The Ford Barn

blownford · 03-01-2026, 09:53 AM

I picked this up off eBay. It was listed as a Model T coil tester however I don't think it is.
Basically it's just a wood box with a KW coil mounted inside.

On the outside there are 2 power wires with alligator clips, a spark plug cable and an on-off switch.

The coil is screwed to the outer box and the 3 connections are soldered to the coil. Would be difficult to put switch to a different coil There are remnants of a label on the box but not legible.

Any Idea what this was used for?

blownford · 03-01-2026, 09:58 AM

Messed up Here's pics

stevests · 03-01-2026, 10:39 AM

WAG - electric fence power source ?

blownford · 03-01-2026, 11:30 AM

Well that could be, I also understand the coils were used on hit/miss engines so maybe something to do with that.
One thing for sure, because its been protected inside the box, the coil looks brand new.

rotorwrench · 03-01-2026, 02:09 PM

It could be used to test spark plugs or perhaps a timer's circuits.

olivia_49 · 03-11-2026, 02:18 PM

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Seems like a simple DIY spark tester, not a real Model T tester, just a coil in a box with clips and a switch to see if it fires.

normren · 03-12-2026, 12:19 PM

Its a homemade spark plug / ignition coil tester, not specifically a Model T coil tester.

03-01-2026, 09:53 AM	#1
blownford Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 71	Coil Tester I picked this up off eBay. It was listed as a Model T coil tester however I don't think it is. Basically it's just a wood box with a KW coil mounted inside. On the outside there are 2 power wires with alligator clips, a spark plug cable and an on-off switch. The coil is screwed to the outer box and the 3 connections are soldered to the coil. Would be difficult to put switch to a different coil There are remnants of a label on the box but not legible. Any Idea what this was used for?

03-01-2026, 10:39 AM	#3
stevests Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Longbranch, Washington Posts: 683	Re: Coil Tester WAG - electric fence power source ?

03-01-2026, 11:30 AM	#4
blownford Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 71	Re: Coil Tester Well that could be, I also understand the coils were used on hit/miss engines so maybe something to do with that. One thing for sure, because its been protected inside the box, the coil looks brand new.

03-01-2026, 02:09 PM	#5
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 18,006	Re: Coil Tester It could be used to test spark plugs or perhaps a timer's circuits.

03-11-2026, 02:18 PM	#6
olivia_49 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2026 Posts: 6	Re: Coil Tester Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Seems like a simple DIY spark tester, not a real Model T tester, just a coil in a box with clips and a switch to see if it fires.

03-12-2026, 12:19 PM	#7
normren BANNED Join Date: Apr 2025 Location: Sacramento Ca Posts: 22	Re: Coil Tester Its a homemade spark plug / ignition coil tester, not specifically a Model T coil tester.