Abstract: This invention provides an improved magneto system which is reliable and stable irrespective of environmental conditions, wear and the like, and has no contacts, breakers or other moving parts in addition to the rotor itself. The conduction in the magneto winding means is initiated and terminated by a solid state device and preferably a solid state threshold device which is responsive to impulses of electrical energy to change its state between one of conduction and nonconduction whereby magneto operation can be controlled by relatively short duration trigger impulses. The trigger impulses may automatically produce a spark advance for increased magneto speeds.