This rare helmet is one of the finest original Miller-Dunn Divinhoods we have ever handled. Produced by the Miller-Dunn Company of Miami, Florida, from 1915 to 1924, the Divinhood was one of the pioneering designs in American shallow-water diving and became the direct ancestor of the company’s later Divinhood helmets.
 
More than a century later, this remarkable example retains the rich, untouched appearance collectors hope to find in an early diving helmet. The aged copper body and brass fittings display a wonderful natural patina developed through years of use and preservation.
 
One of the most interesting features of this helmet is its double factory stamping. Following the granting of a U.S. patent in August 1916, Miller-Dunn marked Divinhoods:
 
Dunn Divinhood
U.S. Pat. Aug. 1916
Foreign Pats. Pending
Miller-Dunn Co., Miami, Fla.
 
Remarkably, this helmet carries the stamping on both the left and right sides of the copper body, an unusual and highly visible feature. The brass window frame is additionally stamped No. 168, providing another intriguing early identifying mark.
 
The copper body retains excellent character, with several minor working dents, primarily across the top. Rather than detracting from the helmet, these marks are consistent with its age and working history. An old period repair is also visible on the top and has become part of the helmet's century-old appearance.
 
The glass remains intact with no cracks, while the original-style brass handle and air fitting are in good condition. The helmet is accompanied by four lead weights bearing the correct factory information and fitted with the proper copper tangs on the reverse for attachment to the helmet. The weights are contemporary replacements.
 
Overall, this is an exceptional Miller-Dunn Divinhood Style 1 with tremendous visual appeal. Its beautifully aged copper and brass surfaces, unusual double Miller-Dunn stamping, early No. 168 marking, and remarkably complete appearance combine to make it one of the most distinctive examples we have offered.
 
For a helmet approaching 110 years old, it presents exactly as an early working Divinhood should—honest, historic, and unmistakably original.
 
Helmets sold by Nation’s Attic Inc. include a Certificate of Authenticity (COA). Each certificate bears a unique serial number matching a tamper-resistant holographic decal placed discreetly inside the helmet. This system provides permanent documentation and an additional level of assurance regarding the helmet’s authenticity and provenance.