Exhibit 99.1


LINCOLN ELECTRIC TO PURCHASE CENTURY WELDING AND CUTTING
EQUIPMENT, ACCESSORIES AND BATTERY CHARGERS BUSINESS FROM
CLORE AUTOMOTIVE

o    Purchase also includes the Marquette brand of welding products

o    Products will complement Lincoln's existing retail and professional
     business


     CLEVELAND, Ohio, U.S.A., October 16, 2003 -- Lincoln Electric Holdings,
Inc. (Nasdaq: LECO) announced today that it has agreed to purchase the Century
welding and cutting equipment, accessories and battery charger businesses of
Clore Automotive LLC. The Marquette brand of welding products is also included
in the acquisition.
     Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Approximately $14 million of
sales is included in the purchase.
     These products and brands, which have leading positions in the automotive
after-market and retail DIY channels, are complementary to Lincoln's existing
retail and professional products business. Lincoln's WCTA (Welding, Cutting,
Tools & Accessories, Inc.) business unit, formed in 2003, consolidated all of
Lincoln's retail and professional channel business into one dedicated business
unit, in recognition of this market's increasing importance and to ensure
dedicated focus to its special requirements.
     "The addition of the Century and Marquette product lines will enable
Lincoln to provide an even broader range of products to this rapidly growing
market area," said John M. Stropki, Chief Operating Officer. "We see it as an
excellent fit with our corporate retail strategy to provide retail brands and
products that are clearly differentiated from our industrial market segment."
     Closing of the transaction is expected by the end of October. Lincoln and
Clore management are working together to ensure an uninterrupted supply to
Century and Marquette customers.




                                     -more-

     Lincoln Electric is the world leader in the design, development and
manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc-welding systems, plasma and
oxyfuel cutting equipment.








Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Lincoln has operations, manufacturing
alliances and joint ventures in 18 countries and a worldwide network of
distributors and sales offices covering more than 160 countries. For more
information about Lincoln Electric, its products and services, visit the
Company's Web site at www.lincolnelectric.com.

     The Company's expectations and beliefs concerning the future contained in
this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements reflect
management's current expectations and involve a number of risks and
uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from such statements due to
a variety of factors that could adversely affect the Company's operating
results. The factors include, but are not limited to: the effectiveness of
operating initiatives; currency exchange and interest rates; adverse outcome of
pending or potential litigation; possible acquisitions; the extent and duration
of the slowdown in U.S. demand for the Company's products; and the possible
effects of international terrorism and hostilities on the Company or its
customers, suppliers and the economy in general.

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