Please help identify old Smith torch handle

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Hi,I just joined, but have been reading quite a bit on here, I build and repair wooden boats and am very interested in welding.  I have TIG welded steel and stainless steel in the past.  My interest is actually in Oxy Acetylene welding and have been reading what I can and thinking about what equipment to get.  I recently saw this old Smith torch on ebay and couldn't resist.  I am hoping someone can help identify what tips I could use.  Here's a link to the auction: http://www.ebay.com/itm/130560842253...#ht_500wt_1287If that link doesn't work, I can take pics and post them, but they have some good close ups.  The only other identifying marks that I found are what looks like a little FM inside a diamond on the bottom near the hose connections.   Also, what looks like an R or an A with 36092 on the longer of the two hose inlets.  It seems that in other threads there were recommendations to have an old torch reconditioned.  Does that seem like the thing to do here too? The welding I would do at my shop would be on stainless exhaust pipe up to 1/8", also steel trailer build/repair probably to 1/4" and possibly aluminum fuel tanks in the future.  I realize that a stick welder and possibly a TIG would be a good combo for me, but for some reason I like the old school welding. Thanks for your help, Patrick
Reply:A gas rig is great for heating and brazing too. I never use mine for welding anymore, but when I have to heat a rod and put a bend in it it is great. I do some metal forming on rebar with the rosebud tip.For small part silver braze, I have the smith mini/jeweler's torch setup. I can switch back and forth because I have quick disconnects on my cylinders.Really I use my tig 90% if the time, with my Plasma for cutting, mig for whatever, and gas for the odd silver braze and heating the rest of the time.And I would buy a new kit from your LWS.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Thanks for the reply, I would like to eventually have a tig machine.  With my current budget it would have to be the Harbor Freight 240 tig/stick and I'm not sure about some thing like that.  I talked with Smith and they can't ID the torch except that is is pre-1953 and if it doesn't have an LC on it, then they are not sure which tips with run with it.  So, I guess it's a museum piece now.  Still a nice little torch handle.  I'm leaning to the Smith Toughcut setup.  Airgas has decent prices for tanks and fill around here (Pittsburgh).  A used tool store around here has an oxygen bottle with some gas in it and offered to sell it for $50.  It's the 5ft high size (235cuft?)  Will most places take those in exchange? Thanks for the help.  I've been reading and learning a lot here.  I also read the Oxy.Acetylene handbook front to back and continue to re-read. Patrick
Reply:i'd hang the old torch on the wall and like Shovelon already said buy a new name brand rig. i am partial to victor because in my area it is the most common to get tips and parts for. smith is an excellent rig but not as readily available here. even though i have and use mig and tig i am still prone to light off the torch or stick machine. if i had only one choice for a process that i could have in the shop it would be O/A. nobody here can say it is not the most universal welding system to have. as for the bottle for fifty bucks, that's a good deal IF there is no name on the bottle top and your area will trade that size bottle. check with your lws before you buy it. even if it was full you would be paying to much for the gas it has if you are stuck not being able to fill it or swap it out. at least at my price here. unless you want a throw away POS welder don't buy the horror fright tig stick rig for especially for commercial use. save your money and again get USA name brand.Last edited by jbmprods; 09-02-2011 at 04:02 PM.225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw
Reply:Ancient thread but cool torch handle, so...Pic saved here for reference when others search Smith torches. I'd have bought it too, but as a wall hanger until I could scrounge tips.""SMITH'S LIFETIME GUARANTEE R 36092" AND ON TH END OF ONE KNOB IS "SMITH'S WELDING EQUIPMENT CORP. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. No A 959661 UNDERWRITERS LABRATORIES INC, INSPECTED TORCH".If you go to View Page Info on Firefox you can select Media, scroll through images on a page, and save them. Works great for Ebay especially when you want to download them so you can zoom in on details. Attached Images
Reply:Yeah, I've got a catalog from 1941 that shows this handle.  It was called the "Smith's Lifetime Welding Torch," sold for $14.25, and used the "B" welding tips (like B61, B63...)  The bare handle part number was F-7G.  It also accepted the "Smith's Lifetime Cutting Assembly," p/n G-452A with a no. 2-4 cutting tip and wrench.  This cutting attachment used the tips that were later marked as "LC"  to differentiate them from the modern MC and SC designations.It's basically a wall-hanger.  They go for $10-$20 on ebay, so no real collector's value, but a nice piece of history to own.