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                                                                      EXHIBIT 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                  Directors of Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.


         Each of the undersigned Directors of Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.
hereby appoints Anthony A. Massaro, H. Jay Elliott and Frederick G. Stueber, and
each of them, as attorneys for the undersigned, with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned in
the capacity specified, to prepare or cause to be prepared, to execute and to
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), an annual report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2000 relating to Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc., such other
periodic reports as may be required pursuant to the Act, amendments and exhibits
to any of the foregoing and any and all other documents to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or elsewhere pertaining to such reports, with
full power and authority to take any other action deemed necessary or
appropriate to effect the filing of the documents.

         Executed the date set forth below.



                                                                 
 /s/  Anthony A. Massaro              /s/  John M. Stropki                 /s/  Harry Carlson
-----------------------------        --------------------------           -----------------------
Anthony A. Massaro, Director         John M. Stropki, Director            Harry Carlson, Director
February 1, 2001                     February 1, 2001                     February 1, 2001



 /s/  David H. Gunning                /s/  Edward E. Hood, Jr.             /s/  Paul E. Lego
-----------------------------        --------------------------           -----------------------
David H. Gunning, Director           Edward E. Hood, Jr., Director        Paul E. Lego, Director
February 1, 2001                     February 1, 2001                     February 1, 2001




 /s/  David C. Lincoln                /s/  G. Russell Lincoln              /s/  Kathryn Jo Lincoln
-----------------------------        --------------------------           -----------------------
David C. Lincoln, Director           G. Russell Lincoln, Director         Kathryn Jo Lincoln, Director
February 1, 2001                     February 1, 2001                     February 1, 2001




 /s/  Henry L. Meyer III              /s/  Frank L. Steingass
-----------------------------        --------------------------
Henry L. Meyer III, Director         Frank L. Steingass, Director
February 1, 2001                     February 1, 2001