What was the first year for generators? I'm assuming the magneto charge the battery on early cars
1919 was the first year along with the starter motor, and no, there is no battery charging from the magneto back in the day, but today we have the means to do so if one wishes too.
About 1919 for the Starting/Lighting system. Ford never used the magneto for battery charging. The magneto is strictly for ignition.
Read thru the Encyclopedia here:
http://www.mtfca.com/encyclo/index.htm
And head lights 1915 to 1919 and up to 1926 on cars that came without starter and generator.
So in 1913 or model T's had a battery to start the car but this battery had to be charged separately?
No battery was included when you bought the T until 1919 and then only the ones that came with a starter. You could add your own, there was a position on the switch and terminal on the coil box. Many just used a Hot Shot type dry cell or the large dry cells like used in hand crank wall phones. These batteries were used to start the car only, unless of course your mag went south. Most people would not have used a wet cell type, they were very expensive.
As you might've guessed this is all new to me. My other model t's were a 25 & a 26. Both had electric start and a generator. So in 1913 the car was started by hand in the magneto position?
Oh yeah! Pull briskly! Or go buy a battery if it's cold out. :-)
Vinny, in some ways you're lucky. I experienced the magic of a new fangled electric starter just last year!
(Message edited by duey_c on May 07, 2018)
So ford did or did not sell the car with a battery in 1913? And if you did have a battery did you have to bring it someplace to get it charged? And how often would that be done? What did they charge people to charge your batteries? I know it's a lot of questions but I'm very curious and very interested in the history of my new addition which I will post photos of soon
I should correct my dimwit answer above. The magneto was also used for lighting as well as horn operation.
As Mark explained above, non-rechargeable dry cell batteries were used to power the coilbox while cranking over by hand. Once running you would then switch to magneto power. Dry cells were disposable and replaced when dead.
Garnet
Ford DID not supple a battery till 1919.
It was never Fords intent for using a battery to start, just the magneto. Work shop manuals will describe on using a battery in the ignition system to run when looking for magneto problems.
That sounds a little far fetched!! Bud.
Garnet - I'm not sure of this, but I think that the non-rechargeable dry cell batteries you mentioned, were used mostly because that particular type dry cell battery was very plentiful and easily obtainable as they were used all over the country at that time for telephones.
.....oops! Sorry Mark G., I guess you already explained that!
Right on the nose Harold .... they were plentyful.
Today they call them fence batteries, they were also used for fire alarm systems. I have a pair of then in my 15. It will start on the mag but it is easier with the battery.
Phone battery used in the day;
Hot shot or what I would call fence battery;
Bud.
IF and I say IF! your post of "that sounds a little far fetched"
was referring to what I posted, I'll clarify with some Ford facts.
When you buy a nice new shiny model T, you get a owners manual and that has the starting instructions in it. All say the same thing up to and even with a electric starter to 1921 key on magneto for starting, manuals 1921 to 25 use either if battery equipped and the improved T start on battery and switch to mag.
Pre 1919, the only reference to a battery start I have ever found is for work shop use.
Cool stuff thanks. Please take a look at my other thread, engine number and date I'd love to hear what everybody has to say about it
Frank,The fact that all Ford switches had a position for battery makes me think it was there to be used! Bud.!