I know it's a coil, but...

[Petrah Phyre]

Just picked this up. The shop called it a Model T Ford magneto. I am a bit ignorant on how it would work with a standard coil box.

[TXGOAT2]

If it's an ignition coil, it's probably pre-T.
A master vibrator looks very similar to the device in the picture.

[ThreePedalTapDancer]

I believe that’s a Jefferson type coil similar in construction to the JEFFERSON No.51 coil.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

That's a typical single cylinder ignition coil, used for cars and stationary engines. There were possibly dozens, if not hundreds, of different manufacturers of them. Yours is not for a Model T, or even a pre-Model T, or so I believe, since Ford never made a single cylinder car. I suspect that someone has scratched in the FORD name to "create" a more interesting example, or who knows, maybe there was a coil manufacturer named FORD.

[Petrah Phyre]

That's a typical single cylinder ignition coil, used for cars and stationary engines. There were possibly dozens, if not hundreds, of different manufacturers of them. Yours is not for a Model T, or even a pre-Model T, or so I believe, since Ford never made a single cylinder car. I suspect that someone has scratched in the FORD name to "create" a more interesting example, or who knows, maybe there was a coil manufacturer named FORD.

I thought it was maybe for a hit and miss motor. I was suspect of the Ford on the front. Did not think Ford ever used that script. It did have a gold painted emblem at one point, but it is unreadable.

[TXGOAT2]

2 cycle marine single cylinder engines used to be common, and many used a buzz coil and timer arrangement that allowed the engine to run in either direction. The operator could, with a little finesse, reverse the engine without stopping it.

[J1MGOLDEN]

The plan was to use that single coil to fire all cylinders, so each spark plug would get the same size spark and it would always be available.

The four Ford coils had the points set to conduct all the time and not vibrate.

Each of the four coils would make equal size sparks whenever the Timer put a ground on them in the usual manner.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

The plan was to use that single coil to fire all cylinders, so each spark plug would get the same size spark and it would always be available.

The four Ford coils had the points set to conduct all the time and not vibrate.

Each of the four coils would make equal size sparks whenever the Timer put a ground on them in the usual manner.

Jim,

That's how a master vibrator works. That's not what this is.