A Revolutionary Early Fiberglass Dive Helmet by Joe Savoie
 
In the late 1960s, a Louisiana backyard became the unlikely birthplace of a daring innovation. Joe Savoie, a man with no formal education past grade school, dared to dive beneath the surface using a modified fiberglass motorcycle helmet. After fellow divers witnessed him using the helmet, they begged him to make them one. Savoie, however, was a master of his own domain. He chose his clientele, his creation reserved for those who earned his favor. Others? They were simply out of luck.
 
Joe Savoie's 21st-century dive helmets have earned a legendary reputation among historians and collectors, recognized as groundbreaking in their design. The fact that each was meticulously handcrafted in his Louisiana backyard adds a unique mystique and allure. Savoie eschewed traditional advertising; his helmets gained popularity through word-of-mouth as divers witnessed their exceptional performance firsthand.
 
Initially, Savoie produced twelve helmets with a flip-up face feature. Once popularity grew, Joe had to alter the design, eliminating the flip-up face option to make them easier to produce. Starting in 1968 Joe went full-time in his backyard, making only 100 helmets using the modified fiberglass motorcycle helmets sourced from auto parts catalogs. Later, he transitioned to crafting them entirely from stainless steel. Each helmet is a handmade testament to his unique artistry and ingenuity. A majority of the Savoie helmets that find their way to the market are the stainless steel variety.
 
This remarkable example is one of the rare early fiberglass models, bearing the incredibly early serial number 004, undoubtedly from that first year of production, 1968! The scarcity and importance of these early helmets has recently been well-documented. A detailed article on Savoie’s helmets can be found in the latest Journal of Diving History, Vol. 32, #121. This very helmet was featured in that detailed article published to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the helmet's inception. With the existence of numbers one through three uncertain, this one is likely the finest and earliest Savoie fiberglass non-flip-up helmet in existence! The serial number is prominently stamped on the back air fitting block, Savoie's signature placement.
 
This particular helmet has undergone a meticulous external restoration by Frank Takandena and Bob Christensen. The fiberglass body has been expertly re-gel coated in its original yellow color. The stainless steel components have been carefully cleaned while preserving their original patina. The clear helmet face port, in excellent lightly used condition, is original. The neck ring, complete with what appears to be the original black rubber neck dam, is intact. While the rubber has stiffened over time, it remains suitable for display. Remarkably, the original lining remains intact within the helmet. A communications speaker is also present. To complete this historic artifact, the often-lost two-piece chin strap is included.
 
The fiberglass Savoie helmet is a major milestone in diving helmet design. After 120 years of helmet diving, it signaled the beginning of the end for the traditional copper and brass helmets and was the vital key that unlocked the door to the future design of lightweight commercial and military diving helmets. This Savoie model heralded a revolution in international diving helmet design that continues today. If there were a Mount Rushmore for diving helmets, the fiberglass Savoie would be up there with Augustus Siebe's helmet. A signature helmet in any collection, this model is a museum-level helmet in museum display condition.
 
The price includes a 4% credit card fee. If you pay by check, money order, or bank wire, the discounted price is $19,200 delivered within the contiguous United States.