Here are some more. The pliers photo was part of a newspaper article about our local Ralley. The second was an unplanned detour.
While I'm remembering this car I thought I would show how we adapted a Model A distributor to it. An Atwater Kent with no cap or rotor and bad pot metal case inspired building one. The first year we raced with coils. Having no tester or knowledge of how to really adjust them gave us problems. The housing for the A distributor was over built. I made three of them and am still using one on my Yellow Speedster after 40 years. I see no advantage in a distributor after learning how to test and adjust coils.

Neat. Thanks for posting.

Richard - Very interesting,....thanks for posting.

In regard to your last statement,....I think I would agree that there is "no advantage to a distributor" over the original Model "T" magneto/coil system, as long as that "original" system is in good shape (preferably totally rebuilt) and nothing goes wrong with all of the "internal" parts,....i.e. magnets & keepers, coil ring, etc. However, I would think that if and when something does go wrong, especially with any of the nearly 100 year old stuff that might not have been rebuilt, at least the distributor system is what I would consider ALL EXTERNAL, and whatever might go wrong with it, distributor ignition does not ever require the entire engine/transmission power plant to be removed from the car and torn down.

Good comments Harold. I can see either system working well. Each has it's own problems. I like the distributor on my Speedster as I took the magnets and field coils out. Just saying that my other cars have had few problems now that I understand the original system better.
Rich

Richard,

Thank you for sharing more pictures.