Tell us about your OXY/ACETYLENE setup!

So, we got a little off topic on a thread about cratering in steel. I figures lets start a thread on oxy/acetylene torches. Whenever someone gets into welding, cutting or other metalworking, a torch is usually around. It's the jelly to the welder's peanut butter. Plus torches are COOL, From the new, shiny ones to the old, classic hand-finished units of 50 or 60 years ago still in daily use. Feel free to post some pics if your setup, and/or give us the story of how it came into your hands, likes and dislikes, etc.
Jake mentioned that he has a purox inherited from family, DaveO has OA in his signature, but no brand/type/history. Let's hear/see it.:D
I'm over my 60 for the contest, so I'll start this with the first post shortly.

:DI'm currently refurbishing my PUROX heavy duty outfit. My dad bought it new in about 1977, when I was only 11 years old. Grampa was dad's mechanic for his 20 man excavating company, and I would ride my bike to the shop, and learn by watching, then sneak in when everyone was out on the job site and mess around. Gramps tought me how to braze-using the cutting head. I asked him about the welding tip included in the outfit and he looked at me like I was from another planet! About 20 years ago, I had to get a new rebuilt handle, then a rebuilt cutting head, and I've replaced the valves on the head numerous times. This thing has been used for thousands of cuts. About 12 years ago the old man bought a new Smith Heavy duty outfit that my brother currently has, and I scored a smith medium duty set. I didn't like the smith especially after my dad had a flashback with his and the handle EXPLODED in his hand:mad: After that I never trusted it, even though they continue to use it. A couple months ago, I sold the smith on ebay and started getting this purox back up to snuff. So far I have new hoses, and all the tips cleaned out. Everything is in working order, but the OXY regulator has a replacenent low side guage on it, so I'm on the hunt for an original with the union carbide logo on it. I recently got a line on a NOS Linde #50 rosebud, as mine has seen better days. Matter of trivia, Dave pegged it right, ESAB still sells the line, and the torch handles and tips are still remarkably similar to these vintage units, most parts will fit together perfectly with my unit. I still have Grampas old, old victor that he had before Dad bought this setup, I just need to dig it up. Also just had brother-in law give me a brand new prestolite cutting set with the valves in the forward position FREE!!:D just needs hoses, and a welding tip, and I'm in biz.

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMAG0696.jpg
better pics pending...
http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/a...5/IMAG0697.jpg

I have had many over the years. Uniweld, Victor, Union Carbide, Purox.

Currently a small Uni-weld MC and a 390 setup witn UC and Purox cu200 leaving today I hope. Used for rusty bolts mostly. Rarely for cutting anymore. The Power Plasma 60 does all the cutting for me, unless I need to be portable and no compressor on site. Or sweating a pipe here and there.

Hooda, here's a pic I've got of my old family Purox. I think its exactly like yours! I'll have to get some better pics when convenient, as well as some more history on it from dad.

Anyhow, I learned to weld with this - steel, stainless, and aluminum. I welded up a couple pretty decent custom stainless steel automotive exhaust systems with it using mandrel-bent tubing.

I have a cheap HF portable setup with a 20 cubic foot OXY tank and a bottle of MAPP gas pro. It came with an acetylene tank, but because of the larger tip I use, I was exceeding the withdraw rate for the small 10 cubic foot acetylene tank.Attachment 1829

i have a old victor 305 handle have had it for years with a 330 cf acetylene bottle and a 220cf oxygen bottle
i have used harris smith and a few others i perfer the victor torches

Here's the Smith that big bro brought up. One day the old man was cutting something and we heard a loud POP and a bunch of swewaring. The handle exploded out the side . lucky it was wheree his hand was open and he was wearing gloves otherwide he woiuld have took some shrapnil and maybe lost a hand in the process. This was during a time when smith wasnt warranteeing nuthin! the LWS guy just said gee that's too bad and soaked is $200.00 or so for a new torch handle. Works just fine ever since.