MTFCA Forum

There has been some discussion about aftermarket distributors and I would like to get this cleared up in my mind. As I understand there was
or is a gentleman that designed & manufactured the drive to run a Bosch distributor on a model T. What I cant seem to figure out is what was
his name? So far I have heard Rader, Raider, Reader, Reeder & R.G. Reeder. I'm sure someone out there knows what is correct, I would love to
find out what I could. I have one of these that is in use & I think it is great.
Thanks.
Craig.

Bill Rader, Vintage Authentic Reproductions

Rader in California & I believe Reeder was in Texas

There was an older, less common distributor made by W.L. Kirk in the So Cal area prior to the Bill Rader distributor. It was very similar to the Rader version, in fact Bill may have copied the design, but we can't ask them. Just a guess though......

Did Reeder in Texas make distributors? My BIL has a Kirk it's kind of like having a timing cover plate setup.
Craig.

I have somewhere a W.L. Kirk bronze/brass front plate assembly that is made for a camshaft driven oil pump and a side mount magneto.

He actually rebuilt the engine in my 1912 T. I don't know how long ago, but it has been many, many decades ago. Since I have own the car, I have driven this car about 80,000 (yes, eighty-thousand) miles and the only time the engine was apart was due to a broken brake drum. He fitted a shortened Model A crankshaft to the original 1912 block #126766. He has his W.L. Kirk "signature" by stamping his name and date on the bottom of the left side on the original block.

Ralph Reeder made the PTP vw head clip on distributor
Ben H - who doesn't deserve his last name published as far as I am concerned made the backwards running poor clone of a vw head TTP distributor.
I've forgotten the name of the gentleman in MA that was reproducing the Bosch Front Plate that runs a VW head on it but Chaffin says he's taken the mantle and is making them again "someday".

Here's links to videos on each type:
Side by side PTP vs. TTP - https://youtu.be/efjcjzGZjvs
Inside of the PTP unit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF09S-HX4DE
The inside of a Bosch Front Plate replica - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UEXmIZJ0wc

Tim,
I would not be so hard on the TTP dizzy it seems to be the only clip on dizzy being made today! And very popular! I as a personal preference set
up all T add on dizzies with no centifugal advance. I want total controle of my timing just as you would have with a timer.
IMHO
Craig.

Bill Rader supplied the VW Distributors to R. G. Reeder.

Those early ones needed a toggle and two piece advance rod to advance the distributor.

Texas T reversed the direction to eliminate the toggle and extra hardware.

Those distributors can run in either direction by only changing the plate that holds the points.

I have used the same Texas T distributor since they were first new or about 30 years ago.

The bushings will wear, if they are not oiled, but that is normally the only problem.

If you are going with a new Chinese Distributor, you can only buy one that turns counter clockwise without the advance mechanism.

You can buy the one that replaces the VW distributor as stock with the vacuum advance from China.

Some parts almost all seem to exchange with the American, German, or Chinese parts.

There's another way too The 'DIY' >>> https://mtfctulsa.com/Tech/distributors.htm
Renovating a Period Correct Distributor