MTFCA Forum

This one is a new one for me. “Best” timer. It appears to be exactly like the Nu day. Anyone else seen these? Know anything about them?

The plastic body is too soft. They dont live long.

A better name would be "worst" timer. The cap plastic is so soft it quickly wears out. Replace it with a original or recent production New Day. DO NOT replace it with the infamous "S" cap - they also wear quickly and sit a little "proud" causing the fan belt to cut a groove into the outside.
Best-look at the plastic debris Fan belt cuts

Is everyone saying that you'll have to replace a New Day timer, every new day?

ModelTWoods wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 17, 2025 1:35 am

Is everyone saying that you'll have to replace a New Day timer, every new day?

Not if you use the right version of one.

The Best timer was made in the 1960’s by the R L Best Company in Lowellvile Ohio. They produced many small parts for Snyder’s. All of his parts were quality. He also restored many early cars and had an extraordinary collection of semi trucks. Mack trucks were his favorite. He was a true craftsman. He passed many years ago.

Thanks for the history info. These stories are disappearing. Likely someone that had a great passion for the hobby. Thanks

What is the shame of this “hobby” is that someone makes a good reproduction part, then dies. His product dies with him. If you make something, please work on passing it on to the next generation.
Many products just disappear after the maker leaves is.
Erie Brown made many fine things in his time, where are they now?
Same with RV and many others. The list can go on and on.

It is a strange phenomenon, when the equipment, dies, forms, and materials for the manufacture of specific T parts are purchased at estate sales and auctions, only to be spirited away to the bowels of T-part purgatory, never to be seen again.

Mike,

The timer you have is made from a plastic material that's classified as a thermoplastic. It was most likely made by the injection mold process. The base material is the type that can be molded, ground up, heated and remolded. Kind of like a hard wax. Since it is susceptible to heating and molding, it dosen't do well attached to a hot engine.

The original New Day Timers, and the recent reproduction New Day timers are made from a material called phenolic, or by the trade name Bakelite. Named after it's inventor, Leo H. Bakeland. This material, while formed in a mold, goes into the mold as a powder and forrmed under heat and pressure. Once it is molded, it cannot be re molded. This form of plastic is extremely heat resistant making it the perfect material for items such as timers. Beware the light colored tan timers with a large "S" molded into the face of the timer. They will melt or fall prematurely.

These tan colored timers were made years ago when nothing else was avalible and there was an attempt to reproduce New Day timers but, unfortunately, the material selection was incorrect.

Modeltspaz.

In case anyone wonders where my information is coming from, I did some extensive research for a presentation I gave last year at the Piquette Museum. I'm drawing from that.

You can occasionally come across good, original New Day caps. They can be identified by the small square hole visible on each contact.

If you order the New Day Timer kit from Snyders or Langs you will get parts produced by Tip-Top-Timers, and they are quality. You can also save a few bucks and order from Tip-Top direct. They are great to work with. Call and leave a message at 509-220-0892 - They are located in Spokane Valley, WA.

My personal experience? I've put 6000 miles on a Tip-Top cap and it's not worn out yet. Brushes do wear but still last a long time. Tip Top brushes appear to be a bright brass while Snyders sells a cheap, copper looking brush for $10 that I suspect is left over from when they were making "S" caps. They're cheap (rightfully so) and do not last long. The brushes in Snyder's kits are from Tip-Top.

Identifying an original New Day is easy - Brown Color, little square holes in the contacts, small oil drain hole Side by side views of a Tip-Top (T) and one of the aforementioned Snyder brushes (S)

The so called best timer has the right idea. It’s just not made from good materials like several other repo T parts. For me the good New Day timers are the Best along with originals which still can be found.

Three pedal Tap Dancer has it right when T parts reproducers either pass way or sell out the specs, dies, and etc are usually sold and usually disappear.

Such is the case of Leon Parker’s Model T wood body structure prints which were probably bought by somebody and saved for “posterity” or some other reason. No doubt Mel Millers body prints which were avaliable years ago were picked up from some of the folks who are making body wood kits now days. And maybe Leo Parker’s.

The truth is out there somewhere in some body’s closet.

I’ve got one of those also. Picked it up at a swap meet somewhere. Mine has a significant amount of wear.

Most manufacturers and business owners are like my Dad. They trust no one to take over. They think they will live forever and think that there is nobody that can possibly do it as good as them, so they never get around to the legal work necessary to pass it on or even reveal their methods of operation that kept the business going smoothly. When they do die, the business either collapses or must be sold to someone who can afford it and without the knowledge to run it, it either changes radically or goes out of business.

PS. In the 55 years I have owned my 1926 Model T coupe, I have tried most every timer on the market and finally came back to my original roller type commutator. To me, that one is the best.

I've been running New Day timers for dozens of years. No reason to use anything else. One thing I've noticed is the brushes on the reproductions are about 1/16 wider than the originals.