Generico is made in Brazil, and any reputable repair shop can fix them. They are a Victor clone, a step up from the HF clone stuff. Your impression of Northern is a whole lot higher than mine, apparently. I think of them as a higher priced and much more obnoxious Harbor Freight.
I don't have any knowledge that parts interchange between Victor and Generico. They might, but my guess is they don't.
Grant
I bought a bunch of welding stuff. I looked in the treasure chest and saw a set of regulators and hoses and torch. The torch had a rosebud on it, and a cutting head separate. A lot of welding and cutting tips.
Yesterday, my Victor cutting torch head was acting a fool, so I dug out this other one. I thought they were all Victor. It fit, but was not a Victor, but a Generico. I dusted off the regulators, and sure enough, they were Generico, too. I googled around, and Northern Tools carry this brand. Looks just like Victor stuff. The Generico cutting head worked on the Victor body, so I ASS-U-ME that they are interchangeable.
I'm involved in rebuilding the L head Continental engine right now, so haven't even emptied the treasure chest yet and laid the stuff out. I have to cut off some heavy plate gorilla welded tank mounts today, so will dig a little deeper, but was just wondering about this brand and product.
Is Generico a decent brand? How about parts and serviceability? Are the parts interchangeable with Victor? It seems like there would be a patent issue there. If Northern carries them, I would take it to mean they are a decent product.
Info and enlightenment always welcome.
Steve
My guess is that Victor has been around for a very long time, and most applicable patents have long expired.
Actually, I think Victor owned Generico, and still uses them to make one of their lower quality brands (firepower?).
But in the old days they were named Generico, now (same stuff) would be branded (one of victor's brands).
I think.
Maybe.
Grant
Not sure about all that, but on the practical level, I took the Generico cutting head and put it on a Victor body and it fit and worked.
Steve
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