PORTAPAK HELPS GIVE MILITARY VEHICLES
NEW LEASE OF LIFE

An enthusiastic restorer of military vehicles has just invested in a new Murex Saffire Portapak gas welding outfit - to replace a similar pack which had given him 20 years' outstanding and reliable service. Mr Winter of Portishead saves derelict military vehicles from the World War II era and says, "My restorations simply could not have happened without the Portapak. The vehicles owe their very existence to the welding performance and quality that Portapak has provided".

Mr Winter's passion for military vehicles dates back to 1947 when he was taken to Italy to join his father - an officer in the Royal Engineers. He owned his first Jeep in 1957 which was used until 1963 before being put into long term storage. 1978 was the key year when he purchased a derelict Jeep and Trailer, which was his introduction to vehicle preservation, and set about restoring it.

Further projects followed including the restoration of a Hillman Light Utility - and it was for this work that Mr Winter bought the first Murex Saffire Portapak and taught himself to gas weld. The "Tilly" as it is known was fully restored and went on to participate in Liberation celebrations in the Channel Islands and D-Day commemorations in Normandy.

Many more restorations followed, including a Canadian Dodge D15 ¾ ton truck. This was the largest job for which the Portapak was employed. More "Tillys" followed to obtain a complete set of Hillman, Morris, Standard and Austin versions.

The Portapak has proven absolutely perfect for Mr Winter and is the key "tool" in his inventory of restoration equipment. The Saffire Portapak is effectively a workshop on wheels. It is lightweight so that it can be transported easily around the workshop, an important and convenient feature for Mr Winter. For an enthusiast, the Portapak's welding and cutting versatility is ideal. It offers a full welding facility up to 5mm and steel plate cutting up to 20mm. The trolley is robust and can accept 10l or 20l capacity cylinders, but the handles can be retracted for simple storage. For total safety, Saffire Flashback Arrestors are included too.

As Mr Winter concludes: "The Tillys are built from war-time low grade metal. No thought was given in their manufacture to protection or preservation for long term life expectancy. The Portapak is well suited to cutting and joining these flimsy materials and provides simple and convenient welding capability in my restoration workshop".

For more information on Murex Saffire Portapak email info@murexwelding.co.uk