"Carl WA1KPD" wrote in message
. ..
Pic on A.P.B.R.

Picked this spark xmtr up at the local ham flea market this weekend and
wonder if anyone can identify it.
It looks like a key was part of the front and it is missing the actual
key.

I presume in the bottom there was plates for a capacitor but am open to
the
thoughts of others.
It looks to have been commercial and I wonder if anyone has any thoughts
on
who made it.

By the way if you have really sharp eyes you will notice the price is
$12.00. The individual selling it is a friend and when I pointed out I
thought it was worth much more, he gave it to me !!!

73



--
Carl
WA1KPD

Well, it is an induction coil for generating a spark, but for it to be
any sort of transmitter, (except for just a noise generator) it needs to
have an RF tuning circuit coil(s)/capacitor(s).
There were induction coils similar to yours used for the spark ignition
on really ancient gasoline engines. Sometimes there was a "safety" gap
(spark gap) provided to keep the fire from jumping around inside the
induction coil if the "high tension" output lead to the engine's spark plug
(the load) became disconnected.
I've never seen an induction coil with such a well built spark gap used
as the "safety" gap.
To make it clear, I sure don't know what you've got! (should have kept
quiet in the first place)
Old Chief Lynn W7LTQ