OK, time to clear up just one more misconception/ misinterpretation: "An alternator will not charge a flat dead battery." This divides into two points of question. 1) Will the alternator start without an attached voltage source? and 2) Will the alternator deliver amperage to a battery that reads zero volts?
1) Will the alternator start without an attached voltage source? There are two general types of alternators used in Model A's. The "one wire" and "three wire".
First, the one wire alternator starts solely from residual magnetism in the rotor shaft. As long as you have some load connected, even a dead battery, it will start and attempt to self-regulate to its internal voltage regulator setting. The amperage output and time while connected to a dead or completely discharged battery will likely cause it to exceed its duty cycle. Much like an arc welder, a high load causes heat buildup and if there is insufficient cool-down damage will occur. Unlike welders, alternators never advertize their duty cycles at various output levels.
Most three wire alternators generally start with external (battery) energization of the rotor coil. That's why you do not have to 'rev' them to get them started. With a dead battery they will not start at idle, however most of the 10/12SI types WILL start without battery voltage if sufficiently revved. The residual magnetism in the rotor shaft does it, just like in a one-wire config. Some of the newer alternator types with AC regulators (no diode 'trio' inside) will start, others will not. Again, duty cycle. Running it against a dead battery may present a load for a time period that exceeds the alternators duty cycle. Poof!
2) Will the alternator deliver amperage to a battery that reads zero volts? Short answer yes. The alternator only 'sees' the battery as a variable resistive load and Ohm's law dictates the amperage. Again, the max load/duty cycle of the alternator may be exceeded resulting in alternator failure.
Summing up, the correct statement should be: "An alternator should never be used to charge a flat dead battery". Unless, of course, you keep a lot of replacement electric smoke on hand and have the correct connector lug to re-install the smoke.
