(not as) old 100W AMERICAN BEAUTY ELECTRIC SOLDERING IRON

Found along with the 200W version shown yesterday, this one is AMERICAN BEAUTY Cat. No. 3138 and at only 100W, is truly the <ahem> 'more delicate' of the two. ;-) This one is still in its original cardboard box and would be in 'like new' condition, but that it seems a little of some kind of acidic solder flux (?) got dripped on it somewhere along the line -- thus the staining on the box, and some small but peculiarly dramatic rusty spots on the iron itself. (which I used a wire wheel to remove most of...) Its cloth cord and rubber plug are still in great shape, neatly coiled around the handle.

This iron is probably at least a decade newer than the larger one -- the address given on the box for American Electrical Heater Company has now changed to "DETROIT 2, MICH., U.S.A." suggesting it was made in the 1950's. There are slight differences in the design of the iron as well, most notably the loss of the enameled nameplate around the 'heat guard' for stampings on the metal part behind it for its maker's info and specs.