One of my latest finds, Ford What.

[Old River]

Dug this up where an old ferry crossed the river by my house back in the early 1900's, and maybe older. I know it's from a Ford, but what part. Maybe off a Model A, or T?

 

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[Ant]

I would say that who ever told you it was part of a distributor is correct. It looks like the other counter weight has broken off on the one you found. As the distributor spins the counter weighs will open and advance the timing.

I have been told that it's a part to a model T Distributor, or what ever it is that they used.

 

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[mikusek]

Is it big enough to have been part of the column mounted gear shifter? Or is it too old for that?

 

[cheese]

I'm pretty sure this is part of an ignition system, something like this but earlier: http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORD-9N-2N-...ultDomain_0&hash=item2c5c4fe39e#ht_3914wt_952

I have found them too.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I think it depends on the size. It doesnt do much good to guess without knowing the size IMHO. This is the 23rd reply and we still dont know. Besides I dont think Model Ts have a distributor. The ID just doesnt feel right... http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/6/1657.html?1072035618


This a a known Ford part. I wouldnt check it off without an exact matching picture.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

That is NOT a timing advance weight assembly as circled a couple of posts up. They look like this:

Small and built to spin at up to 5,000 rpm. (The same flathead in-line 4 used in the Ford 8N)

 

[kracer55]

I was wrong, It is part of a Model T distributor. It is called a Timer Roller. I appears to be what I would call a rotor on newer point style distributors.

 

[GpSnoopy]

Oh, wow! That is a great picture ID, kracer55.

I had actually looked at those timer rollers earlier, but all the ones I saw from the restorer's sites for the Model T or A had a different style, so I discounted them.

Edit: Now that I looked into it some more. There are 3 major variations on the timer. The original Ford version (which were made in aluminum, cast iron, and stamped steel versions). The Tiger version that used steel roller parts like the one I have pictured below, and the Anderson version which used a spring loaded metal "brush" instead of a roller. Never ceases to amaze me the things we learn when we try to ID these items.
Advantages of various timers

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I was wrong, It is part of a Model T distributor. It is called a Timer Roller. I appears to be what I would call a rotor on newer point style distributors.

Great work Kracer. I didnt realize the item was so small.