Twin Carbon Arc Torch

The carbon arc torch brought back some memories. As a kid, I took the carbons out of old D cell batteries and using a train transformer did some carbon arc. No gloves, or eye protection :nuts:

The things we used to do while experimenting.

Mike
 
My first one I bought out of the back of a mechanics illustrated. The carbons were mounted into two handles held on a flat strap of light spring steel. When you squeezed them together you got the arc. If ya let go they separated. Later years I had one for my craftsmen welder 235 with two ranges fully adjustable. I still have that welder and it works like it did forty years ago. The torch on that was my only torch for many years and it will blind YA if you don't use a shield.
 
The old number 6 dry cells had HUGE carbons in them that we'd make all kinds of carbon-y things with- ahh the good ol days- Coast to Coast hardware stores..and tube testers in the grocery store
Mark S.
 
i remember coast to coast stores, and i do remember seeing a dusty tube tester at the old Hardware store in town.
i'd go back to that time in a second...
 
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