Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST]Submanaut/Ben Franklin

[MerlinSub@t-online.de (Carsten Standfuss)]

Ricci Dustin schrieb:
> 
> Wow Carsten!
> I looked at the pictures of Submanaut. She is in bad
> shape. Who originally built the boat? How did the
> current owner get his hands on it? When was it's last
> dive?

Its in Busby - Was built in the US as Margennaut by Mr.Martin
at Martine's Diving Bells Inc., San Diego, Calf., the orignial
desgin has not the warp around windows - but portholes there. 

> 
> Does anyone know what happen to the Ben Franklin? I
> was in Switzerland in the 60s at lake Lucerne and I
> swear there was a submarine I believe built by Piccard
> that looked just like the Franklin. It was operating
> as a tourist sub. I'm almost certain that submarine
> became the Ben Franklin.
> 

No - that was the PX-8 Auguste Piccard - the first Tourist sub. 
Its now a retired museum Sub in the Switzerland. Was many many years a
rusty hulk in Texas in a storage Marina.. But was sold before I can got
the information were it was in storage.. 

Ben Franklin is also retired - and a museum in - I remember Canada-
Vancouver.. 

Both desgined by Piccard. 

Carsten