MTFCA Forum

The last of R V Anderson’s businesses is now for sale.

The nut and bolt and the mag rewinding businesses have been sold the last is the ignition coil repair business.

RV repaired most any early ( pre 1913) ignition coil, made new coils, restored complete coil boxes, and with the help of his brother Jon, made complete new coil boxes. There are hundreds of ignition coils of many different brands, many different coil boxes, wood and metal. Coil repair tools and many many new coil parts. Price for all is $3500.00. This is far less than the sum of the total value. All the coils, boxes, tools and associated parts must go.

I’ll post a few pictures, but it’s difficult to show all that is there. If you're interested, let me know. Kdmks@att.net.

Coils and parts pics

More pictures

Email sent

Matt, if you end up buying everything, and there is a Splitdorf coil box like this one in there, I would be interested in buying it, PM me at your convenience, thanks!

The switch on the front of the box has three positions: BAT, Off, and MAG. The "key" fits into the square hole in the front of the switch.

For the moment anyway, I, and I bet several others with Heinze coils, hope and pray someone picks up the business of being able to "tune them" and/or repair them, when they need it. From what I've heard, they're not that difficult compared to the KW, but indeed a bit different specs. Luckily, I had RV tune mine up literally a month before he passed away, so I should be good for a few years, but I do like to stay on top of them regularly.

Kim, are you allowed to share who picked up R.V.'s fastener business and whether/when they plan to make those products available again?

Don Lang bought all the nut and bolt business as well as the cloth top straps.

I second Tim Wrenn’s comments.

My son’s Heinze box and two coils acted up last month. He installed coil number five which was new from RV. We’re still trying to sort out the other two coils. The more coil doctors and coil experts we have out there, the better off our hobby will be.

I too will be interested to purchase a set of 5-1911 style Heinze coils for a project that I had been discussing with R.V.
Thanks, Mike Lebsack

The first thing is to get the business sold to someone who can continue RV's work. The hobby really needs people to rebuild these early coils. Then it will be up to that person to sell off excess inventory if they choose to do so. The total inventory is worth far more then the asking price!

I, and I bet several others with Heinze coils, hope and pray someone picks up the business of being able to "tune them"

I was working with R.V. on testing and tuning Heinze coils using the dwell time to fire method when the unthinkable happened. Test results were just starting to trickle in from users of the ECCT Heinze Edition tester that were very positive. Turns out the Heinze coils have a characteristic very different than the KW coils which utilize the moving cushion spring contact. Adjusting Heinze coils to all fire spark after the same dwell time is just not possible using average coil current (HCCT) as an indirect approximation of dwell time to fire spark which was the method R.V. had been using. Sadly, Heinze coils developed a reputation of inferior performing ignition coil due to the limitations of the test methods of the day Not because of an inferior design and lost the opportunity to work with R.V. further. I'd be pleased to collaborate with with whoever assumes the challenge of rebuilding Heinze coils in the area of testing and tuning. The results are a definite game changer in engine performance using Heinze coils.

Mike, thanks for your efforts in the proper care and tuning of Heinze coils. Naturally we all wish you or whomever Godspeed! As mentioned, for now I'm in pretty good shape, probably for a good 6 years, that's how long I ran on mine before sending them to RV for a little TLC. He did find one had an issue, the other 4 were ok and just needed tweaking. And you're right, sadly Heinze coils, kinda like Pit Bulls, have a bad rap. I love mine. This car starts easily, they run a lot quieter, just an overall great ignition system. We need to keep 'em going! Thanks.

Waiting patiently in the wings for someone to take on the task of redoing the Heinze coils. I may have some to send in, have not decided which route to take with them.

The coil business has been sold, I’ll leave it up to the buyer to reveal himself. I think it will work out well.

That's wonderful! Thank you for your efforts in this area, Kim.

To the new owner of the coil business and inventory - please contact me via email or PM if you have a Splitdorf coil box and key like this. The switch has three positions, BAT, OFF, and MAG. I'm looking for a spare box for my 1912 Flanders 20.

I do hope the new owner will make himself available to inquiries soon. To continue this facet of Model T service is vital to the continued success of the breed ! Congratulations and best wishes to the new owner !!

I second that Rich!

I have taken on the services RV used to offer for Heinze Coils. I cannot replace windings, but can offer recap services, tuning, hardware, points, etc.

Luke Chennell
Luke.chennell@gmail.com

KD worked tirelessly for all of this year
helping out the Family settle things.

He made several cross country trips
and worked countless hours.

Thank You Kim Dobbins.


FJ

Yes, Thank you Kim D!

Without your devotion to the hobby, this aspect might have been instantly lost.

Still difficult to accept what happened to RV.

Wayne Sheldon wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 23, 2022 5:08 am

Yes, Thank you Kim D!

Without your devotion to the hobby, this aspect might have been instantly lost.

Still difficult to accept what happened to RV.

Thank you Kim and also Luke!
Got your info written down and in my T-maintenance log for future reference.

My extended thanks too, to Kim and Luke! I’ve recorded Luke’s information as I will be needing to rebuild a set of Heinze coils as a spare set for myself and will need some points and parts soon.

Just to be clear, Luke is not the one who bought RV’s coil rebuilding business.

I'm sure with certainty that all will contribute to uphold RV's legacy. Thanks !!

KimDobbins wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 23, 2022 6:32 pm

Just to be clear, Luke is not the one who bought RV’s coil rebuilding business.

So perhaps there will be two entities involved in the maintenance and repair of Heinze coils then?

I haven’t had time to post on here Yet things have been a bit hectic. My name is Ben Jermainne I am the one who bought rvs coil business i am now in the process of organizing parts and setting up my shop. If anyone has any questions feel free to email me. My email is bjerm10@gmail.com thank you

I have taken on the services RV used to offer for Heinze Coils.

- Luke

My name is Ben Jermainne I am the one who bought rvs coil business

- Ben

Well, that certainly clears that up...

Best of luck to whomever, doing whatever wherever.

Can we presume, Luke, that you're Heinz spark coils exclusively, and Ben, you're Mag Coils exclusively?

Scott I bought the ignition coil business. I know someone has bought the mag business but I dont Know who the gentleman is. I will be rebuilding coils and coil boxes when I get setup.

To be clear, I did not buy any of RV’s operations. I have been working with Mike Kossor and also with Lang’s to be able to setup coils on a dedicated Heinze ECCT with new points available through Lang’s. I’m not currently working on anything other than Heinze or K-W / Ford coils.

I’m glad to hear Ben bought RV’s business. I’ll be in touch to see if there are ways we can work together.

Luke email me anytime you like. It would be great to be able to work with you and learn more from you and others.

Thats great to have all of you working on early coils! RV always had more work then he could handle. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

KimDobbins wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 24, 2022 10:30 am

Thats great to have all of you working on early coils! RV always had more work then he could handle. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Amen to that! As well as the spirit of cooperation! That's what makes this such a great brotherhood of a hobby.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!

To be clear, I don't do coil rebuilding/testing/tuning services. However, willing to share my knowledge and methods I've researched found very effective with Heinze coils with those who do. Heinze coils earned a poor reputation not due to an inferior design but due to limitations of the tools and methods available back in the day. Heinze coil performance is actually excellent, and quite possibly superior to the KW coils when properly tuned.

Happy Thanksgiving All!