1832. Hugh Morton

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The Dutch government imports a Diving Bell from Hugh Morton of Edinbrough

In 1832, the Dutch government imported a steel diving bell from Scotsman Hugh Morton of Edinburgh which was to be used in the search for shipwrecks. Even though the Dutch improved the diving bell it did not meet expectations, therefore it was decided to carry out underwater work using independent (free moving) divers instead. In 1833 'a diving bell' (as described above) was presented as a gift to the ‘Emperor of Japan’ (who used it for pier building tasks at Aka-no-oera near Nagasaki). The account does not explain if the Emperor was gifted with the bell which was rejected by Holland, but there is a distinct possibility that it was the same bell for the following reasons:


‘An interesting feature of this diving bell is that it had an air-supply: the next step is a bell which is small enough to walk around with’ ...


In 1845 Hugh Morton sold another diving bell identical to the one which he sold to the Dutch government to the town of Hamburg in Germany. This German bell is shown in the engraving. An interesting detail here is that the illustrator has drawn an air-pump which seems to supply air to both the diving bell and the ‘Denayrouze’ type diving apparatus. (See the ‘Denayrouze ‘chapter for further information about that equipment).

Engraving: collection David L.Dekker

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Chronology of Diving in Holland:

1605. Jan Adriaansz.Leeghwater

1832. Hugh Morton

1836. Deane

1839. Augustus Siebe

1839. Augustus Siebe (2)

1839. Augustus Siebe (3)

1841. Bikkers Rotterdam

1844. Heinke

1860. Rouquayrol Denayrouze

1860. Rouquayrol Denayrouze (2)

1860. Rouquayrol Denayrouze (3)

1890. Friedrich Flohr

1899. Drägerwerk

1912. Drägerwerk (2)

1942. Drägerwerk (3)

1945. La Spirotechnique

1945. La Spirotechnique (2)

1945. La Spirotechnique (3)

1945. Zock, Dordrecht

1955. E.P.L. de Hoog, Alkmaar

1983. Jan van Leest

1984. Pommec

1992. Henk Oostenveld

2002. Kees de Jonge

2004. Krul en Dekker

Alphabetical International Index:

The DiveScrap INDEX

2004. Krul en Dekker (2)

2004. Krul en Dekker (3)

2004. Krul en Dekker (4)

2012. Henk-Jan Vijn

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