What is this?
 

Hello everyone, I had found this funky looking device inside the box of an old VCR that I had recently acquired from a freebee pile at a local computer store, and I was kind of curious as to what it might be, any ideas?

Pic attached.

Looks to ME...like a capacitor that used to be in cars with the standard--non-eelctronic ignition system...they usually called them a "condenser". I believe it's purpose was to do 2 things" reduce sparking of the contact points and ALSO...somehow provide a path for the HV to collapse through or such. I have been told..they will NOT produce spark--without one in place...

Some points-less distributor-ignition cars (such as my Lincoln) also had them on the ign coil.....They were sometimes found in other places too; like mine also has one on the SS voltage regulator module.

Interesting, why would this thing be in a box with a VCR?

So I'm assuming that this thing was in cars pre-1973?

You still have your Lincoln? What year model is it?

Probably fell in the box during moving. You'd be amazed at all the things I found inside VCRs over the years servicing them. I never realized a 7" 45 RPM record would fit until one came in "won't accept tape" symptom.

Reminds me of the DVD player I worked on that was completely full of fruit loops. I picture some kid hitting "open", putting fruit loops on the tray, hitting "close", and watching them disappear...

We pulled books, coins, Barbie limbs, plastic bottle caps, stickers, a tin can lid, and lots of legos from VCRs back in the day. Onboard ship, I even pulled a complete dart out of one - the dart board was below the shelf with the VCR - and someone was a bad dart player.

Interesting, well I think I might keep this Ignition capacitor for posterity sake, because my grandfather who passed away 3 years ago was a semi retired mechanic and I've kind of gotten into automobilia because of that.
This will definitely be an interesting story to share. :yes: :thmbsp:

Darn right, I still have it! Early production 1978 model year.

My grandfather used to have a 1978 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham, it had pretty much every single option that it could have in it including an AM/FM Stereo 8-Track Player, Power Antenna, Power Seats, Power Windows, Power Locks, Power Mirrors, Power Steering, Power Brakes, Courtesy Lights, Map Lights, Reading lights (for the passengers in the back), curb lights, Wheel Skirts, Power Trunk Release, Plush Velure (Sp?) Pillow Seats, Cruise Control, Tilt Steering Wheel, Electronic Ignition, Security System, and the 4 Barrel 440 V-8 Engine. And lots of other options.

How about chicken bones? I found bones, pennies, pens and condoms (still in its wrapper) think god.

yikes! There's a lot of crazy things you guys have found in these VCRs over the years. I had also found the governor off of either a clock chime mechanism or a music box inside this VCR that I'm currently working on, which at first I thought it might of been part of the VCR but upon closer inspection I noticed that it couldn't of been and that it was part of a music box mechanism.

:scratch2:- Was that the GF, that was an auto mechanic?
It takes a mechanic to know, what a good car really is. Those big old Mopars, were really quite the car in the day. The only problem, the big block was a little fond of fuel.
That was probably a "Lean Burn" engine. The first generation ECM. :scratch2: