resistance unit on 1935 distributor??

Tom, the resistor mentioned in the literature is indeed a resistor. They were used through '36, and on the bottom-end '37 model. It was mounted on a small plate at the distributor screw terminal where the wire from the coil attaches. One end of the resistance was connected to the plate, which meant it was connected to the distributor terminal; the other end was connected to an insulated terminal on the plate, to which the coil wire connected. The '34-'37 service manual shows a pretty good photo of the resistor installation. Resistor assemblies for six and eight-cylinder engines were different, and look slightly different. Reason for the resistor: these early models didn't have a true voltage regulator ... it was actually a current limiter. Using the movable third brush of the generator, it was adjusted to produce around 8v at typical running speed. That voltage caused higher coil current, which caused excessive ignition point burning. The resistor dropped enough voltage to eliminate that problem. A true voltage regulator was introduced on Hudsons in '37 except for the Model 71, so the resistor was no longer needed. If you're using a later regulator with voltage running about 7.2, you don't need or want the resistor there.



This same situation with the generator voltage is why, in the old days, on a long trip folks would run with their headlights on, to pull the generator voltage down a bit and avoid over-charging the battery. As with many later outmoded practices, this one lived well into the fifties even though effective voltage regulators had become common from the late thirties.

Bud, there was indeed still the need for a condenser for the ignition system. One is crucial to generating a long-duration spark. If I recall correctly from my '36, it was mounted inside the distributor as the later ones are. In addition, if the car had a radio there were noise suppression condensers in various places such as on the gas gauge and temp gauge sending units.

Dave, that critter in the photo may indeed be an ignition resistor, but it's totally different looking from the ones on our original Auto-Lite distributors of the early-mid thirties. On the latter, mounted to the bracket there's a small "card" with the resistor wire winding visible ... no cover of any sort.

Well Dave, as the ol' guy said, "You done learned me some brains." Interesting design, quite different from ones on the Auto-Lite distributors. I'll be in the UK in a couple of days, down near Portsmouth, and will attend the big Beaulieu Autojumble on Saturday. Maybe I'll see one of these round ones in the flesh (in the tin?)