Just to clarify, escorts did NOT have a factory fitted ballast resistor. A resistive wire is used in the wiring harness to drop the supply voltage to the coil. Full system voltage to the coil is supplied under cranking via starter solenoid. So make sure you have power at coil with ignition on as well as while cranking.
  
Also make sure you are not using the factory resistive wire and ballast resistor together ? as that will cause too much voltage drop.
 

I thought you said earlier that it is 6v???

Matt to diagnose this you need to go back to basics.

Disconnect both +ve and-ve from coil.
Using a bridge wire with some aligator clips connect full 12v from battery+ to coil +ve.
Using a second bridge wire conect one end to metal part of engine.
Now, while holding coil ht lead few mm from metal part of the engine tap other end of second bridge wire on coil -ve.....you should see a spark every time you tap coil -ve.

If you do not see spark try another ht lead.(can use spark plug lead with a spark plug in the end of it)

If still no spark you have a f**ked coil.

If you have spark report back and i will guide you further.

I have tried what you suggested and I get nothing.
 
I wired 12v from fuse panel to + side of coil.  I then made a ground wire to to the block.
 
I touched the ht lead from the coil to the block then touched the ground wire to the - side of coil.
 
No spark.  I tried another brand new coil and same thing.  I tried another ht lead and used a spark plug too.  Nothing.
 
I get 12v on both side of coil too.
 
Matt

Your're not going to believe this but I just hooked everthong back up and it started first go!
 
The only thing I can think of is that I had it charging over night and then when I hooked everything up I had a better connection and more juice.
 
Thanks everyone for their help.
 
Very much appreciated.
 
Beers for anyone round my way.
 
Matt

My dad did that with his lawn mowers - i still hate him for it!!!!