looking for desirable sa200 for collection

[Officer_Griffith]

Thinking about picking up an SA200 and I'm curious which years/codes are the most desirable. I'm looking at it more from a collectability standpoint than daily use, but I'd still like it to function as a backup stick welder if needed (saves me from renting one).

I've already got a few Continental engines and some spare SA parts sitting around, so I figure it's time to hunt down a complete machine. For those who've been in the game awhile... which codes/years hold the most value or are considered the "must-haves" in a collection?

 

[StillAlive]

Thinking about picking up an SA200 and I'm curious which years/codes are the most desirable. I'm looking at it more from a collectability standpoint than daily use, but I'd still like it to function as a backup stick welder if needed (saves me from renting one).

I've already got a few Continental engines and some spare SA parts sitting around, so I figure it's time to hunt down a complete machine. For those who've been in the game awhile... which codes/years hold the most value or are considered the "must-haves" in a collection?

I recommend the Red Face. These are machines from the mid 1950s to the mid 1960s.
They have a distinct red faceplate and, most importantly, they were built with 100% copper windings.
This gives them a famously smooth arc and is what makes them so sought after by collectors.
You'll also want to look for the short hood models from the '50s, as those are considered true rarities

 

[SparkyCool]

If you're into collectables, you really can't go wrong with those early short hood SA-200s that came with the F162 engines. The ones from the late '50s to mid '60s are real gems. Take codes like 3554 from '57 and 5604 from '66 those are definitely some of the best choices out there. They've got that classic build and deliver solid arc performance, plus they work perfectly with your existing Continental parts. It's like finding the missing puzzle piece for your collection

 

[Cov3ll.WG]

Thinking about picking up an SA200 and I'm curious which years/codes are the most desirable. I'm looking at it more from a collectability standpoint than daily use, but I'd still like it to function as a backup stick welder if needed (saves me from renting one).

I've already got a few Continental engines and some spare SA parts sitting around, so I figure it's time to hunt down a complete machine. For those who've been in the game awhile... which codes/years hold the most value or are considered the "must-haves" in a collection?

I'd also suggest the Red Face if collectability if your priority! They hold the most value and are the most desirable. Focus on the Long Hood Red Face models, specifically those with copper windings and the vacuum idler. This covers codes from roughly 3417 up to 5841. If those are out of budget, the early Black Face models with copper windings are the next best pick for a functional collector piece. Look for codes between about 5957 and 7044. In my opinion, anything after that starts to lose collectable appeal as they switched to aluminum windings.