MTFCA Forum

Does anyone know when the new day brush timer first came out originally?

My guess would be the 1920's.

Original Smith wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 27, 2024 4:49 pm

My guess would be the 1920's.

I concur; It was definitely sometime in the first quarter of the 20th Century…

Appears that Turner Mfg. Co, that made the Turner 2- 1 timer, brought out the simpler 'Junior' that has the hall marks of the first NEW DAY timer





The Junior was announced late 1925, at just $1.90. So would imagine the NEW DAY packaging was later, after the Model T was obsolete, and the company quit making the more expensive $3.75 Turner 2 in 1 that has the braided cable and wiring.

I know who made the repro about 1975 in New York State, as I bought a Model T from him.

That one was brown.

J1MGOLDEN wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 01, 2024 10:54 am

I know who made the repro about 1975 in New York State, as I bought a Model T from him.

That one was brown.

And if it has the letter "S" on it it's junk as we all know.

They were black and Snyder made them.

Repros made in the late '60s were done, and the repros New-Days came in new print boxes like old, and these were dark red-brown Bakelite type plastic.

Bought them in the 1970s too.

Much later I guess that original mfg gave up, so Synder's began making a copy, in a dull black plastic that was a bit softer. All these black ones are also marked with an "S" to note the mfg.

Original and the earlier red repro are hard to distinguish. But the newest one, by Tip Top Timers and sold by Lang's, is dark red- brown and is very good repro IMO.

Thank you for this very informative information.

They're listed in the 1932 Western Auto catalog. I thought they'd be older, but maybe not.

Found also in 1927-1928 Western Auto Catalog

I have a 1926 Western Auto Ford supply book and it’s not listed in that one. There are some similar timers of different makes but not a New Day.
It’s interesting that the New Day lasted all these years and the others didn’t. Must be a good timer. I have them in two of my cars and a few spares I picked up at swap meets.

I like keeping my T's original, but, I've yet to find a more reliable timer than a New Day.

There was also the one with the name "BEST" on it.

Yeah the new day seems to be the reproduced brush timer, I guess my question should have been when did they first come out with a brush timer regardless of brand. Thanks, for the reply.

Ford experimented with a brush commutator in the early 20's.

The rotors on New Day timers don't seem to be very well-made. A precision rotor, spring, and brush would be nice.

I took the following photos after I put 5400 miles on a Tip Top New Day and Brush. I find them to be very reliable. Tip Top worked hard to develop a cap material that held it's dimensions and did not wear faster than the copper contacts.

The brush on the new ones is wider than the original. Why?

The narrow brush has a problem with wearing sidewise. The wider one likely corects that problem. It will last much longer running on magneto than on battery, because when on battery, the spark tends to arc when the brush touches the segment, but on magneto the spark comes as the magneto wave raises which will be after the brush is in contact.
Norm

TXGOAT2 wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 12, 2024 5:33 pm

The rotors on New Day timers don't seem to be very well-made. A precision rotor, spring, and brush would be nice.

THATS where Tony Wiltshire's (RIP) comes into play! Best timer I've (and others) have seen!

Haven't used or seen one of Tony's, Tim - it's unfortunate someone hasn't taken the reins on reproducing !

RajoRacer wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 15, 2024 1:14 pm

Haven't used or seen one of Tony's, Tim - it's unfortunate someone hasn't taken the reins on reproducing !

Sorry to hear that Steve. It truly is a fantastic timer, as I've used both the N.D. and TW. Indeed I've just taken on in the last year at least getting the two different style brushes reproduced as of course Tony is gone, and seems no vendors have decided to "pick the ball up" despite my having sent info to one on each coast. I really haven't, nor still DO NOT intend to go into "competition" with vendors, but yet I will NOT let this wonderful timer "die" due to unavailability of parts. I even did have several of the "rotors" for the round brush custom made last year and still have 4 left. A regular roller timer can be used for the timer, I've beta-tested one for about 300 miles and at that point show no inside wear of what I call the "contact ring", as I do believe the roller timer ring may not be quite as hard of a material as what Tony used. I believe his was Micarta, and indeed I have a sheet of it large enough to have 9 rings custom made should the time come when they're needed. Frankly I doubt I will. Right now I have 4 TW timers for "spares", as I'm an OCD-spare junkie!

Tim, thanks for the kind words on the timer that I designed the prototype of and tested on my car and another members car from the Indy 500 Chapter (and they’re still running).

Kenny Edmondson wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 16, 2024 3:37 pm

Tim, thanks for the kind words on the timer that I designed the prototype of and tested on my car and another members car from the Indy 500 Chapter (and they’re still running).

You're welcome. And those of new info to me. Didn't know that. So I take it then Tony did the manufacturing end mostly? At any rate I'm a "TW timer snob"!

Yeah, Tony was looking for something to do after he retired.

Gotta agree that the TW Timer is a very good device. I’ve run them for quite a while, and am on Tim’s list for getting some brushes made.