as of 3/9/11
DESCO Water Ski History
After World War II there was a glut of surplus diving equipment on the market. DESCO was sold in 1946 to Alfred Dorst. Mr. Dorst decided to expand DESCO's product base and introduced products and equipment for the sports market. DESCO developed a SCUBA regulator called the Airmaster. It featured a double hose which was common at the time. Other items included water skis, masks and fins, and spear guns. The sporting goods line only lasted about 12 years from approximately 1947 to 1960. No sporting goods items appeared on retail pricelists after 1960.
Excerpt a from DESCO history page in a mid 1950's catalog:
After the war, the company branched out from the exclusive professional, commercial and Navy designs to enter the booming craze far underwater swimming and spearfishing equipment. This growth was so successful that it expanded even out of water to include aquaplanes and water skis.
Original 1950's DESCO Water Skis
1952 Catalog Photo 1954 Photo
Below are examples of the sales literature for the water skis.
1956 1957 1958-59
DESCO Water Skis offered in the 1950's
Ski Models
Cat. No. Model Dimension Binding____________
29123 Outboard 7” x 6’3” Sportster
29124 Turn-A-Bout 7 ½” x 4’8” Supreme
29224 Supreme 6’ x 6’ Supreme
29245 Sportster 6’ x 6’ Sportster
29245 Sportster Universal
29250 Pacific Flash 6” x 5’3” Supreme
29257 Slalom 7” x 7’ Supreme + Toe
29258 Shorty 6 ½” x 3’ Supreme
29259 Four Foot Flyer 6 ½” x 4’ Supreme
29260 Five Foot Flyer 6 ½” x 5’ Supreme
30000 Copper Clipper Tapered 7” x 6’ Supreme
30001 Copper Clipper Slalom 7” x 6’ Supreme + Toe
DL Leader 6 ¼” x 6’ Sportster
Bindings
Cat. No. Model Notes_________________________________________________
30002 Monopost Single nut adjustment w/ polished Aluminum hardware
59086 Supreme Anodized Aluminum w/phosphor bronze spring
59210 Sportster Two nut adjustment
Universal One size binding
Monopost Binding
Supreme Binding
Sportster Binding
Universal Binding
Aquaplanes and accessories offered in the 50's
Tow Ropes
DESCO Sporting Goods
If you would like to know more about DESCO Sporting Goods from the 1950's please visit our other website at http://www.descocorp.com/desco_sporting_goods.htm