North Penn Model A Ford Club
Minutes of the Meeting – March 2, 2026
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Vice President Fred Coyne.
Secretary’s Minutes – The December, 2025 minutes were accepted as issued. There was no meeting in January and the February meeting was cancelled due to weather.
Treasurer’s Report – Since the December meeting there were deposits for dues and the Holiday Party. The major expenditure was for the Holiday Party. Treasury balance as of March 2 is $11,466.82. Carol Allen will organize the yearly audit of the financial books.
Member News
Past Activities
Upcoming Activities
Program
John Rossi gave a very informative presentation on the history of Champion Sparkplugs. He had a display of several other brand plugs sold during the Model A era.
In 1905 Albert Champion cofounded the Champion Sparkplug Co. with the Stranaham brothers. The sparkplugs (for automobiles and motorcycles) used copper electrodes and high-quality porcelain ceramic insulators of Champion’s own design. They were sought after by auto makers such as Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile and Ford. Following a legal dispute between Champion and his original partners around the use of Champion’s name, Champion started a new company named Champion Ignition Co. and sold plugs under the AC brand (using his initials). Later the company name changed to AC Sparkplug Co. and eventually the AC Delco. Co.
All Model A’s were sold new with Champion Sparkplugs. Champion 3X brass hat sparkplugs were the first plug used from the factory in the Model A. The metal body of the plug was blued. They were “take apart rebuildable” plugs. The internal electrode and porcelain insulator could be replaced as needed. These original plugs are almost impossible to find unused and are very expensive. Current reproductions sell for about $50 each.
Champion C4 plug in the blue box replaced the 3X in 1932. They also were the brass hat style plus with a blued metal body. The C4 plugs were the 1932 replacement plug for straight 4 and V8 cylinder Ford engines. They are also becoming difficult to find.
Next came the Champion C4 in the red box. As a cost saver, the brass hat was removed but the metal body was still blued. The C4 plus were still a 2-piece rebuildable style.
The Champion C16C replaced the C4. They also were not brass-hat plugs and were no longer rebuildable. The bodies now were no longer blued. These were produced from the early 1960’s until 1979. It’s still pretty easy to find these unused plugs in original boxes, priced around $100 a set. These are John’s favorite plugs for his car, which has a hot 12V coil, electronic ignition distributor, with automatic spark advance built in. (This set-up appears all original.)
In the early 1900’s there were many companies manufacturing sparkplugs. Most were poor performing plugs, mostly because of the use of inferior porcelain and non-copper electrodes. Champion and AC were thought to be the highest quality plug at that time.
The next meeting will be held at 7:00pm on Monday, April 6, at Trinity UCC Church in Skippack. Refreshments will be provided by Silverman, Ford, Bosler and Emerson.
Minutes prepared by Diane Hall
Members celebrating March birthdays: Frank Falcone, Krista Craley, Perry Rogers, Joanne Tempone
Minutes of the Meeting – March 2, 2026
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Vice President Fred Coyne.
Secretary’s Minutes – The December, 2025 minutes were accepted as issued. There was no meeting in January and the February meeting was cancelled due to weather.
Treasurer’s Report – Since the December meeting there were deposits for dues and the Holiday Party. The major expenditure was for the Holiday Party. Treasury balance as of March 2 is $11,466.82. Carol Allen will organize the yearly audit of the financial books.
Member News
- Carol Allen is recuperating from knee surgery.
- Dini Vigliano issued a new schedule to provide refreshments at club meetings. Since several members have left the club, we need people to sign up. There are normally 5 people responsible for meeting refreshments. Please review the schedule and sign up for a meeting.
- John Rossi has 1930-31 Model A wheels (19”) for sale.
- Joe Silverman has a friend selling a ’29 Model A roadster and a ’85 Mercedes 380XL.
Past Activities
- The February 22 visit to Louis Mascaro Auto Museum in Birdsboro was cancelled due to weather. It will be rescheduled later this year.
Upcoming Activities
- March 7 – Lunchtime get-together at Zoto’s Diner, Line Lexington
- March 28 – Three Dog Garage, Boyertown. Tour at 8:30am with lunch to follow at the Grind Restaurant. Contact Karl Beers to sign up. For those wanting to drive together, meet at the Worcester Elem. School at 7:45am – please contact Jim Reed to let him know you’ll join them.
- April 6 – Club meeting, 7pm, at Trinity UCC Church (2009 Church Rd, Skippack 19474)
- April 11 – Tour of Carson Helicopter (952 Blooming Glen Rd, Perkasie) – 11am. Followed by lunch at the Crossroads Tavern at 12:45pm. Contact Brian and Rhonda Geyer
- April 26 – Steve Ryan Model A/AA Show and Swap (Goodwill Vol. Fire Co., 7723 Hamilton Blvd., Breinigsville, PA 18031). 9am-3pm
- April 26 – Wheels of Wayne car show (North Wayne and West Wayne Aves, Wayne, PA) 12:30-3pm. Contact Karl Beers for information
- May 4 – Club meeting, 7pm, at Trinity UCC Church (2009 Church Rd, Skippack 19474)
- May 9 – tentative tour
- May 14 – North Penn High School 29th Annual Auto Show (1340 S. Valley Forge Rd, Lansdale 19446) 9:45am to 1:30pm. Lunch will be provided. (Rain date: Friday, May 15) Contact Diane Hall.
- June 13 – Annual Picnic at Green Lane Park (Deep Creek Stone Lodge, 2115 Snyder Rd, Green Lane 18054), 11:30am-3pm. (Food set-up at 10am) The Club provides hamburgers, hot dogs, rolls, condiments and beverages. Attendees bring assorted side dishes and desserts. Car tour to the picnic pending.
Program
John Rossi gave a very informative presentation on the history of Champion Sparkplugs. He had a display of several other brand plugs sold during the Model A era.
In 1905 Albert Champion cofounded the Champion Sparkplug Co. with the Stranaham brothers. The sparkplugs (for automobiles and motorcycles) used copper electrodes and high-quality porcelain ceramic insulators of Champion’s own design. They were sought after by auto makers such as Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile and Ford. Following a legal dispute between Champion and his original partners around the use of Champion’s name, Champion started a new company named Champion Ignition Co. and sold plugs under the AC brand (using his initials). Later the company name changed to AC Sparkplug Co. and eventually the AC Delco. Co.
All Model A’s were sold new with Champion Sparkplugs. Champion 3X brass hat sparkplugs were the first plug used from the factory in the Model A. The metal body of the plug was blued. They were “take apart rebuildable” plugs. The internal electrode and porcelain insulator could be replaced as needed. These original plugs are almost impossible to find unused and are very expensive. Current reproductions sell for about $50 each.
Champion C4 plug in the blue box replaced the 3X in 1932. They also were the brass hat style plus with a blued metal body. The C4 plugs were the 1932 replacement plug for straight 4 and V8 cylinder Ford engines. They are also becoming difficult to find.
Next came the Champion C4 in the red box. As a cost saver, the brass hat was removed but the metal body was still blued. The C4 plus were still a 2-piece rebuildable style.
The Champion C16C replaced the C4. They also were not brass-hat plugs and were no longer rebuildable. The bodies now were no longer blued. These were produced from the early 1960’s until 1979. It’s still pretty easy to find these unused plugs in original boxes, priced around $100 a set. These are John’s favorite plugs for his car, which has a hot 12V coil, electronic ignition distributor, with automatic spark advance built in. (This set-up appears all original.)
In the early 1900’s there were many companies manufacturing sparkplugs. Most were poor performing plugs, mostly because of the use of inferior porcelain and non-copper electrodes. Champion and AC were thought to be the highest quality plug at that time.
The next meeting will be held at 7:00pm on Monday, April 6, at Trinity UCC Church in Skippack. Refreshments will be provided by Silverman, Ford, Bosler and Emerson.
Minutes prepared by Diane Hall
Members celebrating March birthdays: Frank Falcone, Krista Craley, Perry Rogers, Joanne Tempone