We sometimes post fondly about various tools and things. (My wife and some others wouldn't understand.)
I was gifted an oxy/acetylene torch set from an old family friend who also left me my first welder when he died at the age of 92. He started gas welding in the 1930s and later built a nice shop and did welding jobs for neighbor farmers and others. When he insisted I take his very old victor torch set he told me how that was all he had for cutting, brazing, welding when he started out.
His old victor set has worked fine for the 4 years I've had it, until 2 weeks ago. A seat in the oxy reg failed and it "barked" hard when I tried to set the torch pressure. I have enough respect for the system to be a little scared. I sent both regs off to Regulator and Torch exchange, inc.
Got them back today and golly I can't believe it but they look like new! Totally cleaned, refurbished with new springs, diaphragms, lenses, seats, etc. they were almost black before and now are beautiful gleaming brass.
Cost me $125 for both with shipping but I wouldn't trade them for a new set, even in the condition they were in before.
Even tools can have sentimental value. Old Howard would be proud. Now I wish I had sent the torch body in with them, and I still might send it to them.