MTFCA Forum

I just picked up two of the two cap distributors at Hershey. I will try to load pictures but often have trouble with that excerise. Also have the caps, rotors and point sets for these units available.

Update on the two units. The rougher one is #5216 the other one is unit #5209. I've had several calls already on these rare units

Interesting ! Please explain the Model T connection for us benighted “purist brass snobs” ?

Bitchiest period ignition system for dual plug heads. Scarce period speed equipment.

A period distributor based system for twin spark plug heads like the RAJO BBR. An alternative to to the twin spark high tension magnetos, like the Bosch ZR4 2Spark Dual, also rare and crazy expensive. In the pictures above, you can see the castellated drive off the right end and the spark advance is the shaft on the side between the caps.

Keep crankin',
Eric

I "believe" from things I have seen and read, that these units were used as original equipment on a few high end automobiles. I am particularly sure that some models of Stutz used them, although I do not know what years. I have heard that these were also sold for use on dual ignition after-market heads for model Ts. Very high end after-market!
These are very desirable for small bunch of people. A friend some years back was sorting a Stutz to tour with (a very nice looking car that had a lot of running problems due to a so-so restoration). It had had some cobbled together distributor on it and he had to search hard to find the right thing, like this one.

How do these work?

Do the points in the one distributor feed spark to both caps?

Looking at the better one, you can see two sets of points on one side and the condensers are on the other side. The condensers are the long silver or gray pieces. Both caps fire spark plugs that are in the same cylinder at the same time but are independent of each other. I believe Packard and Pierce trucks and Stutz used these units. I believe Delco also make a twin 6 unit.

Okay, so . . . a sophisticated system that was used on high-end marques, but not necessarily adaptable to Model T Fords ?

Twin ignition systems on obscure makes can be an endlessly fascinating study !

Rich P. Bingham wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 16, 2025 10:46 pm

Okay, so . . . a sophisticated system that was used on high-end marques, but not necessarily adaptable to a Model T Fords ?

Twin ignition systems on obscure makes can be an endlessly fascinating study !

Well, I would say not useful for a stock ford engine, but highly desirable if upgrading a Model T engine to a twin plug OHV head, especially if one wants to stay reasonably period. Apparently there were even some twin plug flathead T heads made (Riley?), although, I’ve never seen one in person.

Keep crankin’,
Eric

Only original twin spark flathead that I know of was the Riley Multi Ford (Multi Lift) head. Later came the Sherman twin spark and even 3 spark flatheads

Here is one on a Model A engine with a Morton and Brett OHV conversion.0