Tool Talk

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: oldgoaly on September 10, 2017, 08:56:57 PM

Title: Old electric soldering iron who made it?
Post by: oldgoaly on September 10, 2017, 08:56:57 PM

I've been trying hard to get the radio shed all cleaned up and test benches with vintage tools up and going. Taking much longer than I though. So cleaning up the bench I hope to use a soldering bench? This no name iron was there. Anyone recognize it?

Title: Re: Old electric soldering iron who made it?
Post by: Bill Houghton on September 11, 2017, 12:16:24 PM

I don't know, but it looks like the type that takes a copper rod held in with a setscrew.  I've got one of those sold by Montgomery Ward, and it has replaced the propane heated soldering coppers I used before when soldering up architectural sheet metal: less fuss, and a steady heat.

Title: Re: Old electric soldering iron who made it?
Post by: Chillylulu on September 11, 2017, 06:12:22 PM

Radio shed?

Here's my Dad  and Grandfather in Saigon in October of '68.

Chilly

Title: Re: Old electric soldering iron who made it?
Post by: Notlobster on September 12, 2017, 11:17:49 AM

Looks to me like a vintage American Beauty, made at the time by the American Electric Heater Co. of Detroit.  American Beauty is still in business:

https://americanbeautytools.com/soldering-iron-3158 (https://americanbeautytools.com/soldering-iron-3158)

(http://www.stevenjohnson.com/soldering/pics/american-beauty-3138.jpg)

http://www.stevenjohnson.com/soldering/electricirons.htm (http://www.stevenjohnson.com/soldering/electricirons.htm)  (scroll down)

Title: Re: Old electric soldering iron who made it?
Post by: Bill Houghton on September 12, 2017, 12:39:56 PM

It's comforting and slightly amazing to find companies like that still in operation.

Title: Re: Old electric soldering iron who made it?
Post by: oldgoaly on September 12, 2017, 04:24:19 PM

Many had the name or logo stamped into the insulator ring, but after using phosphoric acid I still do not see anything. "even" using the magnifying lamp, so chances are it was made by one company then sold under another brand name. I did check the resistance and the heater is good. Back in the day they used copper, now they use a copper alloy but which one?