1910
Object Number: 2024.3
Husvik whaling station was built in 1910 and closed in 1960. The station was operated by Tønsberg Hvalfangeri, a Norwegian company. During its operation around 16,200 whales were processed there.
Siebe Gorman are most famous for manufacturing diving equipment. This helmet was fire-fighting equipment which functioned similar to diving apparatus. Air entered through the tubes at the back, it was pumped through by another person. This meant that the person wearing the mask was limited as to how far they could go by the hose length. However, we are not entirely sure what purpose it was being used for at the whaling station.
The final image is of the man who found the helmet with his colleagues, they were all working for the British Antarctic Survey and were based at Husvik, using one of the old whaling station buildings as a base whilst they worked there.