Terry: For an A circuit generator. Touch the hot or battery terminal of the regulator or from the battery like you suggested to the A (armature) terminal of the generator. You should get a nice little blue spark. The instructions you have are for a B circuit generator The 1450 and some Ford tactors are this way. Since he  was not sure if the generator charged. Unhook the field lead at the generator and ground it. If it charges then the problem is in the regulator. do not run at too high RPM (1500 or less) and do not let this wire on as you now have eliminated the regulator from the circuit. I had to look in my book too. it probably has been close to 30 years for me too. Have a happy New Year. John