Morse Diving was an American manufacturer of diving equipment, founded in 1837 in Boston, Massachusetts. The company originated as Fletcher & Morse Co., a brass‑goods manufacturer for the marine industry, and later operated under the name Andrew J. Morse & Son. Over the course of its history the firm produced a range of diving apparatus, most notably commercial diving helmets such as the Mark V and the “#15 Shallow Water Diving Helmet.”
Company history
- 1837 – Fletcher & Morse Co. opened at Water and Congress Streets in Boston.
- 1864 – Renamed Andrew J. Morse & Son after the retirement of the original partner.
- Late 19th century – Began manufacturing compressor pumps for the Civil War era; the exact date diving helmets entered production is unclear.
- 1905 – After the death of founder William F. Morse, the company was incorporated as Andrew J. Morse & Son Inc. under the management of his daughter Elizabeth and her husband Mark A. Lawton.
- 1910 – Catalog listed the company at 221 High Street; helmets bearing the “Andrew J. Morse & Son Inc.” tag date from this period.
- 1930s – Introduced a second‑generation commercial helmet with a larger bonnet shell and a front‑door exhaust valve, as well as the #15 shallow‑water helmet and air pump.
- 1939 – Sold to the Farrell family (owners of McKee Pile Diving Company).
- 1940 – Renamed Morse Diving Equipment Company.
- 1970 – Operations moved to Rockland, Massachusetts.
- 1998 – Purchased by Ken and Donna Downey, who restored the name Morse Diving Inc.
- 2014–2015 – Acquired by Watson Roby Holland; the company entered bankruptcy and ceased manufacturing.
- 2016 – DESCO Corporation (Diving Equipment and Supply Company) purchased Morse Diving’s assets and continued production of the Mark V helmet under the historic A. J. Morse & Son branding.
At the time of its bankruptcy, Morse Diving was noted as the 412th oldest continuously operating business in the United States.
Products
Morse Diving’s product line centered on surface‑supplied diving gear, including:
- Commercial diving helmets (Mark V, “#15” shallow‑water model)
- Air compressors and pumps for diving applications
- Various accessories for professional underwater work
Legacy
Although the original company ceased operations, its designs—particularly the Mark V helmet—remain influential in historical diving equipment collections and are still reproduced by DESCO. The company’s long history reflects the evolution of American commercial diving technology from the mid‑19th century through the early 21st century.
