — $300 - $600
- Lot 146: 1945 US Navy DESCO Mark V Diving Helmet w/ History & Stamp — $7,000 - $10,000
- Lot 147: US Navy Standard Diving Knife DESCO Used With Mark V Helmet — $400 - $700
- Lot 148: Diving Equipment & Supply Co Navy Diving Knife Used With Mark V Helmet — $400 - $600
- Lot 149: DESCO United States Navy Dive Knife Pre-1980 — $400 - $700
- Lot 150: Rare Vince Forge Co WW2 US Navy Mark V Divers Knife — $800 - $1,500
- Lot 151: Rare A. Schrader’s Son WW2 US Navy Mark V Divers Knife — $1,000 - $3,000
- Lot 152: US Navy Divers Knife Morse New Sealed In Box — $350 - $700
- Lot 153: US Navy Mark V Standard Diving Knife Circa World War 2 — $300 - $500
- Lot 154: US Navy Mark V Diving Helmet Communications Fitting Cap DESCO — $75 - $150
- Lot 155: DESCO Mark V Helmet Air Control Valve & Whip — $350 - $650
- Lot 156: Rare 1944 Miller Dunn US Navy Mark V Diving Helmet #118 w/ USN Stamp — $8,000 - $13,000