For identification, this is the distributor prior to '57 with the cap off........Hopefully you've got the newer one with the "curved" points base. The two exposed springs quickly identify the earlier "Load-O-Matic".
This diagram shows the coil wiring for the cars and trucks with the ballast resistor. Power to the solenoid control wire ("Hot in Start") usually gets there through a neutral start switch - so to rule it out you should find a way to jump around it.