Ignition

The ignition is now by battery and trembler coils, but this is probably the third method used. Originally the car had hot-tube ignition.

According to the factory service records, in 1902 a spark plug ignition system was supplied. As there is no apparent place where both hot tubes and spark plugs could have been fitted at the same time, it must be assumed that the hot tube system was removed. (The next generation of engine had provision for both systems to be fitted concurrently). Whilst we are not certain, it seems likeliest that this ignition would have used trembler coils.

What we do know is that by the time that the car came into the museum’s ownership it had a magneto (believed to be from a 1928 Austin Seven).

A trembler coil system powered from a battery under the driving seat was installed in 1993. The timing is controlled by a low-tension distributor driving off the camshaft, and there is an advance/retard control on the bulkhead.