Heinke was a series of companies that made diving equipment in London, run by members of a Heinke family. Timeline 1786: Gotthilf Frederick Heinke was born in Messeritz, Prussia.: He arrived in London in 1809 and worked initially as a victualler to build up capital 1812: He married Sarah Smith, who bore him three sons and two daughters. 1816: John William Heinke (son of Gotthilf Frederick) born. 1818: Gotthilf Frederick Heinke opened an ironmongery shop business in London. 1818: Charles Edwin Heinke (son of Gotthilf Frederick) born. 1819: Gotthilf Frederick Heinke got a workshop at 103 Great Portland Street in London since 1819. 1820: Gotthilf Henry Heinke (son of Gotthilf Frederick) born. 1839: Gotthilf Frederick Heinke opened a second premises at 3 Old Jewry, London. 1840: John William Heinke married Louisa Margaret Leathart. Start of making diving helmets 1844: Around then Charles Edwin Heinke made his first diving helmet. Inspired by William F. Saddler, Heinke started using solid brass for diving helmets' breastplates, instead of copper sheet. Heinke's diving helmets had three similarly-shaped circular windows. They did not have the outer protective grills as in other helmets; thus they had better visibility for divers, and it was easier to keep the windows clean. Heinke's main competitor was Siebe Gorman who also made diving helmets, and Heinke constantly tried to improve on designs. He introduced an additional exhaust valve on the front side of the breastplate, which is now called the "peppermill" because of the holes in its cover. This exhaust made it possible for the diver to ascend and descend much faster. 1845: He brought in the "Pearler" helmet, with a square-pattern mould-cast (instead of oval and beaten) copper helmet. He became famous with this style. Their square breastplate made it easier for the diver to bend forwards to look for pearl oysters on the seabed. The idea was later copied by companies such as Siebe after Siebe took over Heinke, and even by Morse Diving in the USA. 1858: Around then the addresses in Great Portland Street were renumbered: 103 became 79. 1852: Starting then, William Robert Foster and others ran a firm 'Foster and Williams' supplying diving dresses and air hose at 87 Grange Road, Bermondsey, London. 1858: Gotthilf Frederick Heinke applied for British citizenship, and was granted it. 1863: Some members of the Heinke family (including Frederick William Heinke (son of John William Heinke) started a firm