Interesting topic.
In the 1950s (particularly) and the 1960s, mags were full of all sorts of zany junk which challenged the laws of science.
And more particularly, engineering.
Exhaust extractors "guaranteed" to provide more MPG and greater top speed.
Probably the best was a sort of funnel, which extended out of the foreshortened exhaust pipe, with the narrow bit to the rear which offered "Turbo Extraction".
In those far off halcyon days when you could buy a car for a fiver as a non-runner (dodgy dealers used to remove the flat top (sidevalve) head and insert small sorbo rubber balls to emulate compression on the starting handle!), such as the Exchange and Mart was full of stuff.
Krause Laboratories sold tablets which one stuck down the plug hole to cure excessive oil consumption mainly 'cos the bores were utterly knackered as were the pistons. No need for a rebore, then!
Batt-Aid was another nice one: a little metal box containing six white tablets: the concept was you dropped 'em in a sulphated battery and lo and behold restored battery. I wish!
I suspect your gizmo is just another Spark Booster; they were legion then.
Perhaps the best one (in terms of cheapness to manufacture!) was a bakelite dialetric gizmo one placed on the main coil HT lead to the distributor. All it actually consisted of was a spark gap.
Simply put, merely sticking a box containing passive components into an ignition circuit might make you feel proud but wouldn't do much for the spark!
Interestingly, Holts chemicals cut their teeth on dodgy gunk one stuck into the sump, fuel tank or cooling system.
Another nice idea was the fuel pump pressure device: cut down on the mechanical (or in rare case SU electric) petrol pump and lowered the level in the float chamber. To save fuel and "guarantee" more MPG.
Indeed: and like the smaller jets for Ford E93A and 100E carbs. (both cars were notably juicy).
Great: except you quickly burned out the inlet valves.
Who can remember grinding in valves on a Ford sidevalve, in situ?
Gordon?
Not a wonderful job.
Happy Days!
