What should I do with a WW2 12 cylinder magneto

[minilathe22]

I got this on ebay years ago as a mystery 12 cylinder magneto. I tracked it down to what I believe is a Junkers Jumo 210 engine, which had a pair of them. It was an inverted V12 engine with two spark plugs per cylinder, and therefore 2 x magnetos for redundancy. As far as I can tell, only 5 or so of these engines exist any more in museums, but I have not been able to find anybody who wants it. There must be very few of these left now.

What should I do with it? I had it up on ebay for ages and nobody took it. Tried to get through to a french museum that were restoring one of these engines but did not hear back, even when I got a native speaking friend to leave a french voice mail.

Should I just drop it off at a museum? Duxford said they don't want it. I can't believe nobody values it! Any ideas. It spins freely. No idea if it works. would look pretty good polished up on a vintage car or boat engine.

 

[toolsntat]

Shuttleworth collection
Coventry air museum
Cheers, Andy

 

[Amplidyne]

This is just a thought ,but have you tried Bruce Crompton who features in "Combat Dealers"
He seems to have a wide range of contacts.

 

[Old.bodger]

Contact Dominic Chinea, he is planning to build an aero engined car and I think one of the parts missing was the magneto.

https://dominicchinea.com/

Just a thought!

 

[paulrbarnard]

How about using it as the basis of a full rebuild of a Junkers Juno. You have to start somewhere.

 

[AutoDoc Williams]

I have a friend who used to be an aircraft restorer at the USA's Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. I'll drop him a line to see if knows anyone.

 

[minilathe22]

thanks everyone, a few leads ongoing so hopefully it gets put to good use.

 

[AutoDoc Williams]

My retired aircraft restorer friend has forwarded this information to a current restorer at the museum, but he says unless they need one now, they will probably not be interested. That being said, once a Smithsonian airplane guy finds out that there's an old piece of history out there, he's probably gonna want it, so maybe your old magneto can find some love over here on my side of the pond.

 

[Inspector]

You could try the Commemorative Air Force in the US. https://commemorativeairforce.org I'm certain one of them would want it even if they don't have an aircraft or engine to put it on at the moment. They would also know of likely museums that would also want it if none of their member don't.

Pete

 

[AJB Temple]

The spitfire restoration team at Biggin Hill Heritage Hanger collect parts for all kinds of aircraft including German ones. I quite often do some work there but won't be there again until January '25.
Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 01959 576 767

 

[Richard_C]

IWM Duxford staff can be a bit "jobs worth" and they don't own many flying aircraft. But on the site there are other organisations who restore and display aircraft. Try the Aircraft Restoration Company, The Fighter Collection and, less likely, the Old Flying Machine Company.