Ian White GM3SEK wrote:
Grumpy The Mule wrote:
Howdy,

Thank you for the suggestion. I have posted an image of the
iron at www.dwave.net/~twomules/sterling_iron.jpg

The manufacturer's name is Sterling and it's marked made in
England. The handle is tri-lobular in cross section. In the
handle there is a thermostat which is adjusted by means ofan
allen key and there is a neon bulb indicating the heater status.

I'd like to know if it's still being manufactured.


I used to have one of those, but it didn't last as well as yours did so
it's long gone... along with all memory of the name!

Cross-posted to the good people at uk.d-i-y, some of whom have a
bottomless memory about old tools.

Oh boy, do they ever! Thirteen replies already, all heavily laden with
soldering iron nostalgia... this thread will run and run.

One of them was even the right answer. From Jeff Layman:

It's an Oryx 50.

Yes, that's the one I used to have.

The name should be on the opposite side to that shown in the photo. Has
interchangeable tips, is thermostically controlled, and the temperature
is ajustable (up to 400°C), by mans of a hex key (1/16"?) set in a
small plastic handle. I've had mine over 40 years, and it's still
going strong.

Mine doesn't have "Made in England" - just "Model 50; 220-240v. 50w". I
guess the MiE was for the US market, as the iron was made in 24, 50,
115, and 210/250v versions.


A bit of further Googling reveals that the Oryx tradename is still in
use, apparently owned by an Irish company named Portasol which now
specialises in gas-fueled irons (www.portasol.com).



--

73 from Ian GM3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek