Hi Stathi,

      It is very unlikely to be a beryllium copper as that is a
relatively new alloy, only becoming common in the last 50 to 60 years.
Now not so popular, due to the toxic properties of beryllium metal. It
is more likely such a spring would have been of phosphor bronze.

Yours Chris

Efstathios I. Pappas wrote:

>  Howdy Carol and all,
> 
> The round disk below the "arm" is actually a very thin (beryllium copper?) disk which vibrates due to an electromagnet in the coil box.? On this disk is a contact which makes the connection to fire the high voltage coil.? I do not think you have any other coil parts in your collection that I see.? Model t spark coils are somewhat unique in that they do not spark once but make a continuous shower of sparks as long as they are energized.? If anyone is interested and finds themselves in Northern California, I would be happy to demonstrate, just let me know.? 
> 
> Best,
> 
> Stathi
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> ___________________________________________________________________
> 
> Efstathios I. Pappas
> Doctoral Candidate
> Department of Anthropology/096
> University of Nevada, Reno
> Reno, NV 89557
> 209 603 7363
> 
>  
> 
> 
>  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Carol Serr <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Tue, 14 Aug 2007 7:43 pm
> Subject: Re: Help needed with IDing late 19th C metal 'junk' !!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Well, I tried to send this to your AOL email Stathi...but, it bounced
> back on me.  Looks like our IT guys havent fixed All the problems yet.
> So...everyone gets it.  Sorry.
> 
> Ha!  Some 30 min. before I saw your email...my co-worker told me what
> this item was!  I had set it aside (since last wk)...leaving the
> Unknowns until today/this wk...and while I was examining it...he walked
> by and said "I know what that is"...but then he couldn't Remember the
> name of the box...until a while later.  He's an old car buff.
> 
> So...let me ask you (since you have tinkered with one of these recently)
> about the disk hidden from view by the 'main arm' of the contact.  Is
> this just a washer? Or...is it a disk with a plugged hole?  Why I am
> asking is...would it be the #8 item shown in my group shot...right above
> #9 that you knew??  This disk is marked SAMPSON BRASS PLUGS.  I havent
> been able to find any info online even with this full name, AND the
> patent dates - PAT APR 19 93 SEP 6 99  (darn Google keeps changing
> Sampson to Samson!).
> 
> :o(
> 
> THANKS for the link.  I had come to my desk/PC to check online for how
> the contact was affixed to the coil box...when I saw your email.  What
> weird timing.  :o) 
> 
> 
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On 
>>Behalf Of Efstathios I. Pappas
>>Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 4:51 PM
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: Help needed with IDing late 19th C metal 'junk' !!
>>
>>Howdy, 
>>
>>Well I will take a crack at the identification challenge!? One 
>>object I can certainly identify is #9 which is part of the 
>>contact portion of a model t Ford coil.? You can see what the 
>>entire assembly looks like at:
>>
>>http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.andersontimer
>>.com/Coils%25201912.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.andersontimer.com/
>>Coils.htm&h=157&w=300&sz=33&hl=en&start=7&um=1&tbnid=2Z-c77jp77
>>YRLM:&tbnh=61&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmodel%2Bt%2Bcoil%26sv
>>num%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
>>
>>This is what makes the high voltage to fire the spark plug.? I 
>>just had to do some work on one of these since my model t 
>>finally runs!? :-)
>>
>>Regards,
>>
>>Stathi Pappas
>>
>>
>>___________________________________________________________________
>>
>>Efstathios I. Pappas
>>Doctoral Candidate
>>Department of Anthropology/096
>>University of Nevada, Reno
>>Reno, NV 89557
>>209 603 7363
>>
>>
> 
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> ________________________________________________________________________
> AOL now offers free email to everyone.  Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.
> 
> 

-- 
Chris Salter,
Oxford Materials Characterisation Service,
&
Electron Microscopy Research Support Group,
&
Material Science-based Archaeology Group,
Oxford University Begbroke Science Park,
Sandy Lane, Yarnton, Oxford, OX5 1PF
Tel 01865 283722, EPMA 283741