(Untitled product)

Rare, Vintage Korean deep-sea diving helmet. The Manufacturer: 大成鐵工所 (Dae-Seong Iron Works / Daeseong Cheolgonkso), run by Kim Hae-Pyo. The company logo stamped on the left features the stylized letters KIM inside a diamond, which stands for the founder’s surname. 釜山市 影島區 大平洞2街 196 (196 Daepyeong-dong 2-ga, Yeongdo District, Busan City). This confirms it was produced in the historic shipbuilding and maritime industrial hub of Busan. These Korean hard-hat helmets were manufactured primarily during the 1950s through the 1970s. Following the Korean War, local ironworks in Busan heavily adapted 12-bolt engineering blueprints left behind from the earlier Japanese colonial period. Because South Korea modernized its commercial salvage fleets very rapidly compared to regional neighbors, production runs by Daeseong Iron Works were relatively small. Authentic Korean helmets bearing the “KIM” manufacturer plaque are highly coveted by maritime collectors and are much harder to find on the global market than common Chinese models. •Total Height: 42 cm to 44 cm (~16.5 to 17.3 inches). This is measured vertically from the very bottom rim of the brass breastplate to the highest crown point of the copper dome. •Overall Width: 37 cm to 39 cm (~14.5 to 15.3 inches). This spans the widest points of the circular neck ring flange, including the protruding side-view window grilles. •Overall Depth: 40 cm to 42 cm (~15.7 to 16.5 inches). This tracks from the furthest protruding edge of the front hinged viewport glass to the air inlet valve connection located at the back of the bonnet. Physical Weight •Full Assembly: Approximately 14.5 kg to 16 kg (~32 to 35 lbs). •Due to its cast brass and thick-gauge copper construction, it is inherently front-heavy to offset buoyancy when the front viewport window is fully locked into place. 1-available $4500