Chums

Diving Suit

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These images come from Chums, an illustrated magazine for boy . Being an illustrated boys' paper, it is full of articles & illustrations about cameras, bicycles, sports and a regular column where the writer visits/takes a ride on some interesting devices. In the November 1892 issue, his adventure was deep sea diving, from which this images comes. I've also included the description of the diving suit.

Diving

Every rag of my own clothing did I put off, and then in turn I put on these things. A guernsey of the thickest wool, and a pair of drawers equally thick. The guernsey was tied securely about my waits, and when I had begun to think that I had enough wool on me to face a Scotch winter, I was coolly given another guernsey, and another pair of pants of identical thickness, and make to put them on over the others. I did so, and feeling duly uncomfortable, was given a small red woollen cap to draw over my ears, and a thick pair of stockings which came quite up to my hips. Then they told me that I might get into the tight india-rubber over-dress -- a garment made to fit the shape, and composed of the stoutest sheet india-rubber.

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Mail van

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From Chums, 4 January 1893


OK maybe there is a bit more to it. So, here is A Run with the Mail Van:

The Western Mail is one of the most remarkable trains in this country. It leaves Paddington station each evening at nine o’clock, and goes its way to the Land’s End like a great feeding machine, supplying in its transit nearly every western town with letters. It was with this train that I was to journey, and at half-past eight o’clock I found myself in Paddington Station, chatting with Mr. King, the superintendent of the two mail vans, the general custos rotulorum, and the especial guardian of all the important documents and parcels which go from London by this mail. The whole scene was then very busy. The terminus glowed with dozens of fine huge electric lights, porters were bawling, passengers were hurrying, luggage was being hurled here and there, a great express locomotive was being backed against the night express, and all was confusion, bustle, and method.

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