Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[34HF90]

Hello everyone,
I'm new to this forum so thought I'd start posting with a question. Does anyone know about these things, pictured below?

I was lucky enough to come across a pile of 1960's motoring mags, and this advert caught my eye. Does anyone know how they worked- or what happened to the idea?

There is little about it on tinternet, apart from a confirmation that they worked well and the idea was bought up by Bosch when the original company went bust,,,,,

[peter scott]

Hi Martin,

Welcome to the forum. I remember seeing these adverts at the time. As to the effectiveness or benefits relative to normal plugs I think the fact that they haven't replaced normal plugs to this day gives you the answer.

Peter
_________________
https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[34HF90]

For sure. It would be interesting to know how they worked though.

Some points that come through after reading these old magazines is how relatively unregulated the advertising was with regard to products' performance, but also how with regard to ignition systems, the development of electronic, and later specifically CDI, ignition made many 'inventions' redundant.
I suspect that these 'spark plugs' would be a case in point.

Fascinating to see how technology doesn't always go in the directions we imagine. There are always unimagined developments (and legislation) that take their part in forming the future!

[Riley Blue]

This morning in the BBC - lasers could replace spark plugs:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13160950

[34HF90]

Thanks for that- an interesting concept!

Presumably, having control of three lasers gives control of the burn to a much closer degree, and can control the pressure rise curve in the cylinder to whatever shape you want, with whatever fuel you want.
Should give a lot more flexibility over engine design too.

But....

it'll all be controlled by a microprocessor buried in a sealed irreparable (or understandable) unit that takes a dealership and a second mortgage to replace....

Joe Lucas wasn't that bad really.

I think that the emphasis has changed because of the way that products are aimed at us nowadays.
'Back then', things could be easily modified and improved (or made worse!) because of the traditional engineering techniques that were used in manufacturing.
Nowadays the philosophy is twofold, about ease of assembly and 'protectionist engineering' that ensures the whole product is kept 'in house' over it's lifespan.

I'll get me coat....

[baconsdozen]

I think the 'Spitfire' igniters were supposed to work by surface discharge.There are and always have been various'alternatives' and 'improvements' or boosters for the ignition system.Other than ebay you don't see them advertised for sale that often,most reutable magazines wont touch the adverts with a barge pole.
Years ago,before the trade descriotion act and the possibilty of fines etc all sorts of devices with dubious sounding names were available.
_________________
Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).