Ball and Ball carburators

[Jerry Roberts]

I had been wondering if the Ball & Ball carburators had got that name from the two balls down inside (no wise cracks here) . The name came from a Mr. Ball and his son Mr. Ball who decided to get into the carburator business when they gave up their steam engine business after deciding that the future didn't look too bright for that profession .

[randroid]

Jerry,

Solex Carter down-draft to the Offenhauser and Judson Hurst venturi forum blower.

What was the question?

-Randy

(One potato, two potato, hot cross puns.)

[TodFitch]

I had been wondering if the Ball & Ball carburetors had got that name from the two balls down inside (no wise cracks here) . The name came from a Mr. Ball and his son Mr. Ball who decided to get into the carburetor business when they gave up their steam engine business after deciding that the future didn't look too bright for that profession .

Details from Carl Breer's autobiographical book The Birth of Chrysler Corportation and Its Engineering Legacy: Originally a father (F.H. Ball) and son (F.A. Ball) team. Had their own company (Penberty Injector). When F.H. Ball died, a grandson (Tom Ball) continued to work with F.A. Ball. When F.A. Ball died Penberty Injector stopped making carburetors and Chrysler bought up the patents and hired Tom Ball to be in charge of carburetor development.

Near as I can tell from what I have read, Ball and Ball carburetors were designed by Chrysler but they contracted out to Carter to make them. Is anyone aware of non-Chrysler makes that used Ball and Ball carburetors?

[norrism1]

Carter B&B are used on farm tractors. Not sure which ones, but when I rebuilt my B&B, the counter person (Car Quest) stated you could still get them new as they are used on tractors also! That was in 1996.