John,
Very true that is why I said "Model T Diode cutout. ( I said "Diode cutout for just that reason that you mention). A mechanical cutout works no matter what the polarity is.
I was looking at photo in post #1 where only the heat sink from the diode is left over, the rest of the diode might have gone up in smoke when if it was a Model T Diode Cutout and some one installed it in a Model A which is POS ground.
Or maybe the field windings in generator limit the current?