Yes was my first proper welding set, must have been circa 1975 ish, was called a Picarc but same thing and think it cost close to £100 then, it did an enormous amount of work, gates, railings, camping trailers, and even a big launching bogey for a 40ft sailing boat, never cut out or missed a beat, eventually sold it and the guy still has it tucked away in his garage for the occasional use.
I dragged my Fathers one out a while back with a view to selling it thinking I could make better use of the space, cleaned the top off and found the Dymo label he stuck on for the last oil change says 1985! I bet it's done less than an hours work since then, he did a lot of carbon arc brazing with it. Stuck a 2.5 Fincord rod of the same age in and sparked it up, ran a lovely bead so I tucked it away again feeling guilty at the thought of selling it.
I'd be going back to 1965 (I was only 2 then but a born welder), there was a rash of "welders" about as (if I remember it right) the bum had dropped out of sheetmetal work-well heating and ventialtion I think- due to the pressed up ductwork coming in(might be wrong).
