classic motorcycle forum

I recall when we were kids ,a friend in the next street had one of these .........he couldnt get it going ,ever .......we used to go to his place get the bike going ,race around the streets on his fathers mower petrol until it ran out ..........there was a school and a church across from his house ,and these people didnt appreciate speedway riding in their grounds. ...........I had a terrific crash on it and tore the inside out of my knee.

and

Thanks folks.  This bike is proving to be full of "creativity".
A modern one is already on order.

Not only does it look like a rectifier, you can actually see the 4 individual diodes
that make up the diode bridge.

And potentially replace one if it goes bad.
Dunno about that R1 .....

https://cdn1.byjus.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Bridge-Rectifier-1.png

I've pulled the wiring loom from my 1962 Ariel Arrow and am finding all sorts of interesting mysteries.  The current on is a "what's this".  Pictured below is what I'm thinking is some sort of rectifier.  I've never seen something like this, but it doesn't have anything else I would call a rectifier.
Anybody have any opinions?
Thanks.