Need help identifying aftermarket timer

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Matt in California
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Touring
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Need help identifying aftermarket timer

Post by Matt in California » Sun Mar 15, 2026 1:20 pm

Would someone please help me identify this? I would like to see an example of a rotor for it.
IMG_7780.jpeg
IMG_7779.jpeg
Thanks!

Matt

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DanTreace
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Re: Need help identifying aftermarket timer

Post by DanTreace » Sun Mar 15, 2026 2:02 pm

IMG_1229.jpeg
The best way is always the simplest. The attics of the world are cluttered up with complicated failures. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford

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Topic author
Matt in California
Posts: 829
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 5:42 pm
First Name: Matt
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Touring
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Re: Need help identifying aftermarket timer

Post by Matt in California » Mon Mar 16, 2026 1:14 am

Thanks Dan!
Now I need to keep my eyes out for the roller and extension!

Matt

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Matt in California
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Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 5:42 pm
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Re: Bemus Ball Contact Timer by Motor Specialties Co (Mosco)

Post by Matt in California » Mon Mar 16, 2026 3:25 pm

I thought after seeing Dan's post with the name and manufacture I would find lots more info on the MTFCA forum. But to my surprise nothing came up searching for Bemus Ball Contact Timer by Motor Specialties Co (Mosco). I did find Stan Howe post in a general discussion about after market timers:
https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/10263.html
Stan shared photos of his collection including this timer:
Stan Howe Bemus Ball Contact Timer.jpg
Stan Howe Bemus Ball Contact Timer.jpg (23.02 KiB) Viewed 116 times
He also showed this "unknown brush", that looks similar to the roller for the Bemus timer.
Stan Howe Bemus Ball Contact Timer Roller.jpg
Does anyone have an example of a roller for this timer?

I was much more successful in finding information on Google books.
Bemus Ball Contact Timer.jpg
Notice the roller here is different than the one Dan posted.

There is a lot of advertising. I am wondering why we don't see more examples.

Matt

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DanTreace
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Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:56 am
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Re: Need help identifying aftermarket timer

Post by DanTreace » Mon Mar 16, 2026 4:59 pm

Does anyone have an example of a roller for this timer?
Seems that is a worn down Bemus, makes for ;) poor design to have flat sided roller


There may have been another improved Bemus, as this adv states Bakelite as would guess the timer case.

IMG_1228.jpeg
The best way is always the simplest. The attics of the world are cluttered up with complicated failures. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford

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Matt in California
Posts: 829
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 5:42 pm
First Name: Matt
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Touring
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Re: Need help identifying aftermarket timer

Post by Matt in California » Mon Mar 16, 2026 7:51 pm

Something mentioned by Tom Carnegie and others is a draw back with timers is that the electrical connection is via the camshaft. The roller/brush on this unit actually connects to the housing for electrical connection and centering.

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