What happened to the Vulcan ProTig 200?

[W9GFO]

Anybody know why the Vulcan ProTig 200 has disappeared from HF's website?

[Louie1961]

They had them in the store last weekend...

[mechanic416]

Maybe Lincoln filed suit against them like they did us.

[W9GFO]

They did file a lawsuit, against nearly the entire Vulcan line of welders. They cite several patent infringements and one for trade dress.

The case was dismissed, with prejudice, on April 26 of this year.

I'm still wondering why the ProTIG 200 cannot be found anywhere on the HF website. I've got a few months left to decide wether or not to take advantage of the one year risk free trial period.

[SlowBlues]

There was a reddit thread about the protig200 being on clearance for $500 iirc, with the one year no questions warranty still in place. I'm going to try to swing by ye ol' harbour freight this weekend and pick one up if so, hell of a deal IMO and i've been looking for an excuse to snag one. hopefully someone has more insight as to weather or not this is a permanent product removal. The other vulcans are still on the website btw

[TJS]

The HF near me does not have any Pro-Tig 200 anymore.

[Broccoli1]

They did file a lawsuit, against nearly the entire Vulcan line of welders. They cite several patent infringements and one for trade dress.

The case was dismissed, with prejudice, on April 26 of this year.

I'm still wondering why the ProTIG 200 cannot be found anywhere on the HF website. I've got a few months left to decide wether or not to take advantage of the one year risk free trial period.

Interesting case. They were also suing for an ad that HF ran in 2017 that had Red welding machines in the ad- Not Lincoln but Lincoln Red.

Lincoln’s Red Enclosure Trade Dress and Red and Black Trade Dress

46. In the welding industry, colors are heavily relied upon by consumers to recognize brands. For example, among welders and people in the welding industry, when speaking of a plant or shop, often their equipment is referred to as “They use the red stuff [Lincoln]” or “They have nothing but blue [Miller].”

126. Further, in the Inventory Closeout Ad (Exhibit N) HFT directly compares its tombstone-shaped product to one of Lincoln’s products bearing the Tombstone Trade Dress. However, in making this comparison, HFT does not fairly represent Lincoln’s product, as discussed above.

This little reference too

84. As one indicia of the iconic nature of Lincoln’s Tombstone Trade Dress, Lincoln’s AC/DC Arc welder was featured in the 1992 hit movie “Home Alone 2 Lost in New York,” in the scene where the protagonist, Kevin, zaps the bad guy, Marv:

[W9GFO]

Interesting case. They were also suing for an ad that HF ran in 2017 that had Red welding machines in the ad- Not Lincoln but Lincoln Red.

Yeah, I saw that, and I found a picture of the ad in question. When reading the text I found myself on Lincoln's side, but when I actually saw the advertisement - well not so much. It is extremely obvious to me that the photo of the line of six Vulcan welders was taken in different lighting than the single Vulcan welder at the bottom of the page.

Here is a picture of the ad with the six welders in a line that Lincoln claims that are in violation of their trade dress.

[Broccoli1]

Dang it- that coupon expired

[lugweld]

Back in the early 2000's John Deere won some arguments in court that became case law regarding their trade dress and colors, and the colors of the competitors weren't even close, and trim was a whole other color than yellow. I'm surprised that wasn't brought into the argument.

But because Lincoln offers special "packages" in other colors like Stainless or even possibly camo, would in turn discount their claim to trade dress I suppose. What do I know? I'm no lawyer.

[metalman21]

If any manufacturer has a gripe about color it would be Everlast. Harbor Freight's Titanium line bright green looks pretty close to the Everlast color, at least on the computer screen.
Also recall Snap-On sold some red MIG welders, don't know if that is still the case.

[JimboTN]

I can confirm that Vulcan ProTig 200 isn't on the website or in our local HF storefront as of 5/24/19 but they are pushing the Vulcan Pro-Tig 165 with 1 year return and 1 year extended warranty...sigh...IIRC it has both HF & lift start but I haven't read the manual yet to see how the pulse function works and is adjusted. The 165 was on sale from $679 to $649 in my recent mailer received last week.
My hobby tasks would probably do just fine with the dual voltage 165 Vulcan or perhaps even the original 165A HF Tig now selling for about $400 (although the lift & HF options are what I really want for options).
I sure hope guys buying , using to learn on and do a job or two, and returning just to get their money back (no problem with the product) didn't destroy the company's confidence in the product to the point where they discontinued it and the 2 year extended warranty product.

[metalman21]

Maybe Lincoln filed suit against them like they did us.

Are you referring to Primeweld? What was Lincoln's reason for a lawsuit?

[mechanic416]

The first time was 2 1/2 years ago when the Primeweld was red. Didn't fight it just changed colors, but now Primeweld owns the trade dress and colors. This time because its listed as a Tig 225, Primeweld is taking this one to arbitration as the welder is listed as a Primeweld Tig 225 ACDCP, Lincoln's is listed as a Precision Tig 225 will see how this comes out.

[W9GFO]

A HF manager told me yesterday that the ProTIG 200 was discontinued, said that no reason was given for not carrying them anymore. He then went on to give me the company line that HF is always coming out with new and better products.

[SlowBlues]

damn that bites if accurate. Harbor freight should really try to play up their metal working/welding offerings. Home fabrication is huge right now and getting bigger with all the youtube info out there. No other store here sells reasonably priced fabrication items like metal brakes, tube rollers, hydraulic presses, gantry cranes, welders, welding accessories and consumables, ring rollers, etc etc etc.

[shovelon]

A HF manager told me yesterday that the ProTIG 200 was discontinued, said that no reason was given for not carrying them anymore. He then went on to give me the company line that HF is always coming out with new and better products.

The Vulcan ProTig200 is being replaced with the Vulcan ProTig20-----. My guess is they sold out of the ProTig200.

[filetobeef]

The Vulcan ProTig200 is being replaced with the Vulcan ProTig20-----. My guess is they sold out of the ProTig200.

you were part of the original testing of the protig200.no connections for better insider info about a possible replacement?

[shovelon]

you were part of the original testing of the protig200.no connections for better insider info about a possible replacement?

Yes I was part of the original Vulcan testing. Little birdies say "mums the word".

[searcyfarms]

i have seen several around here on the internet c/l and marketplace

[Louie1961]

Yes I was part of the original Vulcan testing. Little birdies say "mums the word".

I am betting you talked the little birdies add adjustable post flow to the ProTIG 20XXX

[filetobeef]

Yes I was part of the original Vulcan testing. Little birdies say "mums the word".

you've either said too much or too little
any timeline on that mum birdie?asking because i still have a few months on the 1 year satisfaction trial.

[filetobeef]

I am betting you talked the little birdies add adjustable post flow to the ProTIG 20XXX

and hf start.and waveform,and and and....

[W9GFO]

The Vulcan ProTig200 is being replaced with the Vulcan ProTig20-----. My guess is they sold out of the ProTig200.

Some stores still have the ProTig 200's, they are being put on clearance. Other items that are on clearance are still on the website - you can find their product page and download the manuals. The ProTig 200 (item #63619) is not anywhere to be found on the website, you can't even download a manual. It's like HF doesn't want to acknowledge that they ever existed.

HF also seems to have a pattern of retaining products names while making changes to them, they simply add more SKUs. Doesn't make sense that they would have to erase the ProTig 200 to replace with it another similar, improved(?) model.

My guess is that they reached an agreement with Lincoln to pull the ProTig 200s, and they are replacing it with a different version that will appease Lincoln Electric.

[mechanic416]

"My guess is that they reached an agreement with Lincoln to pull the ProTig 200s, and they are replacing it with a different version that will appease Lincoln Electric."

I think you are right.