Maurice Fernez [SEP] cause of death
for Scientific Research for creations and innovations. Production of diving equipment was slowly abandoned in favour of respiratory filtering equipment for hazardous and toxic environments.
At the age of 67 years Maurice Fernez died of a heart attack on 31 January 1952 in Alfortville. The family business was carried on by his son André and then after André died on 1 January 1966 until 1997 by Mrs. Alice Fernez, daughter of the inventor. In 1997 it became part of the Bacou group, which was taken over by Sperian Protection. Since 15 September
Maurice Fernez
Maurice Fernez (30 August 1885 - 31 January 1952, Alfortville, Paris, France) was a French inventor and pioneer in the field of underwater breathing apparatus, respirators and gas masks. He was pivotal in the transition of diving from the tethered diving helmet and suit of the nineteenth century to the free diving with self-contained equipment of the twentieth century. All Fernez invented apparatus were surface-supplied but his inventions, especially his mouthpiece equipped with a one-way valve, inspired the scuba diving pioneer