The helmet to the right is a C. H. Sanborn stamped 1867, Boston mass.
Not too much is known about this company other than it existed during the era of early dive companies that thrived along the Northeast. Morse purchased Sanborn in the very early 1900’s.
Only 5 helmets are known to still exist today.
Pictures of the Past
Picture of the Benjamin Maillefert salvage team at Charleston Harbor, S.C. aboard his steam wrecking flat, “Dreadnaught.” Seen on the deck are armor plates salvaged from the sunken Union monitor “Patapsco.” Bones of some of the vessel’s crewmen can be seen on the bow and in a soap box on the left. Maillefert is holding onto the chain and his son Arthur is in the diving suit. The helmets were both produced by C. H. Sanborn in Boston, Massachusetts.
