MTFCA Forum

Just brought home another one. Same story. Someone passed and need to clean out garage, but this one has a distributor. Haven’t tried to do anything with it. What Model is this thing? Are there parts available? Thanks Mike

It is an American Bosch, hence the "AB". The race driver face wearing goggles was their logo for a few decades. I don't know what model, there were a bunch of them. Some had automatic advance, many did not. Most clamped in front of the standard timing gear cover. The best ones came built into a special timing gear cover. I cannot tell from your picture what you have.
They made and sold a lot of them (wouldn't surprise me if they made a million of them?). Used parts are somewhat available, however most surviving units are pretty well worn out. One of the reasons so many used parts are available. NOS replacement parts can often be gotten from people that have collected them for years. A few parts, including the drive gear, are made new still (I think still?).
Very good units if in good condition.
Of course, some of us still prefer a proper T timer and four coil setup.

I have a spark plug with that guy on it! Can you show how the Distributar is fitted to the block?

Spark plugs are screwed into the spark plug hole!

Darn now this don't make no sense But I am going to leave it just to mess with people.

Not that it matters to the distributor, but his name is Fritz the Flyer.

Thanks Mark,I need to poof read more often.

From what I can see from the pictures It looks like a Model 600.

Pep's quite correct! Fritz the flyer!
Not associated with these guys but lots of Bosch info on the site. Didn't spy any distributers tho... https://oldcroak.com/american-bosch-1/
Lotsa good stuff.
Neat distributer Mike!

Some prior owner removed the mag pickup and replaced with an oil line. I would prefer coils, but likley need to stick with this for now. I’ll will see if I can get spark, if not I may need to find parts. It is All part of the T learning experience. Much like the experience of telling the wife I have brought yet another one home.

I got the front plate version in my T. I did replace the shaft. Think I bought it from Snyders. Different shafts for the front plate and the clip on types. It´s been in the car for many years, and I'm very pleased with it. Works incredibly well. Haven't come to fix my weak magnets yet so I stick to the distributor for now. Anyway it a period correct accessory.

It is an American Bosch 600 distributor. At the onset of WWI the US Government took over Bosch operations in the US- which then became American Bosch. Since then it has no relationship, or parts, to the current Robert Bosch products. This is a popular model has centrifugal advance. If the kidney shaped condenser inside the housing is no longer functional a compatible condenser is often used and mounted externally. These instructions explain how it can be hooked up to buzz coils or conventional single coil. Need to add a second post for last page +

More American Bosch 600 Orange color was what the original head was painted That photo is for a different Model AB

I´ll just pass on a good advice someone gave me. Make sure your distributor has a good ground. Attach a cable from the distributor body to somewhere on the engine block.

Works good. You can sometimes find parts on Ebay. The ground wire is good advice.Got one on my TT.

I am not able to get enough gap with adjustment. I’m sure the wiper is worn. My plan is to file enough to get enough gap. What is the proper gap 15-18? My goal is to use this to start the car to see how well it runs and check mag output as I would like to go back to coils.

Thanks

Don't file the wiper. If you can't make a gap then the wiper is worn down or you don't have the cam and wiper in the highest position. And don't forget to put the clip back on.

This is for T type A B distributors:
4 & 6 cylinder distributor .020".
8 cylinder .014-.016".
I say do it. File the points to get some gap.

I did file a little and got enough gap. Started and ran! The head of the distributor has some wear. It could be moved and the gap would widen. I checked mag output. I will likely remove the Bosch and go back to coils. Thanks for the advise!