Well folks, while I was writing the article on the Lincoln Hiway, another donation came in. This from our local Honda dealer.
Now this neat old machine was still used up until around the late 1960’s-early 1970’s. But it’s quite unique and most new mechanics have no memory of it being used or why it was needed.
It’s a Champion Spark Plug cleaner and tester. In my years in the tool business, nearly every shop had a unit of this or similar type. It was common to have to clean the spark plugs on nearly every gasoline engine on a regular basis. In some cases that would be every few miles or hours.
In fact, it was so common that many early cars and tractors had a spark plug wrench in their original tool kit. Ford products such as the model “A” & “T” and their “N” series tractors came with a spark plug wrench.
Now to utilize this unit, we are in the process of using it as the centerpiece in a display of spark plugs sockets and wrenches. Will really look neat when it’s finished. Can’t tell you exact location in the museum as it is already mounted on casters making it portable.

read_more