What do you know about Sterling Spark plugs?

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic
User avatar

Topic author
1925 Touring
Posts: 859
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2022 6:23 pm
First Name: Austin
Last Name: Farmer
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1922 Touring 1924 roadster pickup
Location: N.W. Illinois
Contact:
Contact 1925 Touring

What do you know about Sterling Spark plugs?

Post by 1925 Touring » Wed Nov 05, 2025 7:54 am

What do you know about Sterling Spark plugs? I picked a set of eight up, still in the box and they are in very nice shape. They look a lot like a straight side Champion x. They are marked 1/2 inch for fords. From what little research I've done, I can't find much about them. Other than the fact that they're antiques spark plugs, which is kind of a given...
20251104_185305.jpg
20251105_064735.jpg
20251105_065027.jpg
11f36998-91c2-4be3-a4d3-0c471f214cfb.jpg
Just a 20 year old who listens to 40 year old music, works on 75 year old airplanes and drives 100 year old cars.
The past is only simple because hindsight is 20/20.
Top

Allan
Posts: 6998
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
First Name: Allan
Last Name: Bennett
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
Location: Gawler, Australia

Re: What do you know about Sterling Spark plugs?

Post by Allan » Wed Nov 05, 2025 6:30 pm

A V8 model T Austin? What you have is TWO sets of four! :D :D :D Nice find.

Allan from down under.
Top
User avatar

DanTreace
Posts: 3976
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:56 am
First Name: Dan
Last Name: Treace
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '23 cutoff pickup, '27 touring
Location: North Central FL
Board Member Since: 2000
Contact:
Contact DanTreace

Re: What do you know about Sterling Spark plugs?

Post by DanTreace » Wed Nov 05, 2025 6:47 pm

Some adv from FordOwner mag, 1918, compliments of Google Books search.

IMG_0295.jpeg
IMG_0296.jpeg
IMG_0294.jpeg
The best way is always the simplest. The attics of the world are cluttered up with complicated failures. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford
Top
User avatar

TMiller6
Posts: 313
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:11 pm
First Name: Thomas
Last Name: Miller
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 16, 24, 26 Touring - 26 Roadster and Fordor
Location: SE MI
Board Member Since: 2006

Re: What do you know about Sterling Spark plugs?

Post by TMiller6 » Thu Nov 06, 2025 9:03 am

I was curious and looked up Jackson’s auto history. Through 1954, Jackson hosted 24 or 25 auto makers including Buick. When an auto maker would stop production, machinists stayed employed by making parts such as your spark plugs.

Jackson’s final auto offering? The Kaiser Darrin.
Tom Miller
One who cannot find beauty in an engine cannot find beauty in the universe.
Top
User avatar

KWTownsend
Posts: 1475
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 6:51 pm
First Name: Keith
Last Name: Townsend
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: late 1911 touring, 1915 runabout, 1919 touring, brass speedster
Location: Gresham, Orygun
MTFCA Life Member: YES
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: What do you know about Sterling Spark plugs?

Post by KWTownsend » Fri Nov 07, 2025 10:44 am

IIRC, the extended length of the threaded part would indicate they were intended for the post 1916 "high" head.

I would not hesitate to use them. If nothing else, they are a conversation piece.

Keith
Top

Scott_Conger
Posts: 6634
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:18 am
First Name: Scott
Last Name: Conger
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1919
Location: not near anywhere, WY
Board Member Since: 2005

Re: What do you know about Sterling Spark plugs?

Post by Scott_Conger » Fri Nov 07, 2025 11:01 am

For functional purposes, they should be fine

But after surviving for 100 years as brand new parts, there are cheaper alternatives to making a "T" run, while still preserving the plugs for display to future generations. If they are in fact put into service, I'd say the best bet would be to quickly throw away the boxes so as to destroy the evidence of their existence.

I have a small coin collection with some pretty spectacular condition 100 year old coins...every single one of them is perfect for making change, but why would I want to?
Scott Conger

Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny

NH Full Flow Float Valves™
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured
Top
User avatar

Topic author
1925 Touring
Posts: 859
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2022 6:23 pm
First Name: Austin
Last Name: Farmer
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1922 Touring 1924 roadster pickup
Location: N.W. Illinois
Contact:
Contact 1925 Touring

Re: What do you know about Sterling Spark plugs?

Post by 1925 Touring » Sat Nov 08, 2025 9:10 pm

Thank you everyone. Thank you Mr. Treace for the literature. I found very minimal information with the brief research I have done on these spark plugs. Frankly, very little information on any Sterling spark plugs for that matter. I do not plan on using them right now, they are a neat piece and I would like to find some way to display them, along with all my other Model T 'junk' I keep acquiring. ;)
Just a 20 year old who listens to 40 year old music, works on 75 year old airplanes and drives 100 year old cars.
The past is only simple because hindsight is 20/20.
Top
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic

Return to “General Discussion Forum”