The model shown alongside is the prototype model made in 1945 and is shown courtesy of the owners – Aqualung – Spirotechnique.

Was this unit used by Jacques Cousteau himself? Or perhaps by  Phillippe Talliez ? or Didi Dumas?

I do not know, but I am sure the history of this demand valve would fill a book –

 “The Silent World ?”

The production version shown has a serial no in the mid 500 ‘s. The current owner learnt to dive with this regulator, and after many years persistantce he suceeded in purchasing it from his diving instructor.

The shape has changed from rectangular to round. Although outwardly similar to the Mistral this demand valve is  two stage and must have been more expensive to manufacture than the Mistral.

The CG 45 was sold in the USA by US Divers as the “DA model US Navy Approved” . The US model differs from the CG 45 in having a dull chrome finish and all except the earliest model had a mouthpiece assembly fitted with non-return valves.