MTFCA Forum

I’m rebuilding the coil box and had a question about the ignition switch. This KW switch I haven’t been able to find a lot on... was this an accessory item?

Thank you,
Darin

Yes, it was an early "anti-theft" device - I have/had a NOS one that is now on our '14 Touring. I'll attempt to find a photo.

Is that far right contact "spring" kinda small compared to the others? Or is it just an optical illusion in the picture?

Not an optical illusion... part of the reason I’m rebuilding the coil box. Broken prong on the bottom copper, too.

Darin

Steve,

A picture would be great. I’ve found one pic online which appears to show the letters are white... I want to ensure that’s right because I plan on having the wife paint the letters if that’s the way it is supposed to be.

Darin

The only pic I’ve found so far.

This is the coil box and switch on my ‘13. The knob in the right of the switch body is the “key”. It’s a brass shaft that makes it “impossible” to throw the switch when it’s removed. I think the switch plate is supposed to be black, with the inscription in relief unpainted.

Good a time as any to review when the metal coil boxes appeared. (?). I love those locking devices for the coil box switch. Wonder how many different makes there were ?

The switch plate you have pictured only had the circle with KW in it painted black.

Thanks for that, Larry ! I’ll touch it up next winter.

Here is a little earlier K-W "AUTOLOCK" with a brass cover I have on my car.
K-W also made a Master Vibrator with the same switch but the cover is stamped "MASTER VIBRATOR".
The base of both of these look like a regular '13/'14 Model T metal coil box switch but the inside is different.
Patent date is January 23, 1912, same as Darin's.