Dusting off old Oxy/Acy torch/tanks

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Hello my name is John.  New to this forum.  I'm an old shade tree hobby shop home welder; what I mean is I've learned everything on my own.  Not a pro by any means.  Anyway I've dusted off some old Oxy/Acy equipment I haven't used in 20 years.  Career had me overseas so equipment has been in humidity controlled storage.  I'm wondering what I should do about my regulators/guages.  They don't match, and one is damaged.  The good reg is Oxygen.  Victor SAN FRANCISCO, stamped V 50 N 6356.  Big heavy brass thing, neat old style hands, and beveled glass faces.  The damaged reg is Acyetlyne.  Union Carbide, Type R 2047 PUROX Regulator 1W 39042.  Broken glass on one guage, needle missing, face with numbers spins. I do not know what any of the numbers mean; but know I love the Victor Oxygen regulator, and would like to get the matching Victor Acytleyne regulator.  Does anyone know what the matching Victor model Acytlene regulator would be to my Victor Oxy regulator, based on it's markings?Or, given the age, should I just purchase a new set and be done with it?  Any recommendations on what I should purchase for a home shop that includes Lincoln 220V DC Arc welder.  Nothing real heavy, angle iron, square tubing, rebar, etc.  ATV frames, etc. But I do like having the ability for heavy if needed.  Thanks John
Reply:Hi John, and welcome to the forum. When I read your post I looked up Victor's website. About all I found out is they are part of Thermodyne now. I prefer Victor over any other make of A/O equipment. I had the oppertunity to use quite a few different brands when I first started welding. Victor just works better. Harris regulators seem to work as well but not their torches.A new guage will probably fix the Purox. Finding a Victor to match the one you have may be fun. I would probably check the welding suppliers in my area to see if one has a secondhand one. I might just go purchase a new set. They will last forever. My A/O rig was purchased in '79. I gave a set I bought in '69 to my son and he is using them every day.
Reply:Thanks Oldtimer.  I've searched the Victor website myself and didn't have much luck either.  Mine is definitely old.  I was hoping some old timer (no pun intended, I'm 51 so I can get away with saying it) such as yourself might recognise my Victor "Oxy Reg" model number and tell me which Victor "Acy Reg" model today would be compatible.John
Reply:At 51 you are just a kid. I thought Victor might have a reference site where you could look up their older model stuff and find parts but no luck. After it warms up a little I'll go out and check mine and see what model they are. The only Victor number I can remember is the 315 mixing barrel.
Reply:Thanks Oldtimer; I'll be standing by.  Not many markings on my Victor compared to the Union Carbide.  The only Victor markings are San Francisco, V 50 N, and 6356.  Do those numbers tell you anything?
Reply:I made it to the garage and checked my regulators. Model VTS 400 D oxy and VTS 410 A acetylene. That doesn't really tell us anything. They were purchased in 1979 and are two stage regulators. I'm guessing the V 50 N on yours is the model number and 6356 is the serial number. I only know of two sizes of Victor regulators and we just called them big and small Victors, never used model numbers. The big ones can be single or two stage depending on how much money you wanted to spend. I would probably try to find a used one that matches the size of your's from a welding supply that has checked it out.
Reply:Oldtimer, I just called a 1-800 number for Victor (thermodyne).  Talked to a real nice guy.  He said my regulator is from the 1940-50's.  Can't even get parts anymore he said.  He suggested I don't even use it.  Evidently there's rubber in it.  The matching Acy regulator today would be the SR 460A510 heavy duty.  Way more than a average home shop would need he said, so suggested the Super Range series.  Guess I'll look for a new set.  What do you think of the Super Range series?  Thanks
Reply:welcome...Unit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:I was pretty sure they were old with those numbers but I didn't think quite that old. I agree with him 100%. Yes , I think you will be well satisfied with those regulators. If I needed a set that is what I would buy.
Reply:Originally Posted by Knotter ...I've dusted off some old Oxy/Acy equipment I haven't used in 20 years. ...equipment has been in humidity controlled storage.  I'm wondering what I should do about my regulators/guages.  They don't match, and one is damaged.  The damaged reg is Acyetlyne.  Union Carbide, Type R 2047 PUROX Regulator 1W 39042.  Broken glass on one guage, needle missing, face with numbers spins. Or, given the age, should I just purchase a new set and be done with it?
Reply:Thanks All.  Denrep, no, I wasn't talking about cylinder type to match.  I was talking about regulators matching; just didn't think it made much sense having a heavy duty reg on one tank and a light duty reg on it's sister tank.  Thanks again,John
Reply:What should I do about my tanks?  I haven't filled them in 20 years.  Can't fine any paperwork on them.  I purchased them in California; but I'm now in Iowa.  Do you think I'll have any trouble getting back into an exchange program with my tanks?  We have an S.J. Smith here.  Thanks,John
Reply:Never mind.  Just returned from S.J. Smith.  No problem, exchanged my tanks and purchased a new Victor Pro Super Range II Torch kit!  For the discount they gave me ($240) I said heck with the old stuff.  John
Reply:I don't blame you.
Reply:I have to say; it's a very nice kit.  Done a little practicing last night.  Equipment operated like a charm; I on the other hand...., yup a little rusty.  The tourch/cutting head/350 model guages are definitely smaller than the equipment I dusted off; but the old equipment I dusted off was way more than I needed anyway.  Heavier too; like me, heavier than I need to be.   The worse part is my old tips don't fit the new torch, they're too big.  Oh well, what the heck; gives me a reason to go to go tool  shopping!!
Reply:I'm glad you like it. I like the larger torches like the 315 ( don't know what they call it now) because they are easier to hold steady.