My "new" vintage welder

[sonnyboy]

I went to an auction last weekend, got auction fever, and picked up an old "Twentieth Century" 260 amp stick welder. It's in excellent shape cosmetically, and seems to weld pretty well for the two sticks I've used so far.

It also has what appears to me to be a spot welder attachment - sorry no pics of that yet.

I was wondering if anybody could tell me how old it is - I'm guessing late '50's - early '60's. It is a model 110-59 according to the tag.

I don't have much experience welding or working with welders (especially stick welders), so any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Amitygravel]

Very cool.
Must have been bought by someone who thought they were going to weld and never did , or someone took really good care of it.
Search around for info on "The Welding Web forum lots of useful stuff there.
Get some photos of any attachments that came with it too.

 

[carhunter]

http://http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1906&dat=19750917&id=XtkfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NNkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4329,1048292

Found this link dating to 1975, so its older than that. The one in the ad looks pretty modern. Yours is probably mid to late 60s?

20th Century was purchased by Lincoln, which shortened it to Century. "And now you know...the rest of the story" as Paul Harvey said.

 

[sonnyboy]

Here is a pic of what I think is the "spot weld" ??? attachment that came with it. It is also marked "Twentieth Century" (the logo looks a little newer than the welder), but I can't find a part # on it. There is a little plastic knob on the handle that you can slide the "electrodes" ??? together and apart with.

If anybody knows what it is and how it works, I'd appreciate the info!!!

 

[dr_clyde]

I think you"ll find that is a carbon arc cutting/welding attachment. It uses consumable rods to cut with the arc. Its a very messy and loud way to cut thick steel. If you don't have a torch or a plasma cutter it will work, but not many people use it any more.

 

[bobadame]

I think you"ll find that is a carbon arc cutting/welding attachment. It uses consumable rods to cut with the arc. Its a very messy and loud way to cut thick steel. If you don't have a torch or a plasma cutter it will work, but not many people use it any more.

I don't think so. There is no provision for compressed air. Also there are 2 carbon rods and 2 leads. Looks like you would position the sheet metal between the rods and slide then them together to complete a short circuit to create a spot weld.

 

[BFBOB]

Dr Clyde's right, or at least closer. It's a carbon arc torch. Strike the arc between the carbon electrodes, and use the arc just like a flame. Allows you to braze with your stick welder. I haven't heard of using them for cutting, but I don't know everything. All the spotwelding attachments I've seen use solid copper electrodes and a far sturdier fixture.

 

[Farmall 1066]

If that is a carbon arc torch, and it appears to be, hang on to it. Handiest thing on earth for heating rusted nuts. Just dead short it across the nut until it's smoking pretty good, and chances are it'll come right loose. Also good for heating metal to bend or straighten, as it runs a lot cheaper than a torch will.

 

[moonpool145]

Yep, carbon arc torch for sure. I had one that my grandpa gave me when I was ?? 12, or 13??. It was part of this little buzz box that I first used to learn to weld. The carbon electrodes consume fairly rapidly but it produces a good deal of heat and was very usefull. I worked at joining all sorts of stuff with it back then using coat hanger, weld rod and brazing rod. Difficult because you just have this big ball of heat rather than a flame or an arc that you can play. But as Farmall says, great for breaking rusted nuts.

That pict got me started think about my gramps (gone must be 30 years now. He was a small farm town blacksmith and mechanic in ND (not to mention once barnstormer) who taught me to weld and work on things from an early age. Kind, quiet, plodding methodical workhorse that knew more about fixing stuff than anyone I have ever known. Sorry for the hijack. Great guy, I miss him.

 

[dr_clyde]

I didn't really think about the compressed air... D'oh. I should've known better. Anyway. Yes. Hang on to that. It is definitely handy for heating applications.

 

[trexdoink]

That's pretty cool, what did you have to pay for it?

 

[sonnyboy]

I gave $80 for everything. I figured the copper in the windings and cables should be worth close to that.

 

[sirweldalot]

Nice find.

 

[never enuf time]

I Have one that's similiar to yours, its green thought. Came from my grandfather farm, led a rough life. I will try to take a pic.

The carbon arc is awesome for brazing.