SPARK-O-MATIC - uh, uh, it's a SOLAR-SPARK
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SPARK-O-MATIC - uh, uh, it's a SOLAR-SPARK
During the 40's there was an ignition coil with the brand name SPARK-O-MATIC. I have encountered these in WWII Packaging, they have the features of the Auto-Lite Coils as installed on MB/GPW and Dodge. They were supposedly made by Auto-Lite and were Black with a 2" Square decal with the Spark-O-Matic logo.
Has anyone seen these before?
I goofed, the name is "SOLAR SPARK".
Has anyone seen these before?
I goofed, the name is "SOLAR SPARK".
Last edited by Joe Gopan on Mon Dec 25, 2017 6:34 pm, edited 2 times in total.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
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- G-Colonel
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Re: SPARK-O-MATIC
I have one of those . I think it was in a 12 volt WW2 Jeep radio conversion kit . Warren Duchesne
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Re: SPARK-O-MATIC
And I have one NOS WWII Issue in 6 Volt.
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HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
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- raymond
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Re: SPARK-O-MATIC
I remember Spark o matic as a really cheap (read junk) car stereo brand back in the 1980's.
Raymond
Raymond
"On the day when crime puts on the apparel of innocence, through a curious reversal peculiar to our age, it is innocence that is called on to justify itself." Albert Camus
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Re: SPARK-O-MATIC
I have sold at least 100 WWII GI Spark-O-Matics since the 50's, have one left. They sold well in the early MVPA Supply Line classifieds to Dodge owners.
They were in WWII Packaging from Dodge, and Many Dodge WC's shared the same 6 Volt Coil with MB/GPW.
They were in WWII Packaging from Dodge, and Many Dodge WC's shared the same 6 Volt Coil with MB/GPW.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
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COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
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Re: SPARK-O-MATIC
I concur with Raymond. I have a 6t5 GTO, tri-power, 4 speed and had a spark o matic radio/tape player in an under the dash mount. It was a piece of sh*t. It is not there anymore. Good thing I didn't pay very much at a swap meet, so no great loss. But what a pile of junk.
Frank
Frank
The Fireman
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Re: SPARK-O-MATIC
There is quite a difference between a 1940's era ignition Coil and a mid 60's tape deck.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
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- Chuck Lutz
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Re: SPARK-O-MATIC
Frank......You have a '65 GTO?
darn...the two coolest cars I had back in the day were a '57 Bel-Air 2-dr HT and later on a red '65 GTO. This was around 1967/1968 and in addition to the Crimp One Off 8-track mounted above the console on the bottom of the dash....I had dropped spindles installed up front at 50-50 Muffler and some Caddy coil springs with air bags in them on the rear that gave her about 4-6 inches lift all around.....some American mags and big tires completed the rig.
Despite some major HISS from that POS 8-track (virtually state-of-the-art for the late '60s) we'd go cruising on the weekends down the El Camino all the way to San Jose almost, sometimes over the San Mateo Bridge and either back over the SF/Oakland Bay Bridge or....maybe over the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge if we were rolling.... with or without the girlfriends.
Made me think of what we listened to on that crappy stereo....yes friends, STEREO was still kinda new in cars...
Doors..."Light My Fire" or "Break On Through"
Cream..."Croosroads" or "White Room" or...
Stones...hey all that stuff
.....how 'bout 11 minutes of "Time Has Come Today"...?
Ah well....now it's an automatic trans instead of a 4-speed but the car has a smokin' audio system right from the factory...maybe crank up "Blurred Lines" or an assortment of pop songs.....
Or just dial in Tom Donahue on KMPX and hear what Big Daddy was spinnin'.....
darn...the two coolest cars I had back in the day were a '57 Bel-Air 2-dr HT and later on a red '65 GTO. This was around 1967/1968 and in addition to the Crimp One Off 8-track mounted above the console on the bottom of the dash....I had dropped spindles installed up front at 50-50 Muffler and some Caddy coil springs with air bags in them on the rear that gave her about 4-6 inches lift all around.....some American mags and big tires completed the rig.
Despite some major HISS from that POS 8-track (virtually state-of-the-art for the late '60s) we'd go cruising on the weekends down the El Camino all the way to San Jose almost, sometimes over the San Mateo Bridge and either back over the SF/Oakland Bay Bridge or....maybe over the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge if we were rolling.... with or without the girlfriends.
Made me think of what we listened to on that crappy stereo....yes friends, STEREO was still kinda new in cars...
Doors..."Light My Fire" or "Break On Through"
Cream..."Croosroads" or "White Room" or...
Stones...hey all that stuff
.....how 'bout 11 minutes of "Time Has Come Today"...?
Ah well....now it's an automatic trans instead of a 4-speed but the car has a smokin' audio system right from the factory...maybe crank up "Blurred Lines" or an assortment of pop songs.....
Or just dial in Tom Donahue on KMPX and hear what Big Daddy was spinnin'.....
Chuck Lutz
GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947
GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947
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Re: SPARK-O-MATIC
I still listen to "Light My Fire", "Crossroads", "Time Has Come Today", and almost anything by the Stones. They're all on CDs now. No tape hiss, but I don't have anything in the Wrangler to play them.
I found it interesting that the one white guy was the Chambers Brothers' drummer....
I found it interesting that the one white guy was the Chambers Brothers' drummer....
Is it true real Jeeps have flat fenders?
Alone cannot you it resist!
Alone cannot you it resist!
- gerrykan
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Re: SPARK-O-MATIC
You only bought one Spark-O-Matic stereo, after that you saved your money for something of better quality.
Like Pioneer, Kenwood, or Blaupunkt.
Like Pioneer, Kenwood, or Blaupunkt.
Roy
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Re: SPARK-O-MATIC
Roy,
You are right on with that. One Spark-0-Matic in a lifetime is enough. The only issue with the 8 track is when the tapes gets worn. When I put on Fleetwood Mac, I have to position a paper matchbook just right or Stevie Nicks sounds a little wierd. The Stones are sometimes the same way depending upon the interior temperature of the Goat.
What is really neat is when I show the car, the most often comment, is something like this "Wow, look it has an 8 track".
Frank
You are right on with that. One Spark-0-Matic in a lifetime is enough. The only issue with the 8 track is when the tapes gets worn. When I put on Fleetwood Mac, I have to position a paper matchbook just right or Stevie Nicks sounds a little wierd. The Stones are sometimes the same way depending upon the interior temperature of the Goat.
What is really neat is when I show the car, the most often comment, is something like this "Wow, look it has an 8 track".
Frank
The Fireman
NRG
NRG
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Re: SPARK-O-MATIC
I goofed, the other WWII G-503 GI-6 Volt Replacement Coil was "SOLAR-SPARK", not Spark-O-Matic. They were more common on DODGE but were same as the MB/GPW Coil less the ground stud. .
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO
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Re: SPARK-O-MATIC - uh, uh, it's a SOLAR-SPARK
Any G-503 owners with SOLAR SPARK Coils? They are identical in appearance to AutoLite.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO
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Re: SPARK-O-MATIC - uh, uh, it's a SOLAR-SPARK
Anyone know the connection between SOLAR-SPARK and AUTO LITE ignition coils? They have identical features.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO
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Re: SPARK-O-MATIC - uh, uh, it's a SOLAR-SPARK
Like this one - ? Just sold on fleabay UK for £51.
Barrie
Barrie
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