Ever See An Arc Welder Like This?

[TommyD]

I replaced an old, frayed power cable on my old stick welder after I near pooped my shorts when I plugged it in and it created a small 4th of July show and it got me to wondering if this is something manufactured or a case of Yankee inginuity. I haven't done any research on it yet BUT got to thinking about it after a few IPA's.

It's badge says Companion, guaranteed high quality and arc welder.

* All work finished before said IPA's were consumed, safety first!

 

[hermetic]

Companion welders were sold by Sears and Roebuck, but I am sure there was a UK equivalent called (obviously!) a Barroweld! Cannot find any reference to it because when I type barroweld into Google, it comes up with an inane and totally incorrect list of what IT thinks I want! It is too stupid for its own good!
Phil

 

[brino]

Wow, that looks very faintly, distantly familiar.......I wonder if my Dad had one, or maybe his Dad.......hmm, I'll have to ask......
-brino

 

[David VanNorman]

I've seen a bunch of machines but not that one.

 

[TommyD]

And what do you think the chances of this being asbestos are?!

 

[hermetic]

pretty high!, but although it was common to bind terminations in high temperature areas with "asbestos string" it is more likely that the cable filler is cotton. simple test, set light to it, cotton will burn, asbestos will not! asbestos is only dangerous if you inhale the dust from friable dry asbestos, or drill/saw/grind it. not nice stuff, but the dangers are greatly overstated unless you work with it constantly, or in a building where the dust is in the atmosphere.

 

[stupoty]

And what do you think the chances of this being asbestos are?!View attachment 122028

Like hermetic says, quite high, Most of the asbestos i see in electricals is the brown woven sleeving and insulation sheeting, my leblond switch box had some squares of it, my saw motor that ive just popped open has the sleaving.

Haddn't thoughht of asbestos string before might try burning some.

I'm getting the motor rewound any how but somthing like a motor is going to move the dust around much much more.

If it's asbestos just on the cable I might be tempted to change it out but maybe messing with it produces more dust mess than leaving it their.

Stuart

 

[TommyD]

Some burns and some doesn't. The outside wrapping is probably cotton, the wrapping around the wires doesn't.

It's amazing how many things asbestos was used in back in the day. I know one guy that has a constant hack from using it in the shipyard when he was a young man.

 

[aametalmaster]

I think its a cool old welder. First I have seen pics of. You got me excited when I saw Salem then Connecticut kinda ruined it for me. Though I would just run over and have a look. Thanks...Bob

 

[TommyD]

Howdy fellow Salemite!


Yeah, there are a couple of Salem's out there, that is the first I've heard of one in Ohio.