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BE_ZERO_BE
- Posts: 645
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:27 pm
- First Name: BOB
- Last Name: CASCISA
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1916 TOURING
- Location: POULSBO, WA
Post
by BE_ZERO_BE » Thu Aug 14, 2025 11:33 pm
There have been a number of occurrences recently where a Model T craftsman has passed away and all of their knowledge, expertise and experience went with them. A recent instance that comes to mind is our good friend Stan Howe who passed away while working in his shop. Stan had many years of experience and was an expert on brass carburetors. All was lost in his sudden passing.
As many of you know, I repair meters for HCCTs (Hand Crank Coil Testers). What I do is a very small niche of the Model T hobby. I got into this because the person that was doing it many years ago passed. There was quite a gap until I was convinced (actually conned) to take up the banner. I had to learn about these meters from scratch.
I won’t be around forever and the need for this service will be a part of the hobby as long as HCCTs keep coming out of barns and elsewhere. I don’t want to see what I have learned disappear into the ether when I am too old to do this anymore. I have been thinking about this or some time.
I decided to capture what I have learned over the last 12+ years and put it down on paper. Attached is the “HCCT Meter Handbook”. It is 100 pages of what I do and how I do it. I am making it accessible to all who want it. Feel free to share it on down the line. I will be sending a printed copy to the MTFCA library.
I am still doing meters ( I ain’t gone yet
). My hope is that this knowledge and my experience will carry on long after I am gone.
Respectfully Submitted,
Be_Zero_Be
I drive a Model T ... Microseconds don't matter
For every Absolute Model T Fact there are at least three exceptions.
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Rod
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:38 pm
- First Name: Rod
- Last Name: Barrett
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 Two Pedal Touring, 1910 Wide Track Tourabout, 1912 Towncar, 1912 Touring, 1913 Touring, 1924 Depot Hack, 1925 Front Wheel Drive Speedster
- Location: Anderson, IN
- MTFCA Life Member: YES
- Board Member Since: 2014
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Contact:
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by Rod » Fri Aug 15, 2025 4:42 am
Bob, it is wonderful that you are sharing your knowledge.
As I have a HCCT in my barn and just yesterday I purchased this book from the MTFCA store.
https://mtfca.square.site/product/hcct- ... 4CJBVEQ4WA
Thanks for all you do for the hobby.
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Dan Hatch
- Posts: 5083
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 7:31 pm
- First Name: Dan
- Last Name: Hatch
- Location: Alabama
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by Dan Hatch » Fri Aug 15, 2025 5:26 am
Thanks for doing this!!
And thanks again for repairing the meter for my Starter/Generator test stand. Dan
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modeltspaz
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:15 am
- First Name: Mike
- Last Name: Spaziano
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Touring
- Location: Bellflower, California
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by modeltspaz » Fri Aug 15, 2025 5:14 pm
Bob,
My hat is off to you for doing this for all that are interested in this information.
Please take note of my signature at the bottom of this post.
Best Regards,
Mike "modeltspaz" Spaziano.
Knowledge that isn't shared, is wasted knowledge.
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namdc3
- Posts: 382
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 4:15 pm
- First Name: Nikolaus
- Last Name: Martin
- Location: Kansas City
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by namdc3 » Sat Aug 16, 2025 7:04 pm
Great work, Bob!
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FundyTides
- Posts: 219
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 6:29 pm
- First Name: David
- Last Name: Wilson
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1927 Canadian Touring
- Location: Saint John, NB, Canada
- Board Member Since: 1999
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by FundyTides » Sat Aug 16, 2025 8:42 pm
Thank you for all of your hard work and your generosity in making this document available. I have an Allen HCCT which I purchased several years ago (about 1962) from a shop that had been in business for many years and agreed to sell me the tester and some misc. T parts that they still had in stock. It works and I have never had to do anything to it. I will put a copy of your manual with the tester so that whatever family member ends up with my T and the tester will have it as a reference if it needs repair at any time. My youngest grand-son, as a child, was fascinated by the sparks produced and still enjoys demostrating it to his friends. Thanks again.