Great Hobby: Spark Plug Collecting

2019 - Volume #43, Issue #1, Page #19

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With an estimated 6,000 different spark plugs in existence, spark plug collectors have a lot to choose from. And the options are growing.

    “It’s amazing how many new spark plug names come up each year,” says James Lawrence, president, Spark Plug Collectors of America (SPCOA). “People are still finding them in barns and showing up at shows with new ones.”

    Lawrence explains that one reason for the large number is that early spark plugs were easy to make. “Any machine shop could do it,” he says. “The insulator was a stack of little Isinglass disks that were drilled, stacked and machined to form the insulator.”

    The earliest spark plugs originated in France around 1882 to 1883, explains Lawrence. “They replaced a gate valve that opened to blow flame from a torch into the cylinder to ignite fuel.”

    By 1915 a new porcelain process improved plugs, reducing maintenance and extending working life. Improvements continued, and by the 1950’s the hundreds of spark plug makers dwindled to a handful.

    Unique designs that were introduced over the years included a quick detach for easy cleaning. Double-ended plugs could be turned over when one end was fouled, and intensified plugs had a second firing gap. They were promoted as allowing the plug to fire hotter and longer.

    The SPCOA has 190 members, mostly from the U.S. with some from around the globe. Lawrence has collected spark plugs for about 10 years and has been a member for about the same length of time. He has 350 spark plugs in his collection and notes that many of the recent additions to his collection have come from England, Germany and France.

    “The largest collection that I know of personally has about 4,000 items with several collections having 3,000 or more,” says Lawrence. “The costs for spark plugs vary, but one recently sold on eBay for $2,400.”

    SPCOA membership is $25 per year for U.S. and Canadian readers and is good for free admission to the Tri State Gas Engine & Tractor show in Portland, Ind. It’s billed as the world’s largest gas engine and tractor show.

    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Spark Plug Collectors of America,

9 Heritage Lane, Simsbury, Conn. 06070 (www.spcoa.net).

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Great Hobby: Spark Plug Collecting ENGINES With an estimated 6 000 different spark plugs in existence spark plug collectors have a lot to choose from And the options are growing

    “It’s amazing how many new spark plug names come up each year ” says James Lawrence president Spark Plug Collectors of America SPCOA “People are still finding them in barns and showing up at shows with new ones ”

    Lawrence explains that one reason for the large number is that early spark plugs were easy to make “Any machine shop could do it ” he says “The insulator was a stack of little Isinglass disks that were drilled stacked and machined to form the insulator ”

    The earliest spark plugs originated in France around 1882 to 1883 explains Lawrence “They replaced a gate valve that opened to blow flame from a torch into the cylinder to ignite fuel ”

    By 1915 a new porcelain process improved plugs reducing maintenance and extending working life Improvements continued and by the 1950’s the hundreds of spark plug makers dwindled to a handful

    Unique designs that were introduced over the years included a quick detach for easy cleaning Double-ended plugs could be turned over when one end was fouled and intensified plugs had a second firing gap They were promoted as allowing the plug to fire hotter and longer

    The SPCOA has 190 members mostly from the U S with some from around the globe Lawrence has collected spark plugs for about 10 years and has been a member for about the same length of time He has 350 spark plugs in his collection and notes that many of the recent additions to his collection have come from England Germany and France

    “The largest collection that I know of personally has about 4 000 items with several collections having 3 000 or more ” says Lawrence “The costs for spark plugs vary but one recently sold on eBay for $2 400 ”

    SPCOA membership is $25 per year for U S and Canadian readers and is good for free admission to the Tri State Gas Engine & Tractor show in Portland Ind It’s billed as the world’s largest gas engine and tractor show

    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Spark Plug Collectors of America

9 Heritage Lane Simsbury Conn 06070 www spcoa net