Weller TC201 finally bites the dust

[precaud]

It was bound to happen at some point.  I bought my WTCPN station in 1983. I has been on my bench and used almost every workday since then, with nothing but tip replacements (and very few at that). A couple years ago I bought a TC201 replacement heater in anticipation of the original one failing. It finally happened on Wednesday. Station powered up and no heat. Heater pins measured open. With great pleasure, I replaced it.

37 years. I think this qualifies as amazing service life.

[eeviking]

The old simple ones are hard to kill. I would guess the magnetic switch contacts would also be worn by now?

My first Weller was a EC2002 "digital" station. It's 27 years old now and still working. Although it's been sitting on the shelf since I upgraded to a WX2