Battery Holder for Glow Plug Ignition System, Used with Gas-Powered Racing Tether Car, 1930-1950
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Artifact Overview
Many tether car engines relied on glow plugs for ignition. An external battery warmed the plug to start the cycle, but once the engine was running the battery was disconnected. Each ignition kept the glow plug hot enough to cause the next explosion. This battery holder's long handle let the operator push-start a car without bending over.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Holder (Container)
Date Made
1930-1950
Location
at Henry Ford Museum in Driven to Win: Racing in America
Object ID
2013.47.93
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Eric Zausner and the E-Z Spindizzy Foundation.
Material
Iron alloy
Plastic
Wood (Plant material)
Technique
Homemade
Dimensions
Height: 4 in
Width: 5 in
Length: 40.25 in
Weight: 1.5 lb
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Related Content
SetTether Cars: Big Thrills in Small Scale
- 25 Artifacts
Tether cars provided big racing thrills in a smaller size. These miniature gas-powered model cars were raced individually while tethered to a central pivot, or against each other on a scaled-down track. At their peak popularity in the years surrounding World War II, some 25 major manufacturers -- and hundreds of individual builders -- produced tether cars. The artifacts in this set offer a peek into this exciting hobby.