Looks like a soldering iron, sorta. No markings that I can see. The alligator clip is stamped with a + mark.
(https://i.postimg.cc/fR9D86Pq/IMG-9531.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/wx1qtyVd/IMG-9532.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/7PjxSHsJ/IMG-9533.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/hPxKrk6y/IMG-9534.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/906N0NBz/IMG-9535.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
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?
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!
Pretty cool looking tool! Have you drained a battery yet? :grin:
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!
Them or Warshawsky
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:
I worked at an ignition/electrical shop in the 60's.
We used a similar piece to solder brushes in starters.
I'm guessing there was a lead filler rod or wire solder that you fed into the arc, sorta like a crude heliarc welder?
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.