Old electric soldering iron who made it?

[oldgoaly]

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?

[Bill Houghton]

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.

[Chillylulu]

Radio shed?

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

Chilly

[Notlobster]

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



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

[Bill Houghton]

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

[oldgoaly]

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?