Schrader (US Navy) - Diving Helmet

The personal diving helmet of famous Australia salvage diver Neil Todkill, an amazing piece of Australian nautical and diving history.

• United States Navy - Mk V diving helmet - No: 722A

• Manufactured by A. Schrader & Son in Brooklyn, New York City, New York in October 1942 (during WWII)

Neil was instrumental in the recovery and salvage of countless wrecks throughout his home region of North Eastern Australia.

During the Second World War Neil worked as a diver for the Australia Marine Salvage Board working on the recovery of Allies ships in Darwin Harbour. Later forming a marine salvage company based on and around Moreton Island, Queensland - now Todkills Marine Services.

Some of Neil Todkills most well known salvaged works included: 

• SS Rufus King - Wrecked 1942 - Amity Bar south of Moreton Island, Queensland

• MV Koolama - Attacked/Sunk 1942 - Cape Ruilhieres in the North of Western Australia

• Portmar - Attacked/run aground 1942 - Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory

• HMAS Kelat - Attacked/sunk 1942 - East Arm, Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory 

• USAT Meigs - Attacked/sunk 1942 - Port Darwin, Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory 

• SS Manua Loa - Attacked/sunk 1942 - Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory 

• ML-KNIL Douglas Dakota plane crash 1947 - Point Lookout, Stradbroke Island, Queensland

• Marietta Dal - Run aground/sunk 1950 - Smith Rock, Moreton Island, Queensland 

• Palana - Run aground 1951 - Pine Peak Island, Queensland

• Qantas (VH-EBQ) DHA-3 Drover plane crash 1951 - Huon Gulf off Lae, New Guinea

• SS River Burnett - Run aground 1955 - Corsair Rock, Port Philip Heads, Victoria 

• Eifuku Maru - Ran aground 1957 - Great Barrier Reef, Queensland 

• Construction of the Whaling Station slipway - Tangalooma, Moreton Island, Queensland
  

The helmet includes a custom made stand incorporating original A. Schrader & Son diving pump plaque and handles & the matching A. Schrader & Son T-wrench 

Neil’s personal diving suit and diving pump are on display in the Queensland Maritime Museum and Redland Museum, Queensland, Australia.

Read more about the amazing diving history of Neil Todkill in articles written about him below: 

• Moreton Bay History - Val Knox (2022)

• Neil Todkill - Queensland Maritime Museum (2015)

• “Tough Guy” - The Sunday Mail (2001)

• “Heavy Gear To Raise Dakota” - The Telegraph (Brisbane) (19/03/1947)

• “Diver Uses Hammer To Hit Shark” - The Daily Mirror - Sydney (20/01/1951)

• “Diver says: I dare the shark man” - The Sunday Mail - Brisbane (21/12/1952)

• “He gets right down to his job” - Brisbane Telegraph (08/09/1951)

• “Salvage Expert Flying To Shipwreck” - The Courier-Mail Brisbane (06/01/1951)

• Brisbane Telegraph (20/01/1948)

• Brisbane Telegraph (03/07/1951)

• Brisbane Telegraph (11/09/1951)

• Brisbane Telegraph (16/10/1953)