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I've tried hooking up to a 6v and 12v battery. There is really no way to connect it to high tension ign wires. I've never seen it so much as even blink one time.

It is hand held and has a very strong looking magnifying lens (i removed) and a spiral lite 'bulb'.
See pics.
ONLY 2 wires that plug into the hand held unit like a sparrk plug cable end with aligator clips on the OPPOSITE end of the wires that must connect to something.

There is also what appears to only RESEMBLE a Firestone logo (see pic). Otherwise absolutely NO markings whatsoever, not even on the peculiar spiral lite bulb.

What is it???

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Looks to be a strobe bulb so I would guess a timing light.

I am not terribly familiar with many strobe circuits but if you are sure there are only two wires going to the assy I wonder if it relies on a direct spark and a ground. Possibly the spark voltage and ground is fed directly to the bulb electrodes and there is no separate trigger. The spark voltage would then provide the energy directly to ionize the xenon and fire the strobe.. As to no way to connect to a plug wire, perhaps there is something missing that connects to one end of the cable. My 6v modern light just had a spring that went on top of the plug or in the dist cap and plug wire connected to that spring. An alligator clip grabbed onto the spring for that lead.

I'm curious too so hope someone comes along with knowledge of old style timing lights.

EDIT: Check this out from a Corvair forum. Can't directly link but the guy was given a similar looking light. Here are the pertinent parts.

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Simple, cheapie Xenon timing lamp, powered by the high tension when the plug fires. It just connects in series with the #1 spark plug. They work just fine, as accurate as anything, major downside is a not-very-bright flash of light.

Quote:
Howard (HH56), I could tell you something about timing lights. It is rumored that the arc of my first self-made stroboscope (~ 20,000V) jumped between my teeths. The thin housing of a popgun had been a bad choice (see below).
But now to the timing light in question. As always you're spot on. What we see is a vintage Sears Roebuck Automotive Allstate Timing Light Strobe Model 9080.
Keith (PackardV8), nice find.


sources
image 1 - 5: eBay; item number 381761699326
image 6 : eBay; item number 262592314543
Click to enlarge!

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Quote:
Gerd, we have something in common. My mother said I chomped on an extension cord when I was a toddler and was out for a spell. Probably why my mind is still scrambled to this day.

i was just about to say something about Sears. good find!

Aah! Experimenting with electricity at a young age - brings back many memories, some not so dear (LOL).

An early childhood picture

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Oh, that's not bad. Try disconnecting the high voltage lead from a tv tube. Back in the days they were like a giant cap and even with the power turned off it was not a pretty picture, I'm glad I'm still here today.
Wes

YES!!! It is a timing light. And it works??? Thank u everyone for the info and Thank u Owen for indicating the series connexion.

Strange that i have never seen a timing light like this one before. Always something new to learn.