There were/are three vacuum sources available - depending on the carburetor.
(1) The Ford "Load-O-Matic" distributors depended on VENTURI vacuum as a signal proportional to engine speed. In effect - how much air is bing sucked down the intake manifold? This signal came from a carefully placed orfice in the caburetor venturi - vacuum was induced by air flow over the open orfice. The carb either has this port or it doesn't - Ted knows how to add it to some of the carbs that will accept the modification. Ford used this system on the Y's up to 1957 - with no centrifugal advance.
(2) MANIFOLD vacuum - simply the level of vacuum existing in the plenum of the intake manifold tract under the carburetor. Suction provided by the engine working as an air pump with the throttle at various opening levels. Can be a good source of engine information and tuning aid if you know the "signal" the gauge is giving you. Can be used as a source of vacuum signal to a distributor if the arrangement is designed and tuned for it.
(3) PORTED vacuum - In simple terms this a a source of manifold vacuum (2) that is regulated by the primary throttle plate of the carburetor. At idle the port is at atmospheric pressure - no vacuum. As the throttle opens, the port is gradually exposed to full manifold vacuum. Ford used this vacuum signal for the vacuum advance system on vehicles 1957 and later - to sum with the centrifugal advance.
Steve Metzger Tucson, Arizona