Master vibrator

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2005: Master vibrator
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Shirley on Sunday, December 23, 2007 - 06:33 pm:

Sevral years ago I got a chance to buy the T I grew up with. When I was a kid the automobile, as Mr. Kenner call her, always ran with the coil points closed and a master vibrator hidden under the seat. Kenner died, his daughter sold the car and the owner sent the coils to someone in OK. to be rebuilt and lost the vibrator. They did a terrible job on the coils so the owner just put them back in the box and mounted a 26 box under the hood. I found a KW Master Vibrator and want to hook it up the way Kenner had it. I havent seen much talk about Master Vibrators, is there any reason for not running one? I would like to get the coilbox out from under the hood but, cannot afford new coils.would the Master vibrator solve my problem or just give me another?

12


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By warren rollins on Sunday, December 23, 2007 - 06:39 pm:

Don't know about the master vibrator but you have a fine 13!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Patterson on Sunday, December 23, 2007 - 08:12 pm:

Hi Bob
Here is the scoop on Master Vibrators.
The MV was very popular on early multi-cylinder automobiles with trembler coils because of the problem with synchronizing the original coils getting them to all do the same thing. The points on the original coils were shorted and the MV with it's single set of points did all the point work.
The KW MV was very popular because of it's unique point design. Interestingly enough it was this point design (the Williams designed ignition coil) that KW brought to Ford in late 1912 and was soon adopted for all subsequent production of the Model T.
1913 was a transitional year for Model T coils and your car could originally have been equipped with the earlier coils, or it could have been equipped with the first KW coils Ford used. In the former case a MV would have solved the coil synchronization problem Ford had been struggling with since the introduction of the Model T. In the later case a MV would not have been required because the KW coil points worked so much better than the earlier coils, but this was before the advent of the HCCT for checking coils so getting them properly adjusted was still a problem.
In 1919 Ford introduced the HCCT and dealers could master properly adjusting the Williams designed Model T coils very effectively.
Here is a link to a article with the whole Ford and KW story including some details about the MV. Ford & KW Coil Story

Now about your car. If you can find the original KW coils and box you will not need a MV. Here is a photo of the coil an early 1913 car was most likely equipped with in a wood coilbox.

1913 Ford & KW Coil
Later 1913 cars would have had a metal coil box with this style coil.

Late 1913 coil
Either of these coils can be used without a MV if your coils are in top shape and maintained that way.

As regards the coils mounted on top of the engine. You can get them rebuilt and they will work very well without a MV. The MV is not a stand alone device.

Hope this helps.
Ron the Coilman


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Patterson on Sunday, December 23, 2007 - 08:17 pm:

Bob
Here is a photo of a MV. They were usually mounted on the drivers side of the firewall.
MV
Ron the Coilman


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael Pawelek on Sunday, December 23, 2007 - 08:23 pm:

lrfkgqer09ty


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