MK-V
DRESS REPLICA
DIVEABLE
DRESS REPLICA FOR U. S. NAVY MK-V HATS
(SEE PICTURES BELOW)
The
last MK-V diving dresses were manufactured by DESCO in 1964 as far
as
our research has found. The waterproof barrier between two sheets of
cotton
twill was a layer of live natural gum rubber which was not vulcanized.
After these many years that gum rubber layer has "dry rotted" into
a white
powder
in most of the remaining MK-V dresses, although there are,
surprisingly, a few of the old original dresses that KME has been asked to
restore
that can be repaired well enough to dive again.
The
movie "Men
of Honor" rented
five original dresses and KME was
asked
to reconditionthem.
After restoring all the vulcanized rubber breast
plate
gaskets and wrist seals, we
were able to get two dresses to the point
that
they were dry enough to dive. Oddly, one of the worst leaking dresses
was
one that came to KME packed in its original military shipping box,
still
powder covered and sealed in the heavy waxed paper.
SPECIFICATIONS:
KME manufactures
commercial working dresses for all types of Hard Hat or "DEEP SEA" helmets,
using modern materials. Due to many requests by tourist attractions and
hobby divers, KME, working with our material
suppliers, has developed a "look alike" or replica MK-V
dress that is usable for diving.
This MK-V
dress is built to the same strict specifications as the KME-6600
commercial hard hat dress.
The suit material is 1/8" thick
RUBATEXTM G-231-N neoprene
foam sheet with fabric on both sides. KME
special orders this material with white Polyester fabric outside
and nylon super heavy weave fabric inside. The outside white finish
is as near to the look of the old cotton dresses, as it is possible to
get with modern long lasting materials. The super heavy weave nylon
inside eliminates the stretch, normally associate with neoprene suits,
to a minimum, yet allows much more flexibility than the old cotton material.
The knee pads, elbow pads and
the leg lace attachments are made of polyester Cordura
TM to insure long life. They are sized and placed on the
dress to original U S Navy specifications.
The breast plate gasket in
the KME MK-V Dress is vulcanized black natural
rubber, molded as specified for the original dresses.
Wrist seals can be ordered
in three types: original Molded Rubber (authentic,
from DESCO), Latex (looks close to authentic,
but very fragile and relatively short lived) and Neoprene
(most comfortable, can be sized to fit, seals well and has long life).
The patterns used by KME
are the same as the world famous (but no longer manufactured) "Yokohama"
commercial dress which is slightly larger than the Navy specified
patterns. The sizes are not enough larger to change your MK-V
size when ordering. MK-V dresses
are available, on order, in sizes 1 through 5 and customizing is available
at an extra cost.
The only thing that KME
changes on the MK-V dress is the feet.
The old stiff, heavy reinforced feet are replaced with a foot that still
looks authentic except for a sole on the bottom of the foot. The
standard size is men's # 13, but smaller sizes can be special ordered
at no extra cost.
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Lower
Left: MK-V Replica
Dress ready for shipping.
Upper
Right: Same dress after the first day of diving.
Now it is "authentic"!
(See the knees.)
KME
manufactures Chaffing Pants for the MK-V
rig, both from the original
cotton
duck and from 1000 Den. "Cordura" polyester. We also are dealers
for
both
Morse Diving and DESCO
for MK-V Hats, Boots, Weight Belts
and Knives.
Click below for Links to:
Back
to Commercial Page
To
Military Page
MK-V
& Hard Hat Dress Repairs
