Copper topped coils

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My1914T
Posts: 140
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:35 pm
First Name: Ross
Last Name: Benedict
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1920 Drs. Coupe
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
MTFCA Number: 17965

Copper topped coils

Post by My1914T » Wed Nov 18, 2020 1:27 am

What is history on Copper Topped coils vs Brass topped coils?
Should the copper be 'just copper' in appearance? polished? clear coated?

They appear to be less in numbers from what I've seen when collecting 'metal topped' coils.

Thoughts??
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Copper topped coil.jpg


Ron Patterson
Posts: 535
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:32 pm
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Last Name: Patterson
Location: Petoskey, Michigan
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Board Member Since: 1999

Re: Copper topped coils

Post by Ron Patterson » Thu Nov 19, 2020 10:18 am

The KW (Williams) designed stamped metal top coils were jointly made by Ford and KW Ignition Company and used in Model T’s from mid-year 1913 to mid-year 1917. Both the yellow and red metal tops are both Brass. Red Brass consists of at least 85 % Copper and yellow Brass typically has 60% or less of Copper. Red Brass is less expensive to manufacture and also contains more mixtures of metals, such as Tin, Lead and Zinc.
These metal tops were raised stamping and were not finished (no polish or clear coat) with the exception that some early KW made coils had a black oxide coating on coils with the six screw metal top.
As with most of the Brass on Model T's, it fully disappeared during WWI and I suspect the use of red Brass on the coil tops was part of a cost reduction effort and support of war production requirements.
Ron Patterson

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Topic author
My1914T
Posts: 140
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:35 pm
First Name: Ross
Last Name: Benedict
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1920 Drs. Coupe
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
MTFCA Number: 17965

Re: Copper topped coils

Post by My1914T » Thu Nov 19, 2020 11:33 am

Thank you Ron.
Ross.

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Mark Gregush
Posts: 4962
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 1:57 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Gregush
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1920 Dodge touring, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
Location: Portland Or
MTFCA Number: 52564
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: Copper topped coils

Post by Mark Gregush » Thu Nov 19, 2020 1:38 pm

Yes thanks Ron. I went out and looked at my stash of coils, I have 2 6 screw and 2 4 screw.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! :shock:

1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup

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