Ford model T ignition coil - "Buzz" or "Trembler" coil demonstration! 

When I was a baby, the apartment neighbors sometimes disturbed my sleep by playing their radio too loudly. My father used a Model T spark coil to produce so much reception static that they soon turned off their radio.

I inherited one of these from my father. I always wondered why he had it until I read about spark gap transmitters. He was a radioman in the Army and ended up an electrical engineer working for Bell Telephone for over 41 years. I have grabbed the wrong end of this thing and know first hand it packs a punch. Mine is the old original wood case with Ford imprinted on it.

Thank you for sharing this piece of American History. My Dad owned a couple in his younger years. All my best. Bobby.

Very interesting. Open air spark gap jump is 3,000volts per millimeter, so you can approximate the voltage by separating the electrodes until the spark stops and measuring the gap.

If you move a neon bulb near the secondary, it will glow.

Thanks for the video demonstration, I have about four of these old Girls and they still spark very well. ☺

I really like to see the timing method used pls. Thnx 4 posting!

Would you be so kind as to explain why the contact points open and close so rapidly? Is there spring tension on the contacts? Is it a magnetic field that closes the contacts, and the spring tension opens the contacts momentarily? I understand the concept of transformers, and I understand how standard DC ignition works both points and electronic ignition. But, l can't visualize how this system works with the rapid pulsation of the contacts. I would guess there is a primary winding that collapses when the contacts open onto a secondary high voltage winding. But, what is the mechanism that opens and closes the contacts? Thank you!!

Future Mad Scientist ! Where's the Jacobs Ladder & the Van der Graf Ball ? Those Model-T coils are a lost secret from the past ⚡ then , maybe not

I just realized you almost set your desk on fire. You could've had some "external combustion". 😜

Great video l, but that's actually not a model t coil. More than likely it was originally used on a stationary hit and miss engine. Model T's have a four cylinder engine and four separate coils mounted in a box whereas your coil was intended to be mounted on an engine cart.

Your awesome, keep it up

How long will that coil last at 12 volts?

proper ignition no mucking around

Was this filmed with a 1915 potato?

i have two ford coils that are simalar i got at a surplus sale thanks for posting this video chris

Used one of these as a wide band code transmitter as a kid.

Did you end up making a video on how to clean one?

Not a model t ford coil, they were smaller and had flat contacts on the side. This is either an accessory ‘master vibrator’ coil or off something like a stationary engine.