MTFCA Forum

Good morning.

I found this spark coil hammer 15 or 20 years ago, in my Dad’s shop. I would not have known what it was for, had I not seen a picture of it in, I believe, the Model T Essentials book. Many of you may recall that I posted it on in the forum way back then and then it went missing. I was distraught over the loss because I believe it is a one of a kind tool important to the Model T history. I was cleaning out my ‘26 coupe when I found it in the trunk wedged in the corner and thought I would re-post it. It is the only actual one I have ever seen. Does anyone else have one? Why are they so scarce? Did folks just throw them away? Exactly how is it used in the adjustment of the spark coil? Is the long piece used as a little pry bar? Thank you. Jim Patrick

What a Find!

yes, the little end is a pry-bar to undo what the hammer end does (if it did it too well!)

Bob Scherzer reproduced those some years ago and a version of this can be purchased from Lang's. Yours is the only one I've ever seen that appears to date back to "T" days.

Nifty!

Yes it has a beautiful hundred year old patina. While millions were probably made to sell to the 15 million Model T owners, it does not appear that many, if any, besides mine, survived. Maybe they were considered to small to be of any use.

If I recall, I sent a tracing of it as well as measurements to someone (yes the name Bob Scherzer rings a bell), who wanted to make reproductions to sell to other members at the “Fun Projects” store. I guess that project petered out, if it ever got off the ground, but a search might reveal the thread trail regarding my first posting and if reproductions were ever made in about 2005. Jim Patrick

Jim

I was adding to my post when you added your second post...see above for some answers...

I’ll bet that was one of those T tools that got tossed aside after several years and the use was forgotten about. Is it marked Ford anywhere on the hammer? My Grandfather had boxes of all kinds of old socket wrenches and different tools when his garage was cleaned out when the property was sold. I didn’t know at the time for sure if he used them on his T’s. My Father saved several boxes at the time but not all.

Unfortunately, there is no Ford script or numbers, anywhere on the hammer. It is made of brass so there is no rust to obscure any markings. It is quite worn in some places and the markings may have been worn off. Jim Patrick

Did a hammer like this ever show up on a Ford booklet tool list? If it didn’t have Ford markings maybe the spark coil companies supplied them to the dealerships. Or you could buy them from the coil tester companies. The dealerships had the coil testers and the hammers had to come from somewhere.

They were probably very numerous and cheap enough for dealers to give away to new Ford owners as a convenience, just like paint dealers hand out free stirrers, paint can openers and strainers to customers as a convenience. Since most New Ford owners were not wealthy and had to do the work themselves, these hammers might have been to aid the shade tree mechanic in adjusting his coils. Jim Patrick

Exactly how is it used in the adjustment of the spark coil?

Here are a few examples on how the coil adjusting tool is used. The goal in adjusting Model T coil points is to set all coils for equal and consistent firing Time.

Tap down on the rear vibrator spring to increase the dwell time to fire spark:
Pry up on the rear vibrator spring to decrease the dwell time to fire spark:
Coil firing consistency may require adjustment of the cushion spring tension. Here is an example of increasing cushion spring tension. Note that there is a sweet spot. Too much cushion spring tension is as bad as not enough tension.
Here is a modern version of a 3 in 1 coil adjusting tool I make that combines all 3 functions in one handy tool:
More information on Model T coil testing and tuning can be found in the MTFCA Webinar #2 here: https://youtu.be/RYcGD-8Ol3s?t=364

Jim.. could you post some better close up pictures of that tool?

I’ll try. Any particular parts you are interested in seeing? Jim Patrick

Here are a few more.

So now I'm wondering if the hammer I got from Lang's has the handle installed 180 degrees backwards OR that original hammer handle came off and was reinstalled backwards...

Mike

You probably have the metric version.

I went through my books and found a couple of pictures of the tool in use on page 240 of the “Model T Ford Service Manual”. Jim Patrick

Jim...,. That hammer would be a nice donation to our museum.

Well, that settles it, the repo version is built backwards with respect to the original.
Go figure. At least that makes the repo coil hammer easily identifiable as such.

Hi Robert. In my care, a piece of Model T history was almost lost forever, but luckily I found it (even if after 15 years). It may be safer in a museum and would contribute to the history of the Model T for others to enjoy. How could we proceed on this? Jim Patrick

Go to : www.mtfca.com , museum contact info on main page. . It is your decision how to proceed or not.

James,
Could you take a picture of hammer placing a ruler next to it.. If you have the time. Will attempt to duplicate it.
Thank you,
John.

Mike Kossor's improved wrench / hammer combination is easier to use than two separate tools in my estimation.

Here is a picture that Bob Scherzer took and posted of several of the coil adjusting hammers he made in 2007 based upon the dimensions I provided him. They look good. In his post, he said at the time, he was selling them for $30.00 apiece which included shipping. These are not made upside down like Lang’s hammers, but are made correctly like the originals. I don’t know if he still makes them. Jim Patrick

jiminbartow wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 19, 2022 7:04 pm

Hi Robert. In my care, a piece of Model T history was almost lost forever, but luckily I found it (even if after 15 years). It may be safer in a museum and would contribute to the history of the Model T for others to enjoy. How could we proceed on this? Jim Patrick

......... Very well Jim, will you be donating the tool to our MTFCA Museum for display with the other ignition coil HCCT's and paraphernalia ?????

Bob does not still make them, as he is in Heaven now.

That hammer in the Ford Manual is with an Allen Hand Crank Coil Tester and was likely supplied with each one sold.

The repro one Mike is showing is the type currently being made and sold.

The handle is steel and just kept in the brass hammer by a small roll pin.

The ones Bob made had a brass handle that was threaded and screwed into the brass threaded hammer head.

The head was threaded, but not quite all the way through, just like the original.

Maybe someone out there has a instruction sheet or manual that came with a spark coil tester. It might tell how to use it and to use the hammer when adjusting the points. Just maybe it would say something about a supplied hammer. If that’s the hammer that might have come with the tester shown in the Ford manual other coil testers might have one supplied with their tester.

MKossor wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 19, 2022 2:52 pm

Exactly how is it used in the adjustment of the spark coil?

Here are a few examples on how the coil adjusting tool is used. The goal in adjusting Model T coil points is to set all coils for equal and consistent firing Time.

Tap down on the rear vibrator spring to increase the dwell time to fire spark:

Tap Down.JPG

Pry up on the rear vibrator spring to decrease the dwell time to fire spark:

Pry up.JPG

Coil firing consistency may require adjustment of the cushion spring tension. Here is an example of increasing cushion spring tension. Note that there is a sweet spot. Too much cushion spring tension is as bad as not enough tension.

CS increase.JPG

Here is a modern version of a 3 in 1 coil adjusting tool I make that combines all 3 functions in one handy tool:

3N1_Tool sm.jpg

More information on Model T coil testing and tuning can be found in the MTFCA Webinar #2 here: https://youtu.be/RYcGD-8Ol3s?t=364

. Maybe this previous post will help you to use this tool, although it is a modern improved version.

A flat stubby screwdriver worked fine for me before I saw the first information on that tool.

Any Ideas why the modern reproductions have the head upside down? Maybe it could be for copyright reasons, or ease of use? I do not know- I have never used or seen one.

Jim, myself and a few friends were fortunate enough to have Bob Scherzer for our auto shop teacher in high school. We remained friends until he passed away, and used his TT farm truck to carry him to the cemetery.

I did a virtual walk through of the MTFCA museum and am impressed. Yes. If I donated my coil adjusting tool to the museum, it would most likely go to the museum Model T electrical tool display. What is the procedure for donating items to the museum? As possibly an original one of a kind Model T tool, does anyone have any idea how much it would be worth? I would ask for some kind of document indicating the worth for tax purposes as a charitable write off. Is there a museum contact I could call to discuss this? Jim Patrick

PS. Bob Scherzer did great work. I was sorry to hear of his passing.

Museum contact information was posted earlier, you should follow through yourself.

Jim in Bartow, In response to your questions above, it is the Donor's responsibility to have the item to be donated appraised. As far as the donation procedure, you should contact the MTFCA Executive Director. Her email and phone number are given in the menu selection at the top of the website.
Although I am not usually involved in donations, you may contact me if you have any questions. My phone number and email address are on the inside front cover of The Vintage Ford magazine.
Keith Gumbinger
MTFCA Treasurer

Jim.. how is your coil hammer donation progressing?.... Hopefully you have batten down the hatches with the approaching storm hope all is well.