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Champion X not brass top Spark plugs

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 5:09 pm
by Layden Butler
Can anyone tell me the age of these? Am thinking pre brass top?

Re: Champion X not brass top Spark plugs

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 5:22 pm
by tdumas
They are pre brass top. I found one beneath the second floor of our farmhouse which was built iabout 1905.

Re: Champion X not brass top Spark plugs

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 5:25 pm
by Wayne Sheldon
There were several minor variations, and a couple significant differences in those earlier plugs. One of the significant differences was blue printing, I think I have one of those. Minor variations include the exact height and shape of the steel bottom, how rounded the top of the porcelain is, and how the main electrode is made and assembled into the porcelain. Most early ones, the electrode can be removed from the porcelain. These early ones were replaced by the more common brass top (hat?) somewhere about 1920 (based upon pictures in era advertising).

Re: Champion X not brass top Spark plugs

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 11:24 pm
by Steve Jelf
I think Wayne is pretty close. Based on magazine ads, I think the change to the crimped-on brass hats came about 1922 or 1923.

http://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG95.html

Re: Champion X not brass top Spark plugs

Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 1:58 am
by BobShirleyAtlantaTx
Google. Champion x spark plug: smooth versus ribbed insulator. It brings up a oct 9 2009 forum that has an add for the plug.

Re: Champion X not brass top Spark plugs

Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 5:37 pm
by Terry_007
The brass hat style first appeared in 1916 when Champion bought the Jeffry DeWitt spark plug company. The ribbed insulator appeared later. The plug shown in your photo is the early style Champion X supplied in Ts beginning in 1911. If you are into showing, these would be the correct plugs for a pre 1916 car.

There were millions of the early type plugs manufactured and they continued to be available from auto parts stores, and advertising for them is prolific-even up into the 1950s/60s. Vast quantities of WWI surplus were released to the marked in the 20s and even companies like J.C. Whitney advertised them in their catalogs. Wish they were that easy to obtain today, but they do show up often at swap meets and as the link shows, they are rebuildable.
Terry

Re: Champion X not brass top Spark plugs

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 11:31 am
by Steve Jelf
The brass hat style first appeared in 1916... The ribbed insulator appeared later.

I don't recall ever seeing a brass hat plug without ribs. Is there some original source material on that I can use to correct my Champion X page? Maybe even a picture of a brass hat without ribs? There's no such critter among my old plugs.

Re: Champion X not brass top Spark plugs

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 2:09 pm
by Terry_007
Your X page is fine. Talking strictly about the Model T, as noted in my post, "The plug shown in your photo is the early style Champion X supplied in Ts beginning in 1911. If you are into showing, these would be the correct plugs for a pre 1916 car."

I was speaking generally about the brass hat feature, which was not unique to the X plug. That earlier style of straight sided X continued to be produced and available long after introduction of the brass hat feature. I believe the legendary Rip Van Winkle T had the straight sided plugs in it. I have no info on when that newer type of X began appearing factory supplied in Model Ts but not earlier than the 1916 date.

I'll post some pics of the brass hat Champion plugs later when I get back into the garage for more Hershey packing.
Look forward to seeing you at Hershey again .
Terry

Re: Champion X not brass top Spark plugs

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 7:56 pm
by Terry_007
Here are some pics - the full page Champion ad is from the Andre auto parts supply company 1916 catalog.
Also shown are pictures of a few Champion plugs from my collection that have the brass hat and unribbed insulators. Note the NOS Champion with the box, which bears the 1916 patent date. Also shown is a Champion O plug which was produced for the Overland automobile. Last picture I thought you might enjoy seeing just for contrast. This is the first Champion plug made that Albert Champion put his name on. It was produced while he was still in France. These are especially difficult to find.
See you all at Hershey.
Terry

Re: Champion X not brass top Spark plugs

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 7:58 pm
by Terry_007
Slight oops - posted the wrong page from the 1916 Andre catalog. This one shows the brass hat, non-ribbed insulator Champion plugs clearly.
Terry

Re: Champion X not brass top Spark plugs

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 8:45 pm
by Dropacent
Layden and others, if you can believe a cut from a 1916 catalog, this is what it shows. Also, there are brass top champions shown but listed for other cars. Dealer price is .33 each in quantity.
AF741805-F867-439E-AB04-43F6EE718861.jpeg

Re: Champion X not brass top Spark plugs

Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2019 8:49 am
by BobShirleyAtlantaTx
B9B156B4-2500-4DD5-855B-D1DD24CE07F7.png
The old forums are a wealth of information. Easy to google.