The PowCon was an excellent welder, they were pretty revoulutionary when they came on the market. If I remember right either Lincoln or Miller bought them out (and the one that didn't buy them out came up with inverters of their own design). Of course none of that helps you find parts and service for yours. I also what the reasonable life expectancy is for something like that, it has to be aproaching 20 years old. Anyway if you can get that machine going I think you will be happy with it's performance. Zoom