Is this a Marmon 12 cylinder distributer cap?

[Guest]

I just picked up this 12 cylinder distributer cap and was told it is for a Marmon. Is that what it's for and what is it worth? It looks like it has never been used.

Paul

<img src=http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/junkyard4/Marmon_Cap1.JPG>

<img src=http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/junkyard4/Marmon_Cap2.JPG>

[Guest stude8]

I'd bet it is an Autolite cap used on Nash 6 cyl dual ignition models. I don't know for sure but I believe Marmon only built 16 cyl models, not 12 cyl ??? Stude8

[56Roadmaster]

Maybe packard? are the numbers followed by L and R (left right).

Stude8, I thought the same thing I know Marmon did make one 12 cylinder, I saw it at Chicago Restorations two or three years ago, It was a running protoype they actaully cut down a 16 block (Marmon's engineering dept) and made a 12 they welded the outside of the block, the maching was done to high tolerances, the car it was in ( Marmon) was remarkable too, had a unibody, If I remember correctly it had front wheel drive, it was a 30-something, I did not care for the body style, it was out there (radical), but nonethe less very innovative. Perhaps some one knows where it is now, it could still be at Chicago, though I think the restoration was almost done then.

[Guest 10RA84]

It might well be a Marmon distributor cap. Some six sylinder Marmons (1927 model E75) had dual ignition. We have a Marmon E75 and its distributor cap looks almost exactly the same as this. Take a look:

Marmon distributor

Look at the attachment too. I'm sorry for the poor quality of the attached pic.

Our distributor cap was broken, but we found somewhere a distributor cap of a 12 sylinder Lincoln. We had to modify it a bit, or actually we made a matching section between the cap and the distributor to make it fit. The modification can easily be reversed, fortunately, because after this rather time consuming job I received a call from a friend of mine. "I'm at a flea market here in Sweden and I am now looking at a distributor cap with 12 ignition wire contacts. The label says it's for Marmon. Shall I buy it?" I guess I replied "YES! YES! YES!" or something like that. The price was only 10 ?...

Somebody at the Marmon Club might well be interested in this distributor cap, Ron Barnett maybe? He also has a Marmon E75. Hey Ron, are you out there??

Jyrki

[Guest stude8]

The cap in Jyrki's attachment is a Delco type, notice the hold down clamp latch point that extends from the outside diameter, this is a typical Delco feature. Now look at the original post attachment, the clasp attachment point is on the upper shoulder of cap, this is a typical Autolite method. Of course we can go into measuring the cap diameters and compare to the known Marmon dual ignition 6 application part.

I like the story about the Marmon 12 fabrication, I admired the Marmon 16 engine, I once worked at Brooks Stevens Museum in Mequon, WI where he had a Marmon 16 auto show display engine. It was quite a piece of work.

I just recently (2 wks ago) heard about a Chicago area streetrod project using a 1932 Marmon 16 cylinder engine blueprinted to Indy specs being fitted to a Dodge Viper 6 speed trans and will use a CNC milled from billet Aluminum intake fitted with electronic fuel injection!!! When photos are allowed I'll post an image. Stude8

[ronbarn]

It is not a Marmon 12 HCM (for Howard C. Marmon) special. There was only one prototype (with unfounded rumours of a second engine) and it is owned by one of our Marmon Club members.

It may very well be for a dual ignition six. I have one in the barn and will look at it tomorrow. I also have one that is incorrect to compare.

Back later.

[1937hd45]

Stude8, Please post the Marmon V16 Street Rod photos when you can. In 1946 the Unlimited Class record on the Dry Lakes was 137.24 in a car powered by a Marmon V16. Tony Capanna had a one way run of 145.39 in this car, brave guys back then, no rollbars.

[Guest 10RA84]

Here you have another pic of the same Tony Capanna Marmon V16 Roadster

Jyrki