Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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[ERRATUM: I accidentally misspoke and stated that the "D" in DELCO stood for DETROIT rather than DAYTON]

Early Ford vehicles from the Model A (1903) through the Model T (1908-1927) used an electrical ignition system based on "trembler" coils, high-voltage, high-frequency transformers adapted from the classic induction or Ruhmkorff coil. But while effective, this system struggled to achieve accurate ignition timing and was eventually replaced by the more reliable DELCO ignition coil system.


Medical Coils video: youtu.be/NufNhuWI1iA
Pocket Battery No.1 video: youtu.be/RCANKMhbGjw

0:00 Introduction
0:46 Non-Electrical Ignition
1:55 Ford Make-and-Break System
3:22 Trembler Coil Overview
4:11 Induction Coil Theory
7:17 Commutator/Distributor
7:52 Trembler Coil Box
8:24 Electrical System Evolution
9:57 Trembler Coil Shortcomings
11:07 Master-Slave Coil Systems
11:28 Joseph Williams Improvements
12:36 DELCO Ignition System
14:27 Other Ignition System
15:28 Ford Trembler Coil Evolution
19:15 Outro


SOURCES

aeroelectric.com/Reference_Docs/Books/Model_T_Ignition_System.pdf
history.com/this-day-in-history/august-29/charles-f-kettering-inventor-of-electric-self-starter-is-born
https://www.denso-am.eu/news/deneur21_04_ignition-coil-basic-principles
hotrod.com/how-to/inductive-vs-capacitive-discharge-ignition-systems#google_vignette
curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/automotive-history-the-history-of-electronic-ignition-losing-the-points-part-1
patents.google.com/patent/US1223180A/en
modeltcentral.com/Model-T-Ford-Electrical-Specifications.html
larescorp.com/toolbox/skinned-knuckles-articles/the-model-t-ford-buzz-coil
larescorp.com/toolbox/skinned-knuckles-articles/the-model-t-ford-buzz-coil