Identifying OLD Miller welder

[jfkid]

I ended up with this very old Miller welder. It is a simple AC welder with no moving parts. You simply plug the leads in different sockets to change its setting. What can you tell me about it? I can't seem to find anything about this "pre-Thunderbolt". Should I be concerned with it from a safety perspective?

 

[jfkid]

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[jfkid]

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[welder4956]

That machine belongs in a museum! Looks like it has 15 amp settings from 20 to 200 amps, depending on where you plug in the ground lead and work lead. No rheostat for fine tuning, no moving parts except on-off switch. Need to open up the case and inspect the wiring to determine condition, but there is not much to break down on it. I bet if you call Miller customer service and give them serial no. and model no., they can dig out a owner's manual for you.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

That is freaking cool!

 

[AndyA]

The picture shows "Model AA" in the lower left side.

From the miller serial number to year conversion chart, this serial number doesn't match the pattern, so it's definitely before 1967.
http://www.millerwelds.com/service/serialnumberreference.html

A quick google doesn't show much for "miller model aa"

 

[zkling]

Wow, I can't recall ever seeing one of those. I'd call miller and find someone that cares to send a pic to. They are (in my experience) very helpful in product support, even for the older machines.

Safety wise for that machine. I'd certainly pull the covers and check over all insulation jackets before attempting to power it up.

 

[jfkid]

Well the guy at Miller wanted a picture. I'll see what they come back with and update you guys.

 

[classicJackets]

Very cool! Can't wait to hear what they say.

 

[jfkid]

Here is the email back from Miller:

I apologize for the late response but I’ve spent the last few days looking for information on this machine. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to locate an owner’s manual for this product. (Even the old timers still working here didn’t recognize this machine.) I estimate that welder was manufactured in the mid-1940s and we don’t have a lot of information on products made in the early years.

I’ll continue looking for information this welder and will respond if anything turns up.

Thank you for your patience.

 

[DuroChrome]

Wow! That is a really cool machine, and even cooler that you saved it from the recycle center. Did it come with any leads or cables?

 

[jfkid]

It did come with what look like the original leads. The wire appears to be a more recent replacement.

 

[bonneyman]

Heck, I'd take the outer covers off and inspect it. Might have an inch of dust buildup - blow it out with compressed air and look at the electrical.
You can get an insulation tester and mega-ohm check all the insulators and wiring. If they all check good I'd power it up and let it sit awhile without touching it. Let it warm up and see if anything starts to smoke or sizzle.

With nothing else to go on that should give you a good idea of it's safety. Most of the older machines were so overbuilt (not like today's cheapie foreign ****) that unless a part was physically broken you should be OK.

 

[Stuart in MN]

That's pretty neat that the factory guy put in all that effort, even if he wasn't able to find anything.

 

[jfkid]

I thought so too Stuart.

 

[jfkid]

The guy at Miller emailed me this info on the welder today. I'm impressed he kept after it as long as he did!

http://www.pdf-archive.com/2015/05/15/om-model-a-model-aa/preview/page/1/

The link will take you to a 3 page PDF.

 

[bonneyman]

Kudos to Miller for keeping at it and making that beautiful machine in the first place!

 

[Kingcreek]

Way cool!
Is it as heavy as it looks?

 

[jfkid]

I believe it weights at least the 215 lbs the specifications say that it should. I used a cherry picker to unload it from the back of the pickup.

 

[raddksn]

Yep cool machine. And even cooler Miller went the extra mile!

 

[ng8264723]

I have an old Forney welder I have been working on/off for a year or so. It was in my friends shop. I used it growing up. The shop collapsed and the poor welder was under a water leak for a few years. I took it hhome and disassembled the welder. I bead blasted the sheet metal and painted it with expoxy primer covered with a tractor store red. I have to assemble it. I cleaned the transformer and put new wheels on it. When you hit the on button it gives out a nice hum. they use motor started capicitors to ease starting. They sometimes go but are cheap to replace. I actually found the original leads on this forum! I should have it done in a week or so. I do need to find a way to make decals. One of the guys on this forum made some decals for his block grinder

 

[jfkid]

New update: Those of you who said the old Miller belongs in a museum can apparently predct the future. It is going to a "collection" in exchange for credit toward a new Miller. The person who wants it is a big Miller fan. In telling a relative this story, he gave me an extra Lincoln AC225 of his as well so I have a functional equivalent for the shop.

So now the question, what new Miller best compliments the AC225? I'm thinking the smallest 220 volt MIG would be a good choice. I wish a TIG was more afordable. Any recommendations?