Strange looking distributor points

[taylorcom]

Rock Auto just sent me 4 new distributor points (not Bosche) that were cheaper, but look odd. The odd part is the contact on the stationary piece: it's not a solid circle of metal, but has a hollow center (like a donut hole). Picture attached. Each of the 4 point-sets has this donut instead of a solid circle of metal.

On all other points I've ever used, this piece has been a solid piece of metal.

Has any one else seen these things? Do these "donut-hole" points work?

Thanks.

 

[taylorcom]

Re: new points with holes explained

I just googled it and found this on a Cadillac owners forum:

"deVille33
Cadillac Owners Connoisseur

Automobile(s): 1977 Coupe (blue), 1977 Coupe (yellow), 1977 Coupe (green)
Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 1,091

Re: The new ignition points with holes mystery

The hole in the contact was Blue Streak/Standard's design. The objective was to help the contact flash cooler and deter contact welding. Personally, I never saw they had any advantage. Delco, Excel, and Borg/Warner' points were of better quality. Strange, because Excel was a division of Standard."

There's more at: http://www.cadillacforums.com/forum...220680-new-ignition-points-holes-mystery.html

The points I got were AC Delco and Standard.