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Author Topic: What is this electrical device?  (Read 1439 times)

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Offline amecks

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What is this electrical device?
« on: March 13, 2021, 03:33:13 PM »
Looks like a soldering iron, sorta.  No markings that I can see.  The alligator clip is stamped with a + mark.




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Al
Jordan, NY

Offline bonneyman

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Re: What is this electrical device?
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2021, 04:55:40 PM »
The compressed carbon tip makes me think a low voltage arc welder (or spot welder) for tight spots. Maybe for in the field, emergency repairs? Clip onto the car battery and weld away?
« Last Edit: March 13, 2021, 04:57:21 PM by bonneyman »
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Offline amecks

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Re: What is this electrical device?
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2021, 08:04:56 PM »
Yes, it looks like something from a vintage JC Whitney catalog.  You hook it up, do a roadside repair, then your car won't start cuz you drained the battery!
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Al
Jordan, NY

Offline lptools

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Re: What is this electrical device?
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2021, 10:11:06 AM »
Pretty cool looking tool! Have you drained a battery yet? :grin:
« Last Edit: March 14, 2021, 01:11:09 PM by lptools »
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Offline bonneyman

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Re: What is this electrical device?
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2021, 10:25:16 AM »
Quote from: amecks on March 13, 2021, 08:04:56 PM
Yes, it looks like something from a vintage JC Whitney catalog.  You hook it up, do a roadside repair, then your car won't start cuz you drained the battery!

Oh, the old JC Whitney catalogs! How I used to go thru those and dream about someday having a car and putting all those cool accessories on!
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Offline p_toad

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Re: What is this electrical device?
« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2021, 08:12:02 PM »
Them or Warshawsky
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Offline papadan

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Re: What is this electrical device?
« Reply #6 on: March 15, 2021, 09:22:59 PM »
Yep, small DC carbon arc torch. Handy for soldering hose necks back onto radiators. Back when everything was brass instead of aluminum and plastic.  :grin:
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Online Lostmind

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Re: What is this electrical device?
« Reply #7 on: March 16, 2021, 08:27:21 AM »
I worked at an ignition/electrical shop in the 60's.
We used a similar piece to solder brushes in starters.
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Offline amecks

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Re: What is this electrical device?
« Reply #8 on: March 17, 2021, 07:32:52 PM »
I'm guessing there was a lead filler rod or wire solder that you fed into the arc, sorta like a crude heliarc welder?
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Al
Jordan, NY

Offline Catch22!

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Re: What is this electrical device?
« Reply #9 on: April 20, 2021, 10:09:47 PM »
We used to make these out of an old D cell battery core and a jumper cable.   It will work for a while if you need to weld something away from the house.
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