Mallory BIG BRASS condensers

[Charlie ny]

Guys,
After reading Seths post regarding condensers and BUBBAs reply
I thought someone might be interested in my BIG BRASS condenser
rescue service. Seems lots of my customers really like the looks of these
BB condensers hanging on the side of their distributors. It is not a big deal
to cut the bottom out of these BBc's and with a bit of ingenuity install a
modern Flathead happy condenser inside. I have a bunch of them out there.
Charlie ny

[KiWinUS]

Originally Posted by Charlie ny

Guys,
After reading Seths post regarding condensers and BUBBAs reply
I thought someone might be interested in my BIG BRASS condenser
rescue service. Seems lots of my customers really like the looks of these
BB condensers hanging on the side of their distributors. It is not a big deal
to cut the bottom out of these BBc's and with a bit of ingenuity install a
modern Flathead happy condenser inside. I have a bunch of them out there.
Charlie ny

Charlie , I need some for my H&C dizzys
Tell me what to do ?
I have none
thanks
Cheers
Tony

[funrunr]

I'm using the condensor from my wifes 74 Bronco tune up kit. I need one for my 59AB engine. I would be interested in 1 of the BB ones too.

[Charlie ny]

Well here goes....my process for rescuing BBc's.
You need a lathe for sure...
I have a collet that gently grasps the condenser. I go in with a very sharp parting
tool and cut out the bottom leaving the radius intact. It's easy then to carefully
remove the innards. The condenser is then flipped around and the 10-32 stud is cut
off and CAREFULLY drilled out. The hole in the bakelite is then drilled and tapped to
10-32. A 106 Blue Streak or equiv condenser just fits into the empty shell, the pig
tail is connected to a 10-32 cap screw which is threaded from the inside out thru
the bakelite and things are locked up with a 10-32 nut on top of the bakelite. All
that remains now is to solder the body of the new condenser to the inside of the
BBc shell.
I can't blame a soul if your eyes are rolling a bit but I sold all I had at
Hershey last fall....that shiney brass is a turn on.
I'm currently out of stock but if you have one and need it 'done' let me
know. Questions happily answered too.
Charlie ny
[email protected]

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

Charlie,
Great idea , nothing cooler than the old style big brass condensers..

Bubba

[52merc]

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charlie it simply amazes me what is produced by guys like you the shame of it is that the young guys off today are not interested in trying to do this and other stuff so these ol cars can keep on v8ing trev nz

[Seth Swoboda]

If I lived closer I'd be haning out with Charlie and his lathe. That sounds pretty amazing. I'd sure like to learn how to run a lathe like that. All this talks makes me want to build another flathead. Problem is I don't have anything that needs a fresh engine right now

[miller91]

Well I just asked about this and got sent this thread! Cool! I was going to do that exact thing but use a Sprague Orange Drop Cap...but you beat me to it. I might give it a shot!

[tubman]

I've thought about this off and on. Why doesn't someone make a "fake case" for a modern condenser, sorta like the battery cases they make for Optimas? If set up right, all you'd have to do is slide in a new standard condensor and you'd be ready to go. I think I'm gonna get a length of brass tubing, some black plastic discs and see what I can come up with. Maybe I could use a brass freeze plug for the bottom of the can. On a car like my '51, it would be visible enough for the wow factor, and at the same time, being obscure enough so the detail wouldn't matter much.

[tubman]

I've been doing some looking. Can anyone give me the length and diameter of an original Mallory brass condenser? Thanks.

[Don]

What is a BB c and where is it used?????

[jim1932]

I assume BBC is Big Brass Condensor

[jim1932]

like this. So how do I test it?

[Fordors]

Originally Posted by tubman

I've been doing some looking. Can anyone give me the length and diameter of an original Mallory brass condenser? Thanks.

OAL of case is 1.650 and there is a rim at the top that is .180 deep. The rim is 1.237 dia. and the rest of the case is 1.050 dia. The phenolic (?, I think, but it may be a different type of plastic) that seals it has a bit of crown to it and on the very top is a 1/16" high X 1/2" dia. boss where the 10-32 stud sticks out. It's hard to see in the poor photo but Mallory included a brass tab on the stud stamped P for points.
I forgot to photograph the bracket, it's pretty standard, but it is kinda industrial sized at 1" wide and has two holes for no. 10 screws.

[tubman]

Thanks, "Fordors". I have found a source for 1" brass tubing (hopefully close enough). I have not had one of these "BBC"'s since the late '50's, so I forgot the details. The brass tab on the top is a nice feature, and may allow me to "fudge" on the details of the plastic top, although "creeping elegance" might rear it's ugly head if this works out for me.

[Tim Ayers]

I have & had a few. About 1/2 of them were split. I'm assuming the gunk inside started to swell which causes the case to split open?

Charlie:

Have you experienced this as well?

[Fordors]

Tim, I wonder if it was more related to the stress introduced into the brass when it was expanded to form that rim around the top and then further stressed when it was folded down to contain the bakelight seal. The ones I have with splits all are at that fold around the very top.

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

I have & had a few. About 1/2 of them were split. I'm assuming the gunk inside started to swell which causes the case to split open?

Charlie:

Have you experienced this as well?

I bought a ton of old mallory stuff and had two boxes of new brass condensors. Approx one half were cracked cases brand new in the box. The crack doesnt seem to hurt the condensor , i seal the crack with nail polish and then polish and clear coat. Then load test etc they seem to work very well....

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

Originally Posted by Fordors

Tim, I wonder if it was more related to the stress introduced into the brass when it was expanded to form that rim around the top and then further stressed when it was folded down to contain the bakelight seal. The ones I have with splits all are at that fold around the very top.

I think thats the answer as even the new ones are cracked,

[JSeery]

Bubba, do you still have any, and if so, what is the price?