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K-W Coil Box & Switch Company Question

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2023 7:11 pm
by Don Demio
In reference to the K-W Ignition Company of Cleveland, OH, I was wondering, what the initials K & W stand for?

Thank in advance for the answer and Happy Thanksgivings.

Re: K-W Coil Box & Switch Company Question

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2023 7:38 pm
by TWrenn
Don Demio wrote:
Sun Nov 19, 2023 7:11 pm
In reference to the K-W Ignition Company of Cleveland, OH, I was wondering, what the initials K & W stand for?

Thank in advance for the answer and Happy Thanksgivings.
Kaple and Williams

Re: K-W Coil Box & Switch Company Question

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2023 7:43 pm
by jab35
Interesting subject, here's a little snippet from the interweb:
Joseph Archibald Williams (21 December 1868 – 2 November 1929) was an American inventor and entrepreneur whose inventions over 30 years from 1899 to 1930 were concentrated in automotive electrical and ignition systems but also included telephony, vehicles, Internal combustion engines, and aeroplane, and metal alloy development.

His early patents were assigned to the Williams Electric Company and the Williams Telephone and Supply Company. His later patents for ignition systems that were used for the Ford Model T were held individually, or assigned to the Kaple Williams (K-W) Ignition Company. K-W also produced and sold accessories, such as electric headlights, Ignition magnetos, contact points, and ignition system replacement parts.[1]

From: https://wikitia.com/wiki/Joseph_Archibald_Williams

Respectfully, jb
ps: From an article by Ron Patterson and Trent Boggess
Part 1 in a Three-part Series that first appeared in Volume 34 of the Vintage Ford Magazine
The Model T Ignition Coil

"Relatively little is known about the early years of the K-W Ignition Company. The Cleveland City Directory for 1908 lists the KW Ignition Company’s address as being the Whitney Building. Its officers were Joseph A. Williams, president; William Kaple, vice-president; and, A. F. Williams, secretary. Itis almost certain that the company’s name was derived from the names of these two principle officers: Kaple and Williams."