Runbaken communitator

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dykker5502
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring, 1921 Roadster P/U, 1922 Fordor (danish custom body)
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Runbaken communitator

Post by dykker5502 » Sat Feb 15, 2025 5:20 pm

I was offered a box of various T parts, and generally I say "No thanks" as I begin to think of my poor children that will have to clean up at some point.... but looking closely on the pictures something caught my eyes:
2025-02-15 13.07.29.jpg
2025-02-15 13.07.55.jpg
Its made of bakelit I think, rather heavy with the usual 4 terminalsbut 8 areas inside the communitator!. The text on the house says among others "Constinous communitator". Not sure why this should be better - I have tried to look up the patents listed with no succes so far.
I can't see that Jake in California have one of these - maybe an european Model T auxilary part.
Ford Model T 1914 Touring
Ford Model T 1921 Roadster Pick-up
Ford Model T 1922 Fordor (danish build body)
ECCT, Strobospark, HCCT(Sold), Rebuilding coils


speedytinc
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Re: Runbaken communitator

Post by speedytinc » Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:09 pm

Not the first of this type with similar contacts I have seen. That design kept the softer insulator material from wearing faster than the actual contacts. Good design. Makes for a much longer service life.

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namdc3
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Re: Runbaken communitator

Post by namdc3 » Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:20 pm

Since a lot of commutators wear out in between the contacts, I’m guessing this one is designed to help mitigate that by having the rotor always be supported by metal. In other words, the “brush” is wide enough to span the gaps between the metal inserts and is therefore always supported by metal. Four inserts are contacts and the other four are longer-wearing dead zones. That’s just my guess.

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namdc3
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Re: Runbaken communitator

Post by namdc3 » Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:21 pm

I typed too slowly. Ha, what he said.


John kuehn
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Re: Runbaken communitator

Post by John kuehn » Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:50 pm

Looks like a roller type communicator that used some type of brush or roller. The New Day probably was cheaper to make than this type and the reason it’s still in use today as a repro. The one that’s pictured looks like it was a little more intricate to make. I wonder what the roller or brush looked like.


Moxie26
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Re: Runbaken communitator

Post by Moxie26 » Sat Feb 15, 2025 8:14 pm

I'll take an educated guess... Because of the raised printing and in reference to the position connection for the control rod, I'd say this would be for a right hand drive Model T


Erik Johnson
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Re: Runbaken communitator

Post by Erik Johnson » Sat Feb 15, 2025 8:15 pm

Runbaken Magneto Co of Manchester.

If you search Runbaken in Google books, there are a lot of hits.

If you search Runbaken timer, it brings up the improved design which has four terminals in top.

If you search Runbaken commutator, this is what I found that gives the best description regarding the timer in question:

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Th ... frontcover
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Runbaken.png
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TRDxB2
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Re: Runbaken communitator

Post by TRDxB2 » Sun Feb 16, 2025 1:36 am

Looks like two other variations besides the one you have - see top right on multi-product page
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Im19260813Auto-Runbaken.jpg
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Im19230629Auto-Runbaken.jpg
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637px-Im19221104MC-Runbaken2.jpg
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rubik.png
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
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