The actual circuit is a series circuit. Basically the choke and the other coil are in series with the cell which is a capacitance. So if you get the values right and a frequency, you should end up with a resonant circuit. The tapped inductor is to fine tune the circuit, you only have half wave rectification pulses, started by triggering the SCR. There is a better way to do this.
However what the object here was to get the circuit in resonance, this then make the current drawn only by the value of the total resistance in the two coils at a resonant frequency
Can you let me know now the value of the choke that you are using, that is the DC resistance, the impedance if you can measure it can be measured, and I would need to know the inductance of the choke. The cell will have a capacitance as well, with no power on it see if you can get the capacitance it needs to be filled as if you were going to turn it on.
What you can get if this are done in a particular way, it seems that you have 24ohms in the circuit or impedance.
If you did put the choke in parallel with the cell this would make a resonant circuit of the cell and the choke, so with power applied then of a pulsed half wave would then create a closed circuit around the cell and the choke, and at a resonant frequency there would be high circulating current through the choke and the cell, so for a low input of power you will get a bigger output due to the circulating currents.
The choke and the cells capacitance must be found out, the chokes DC resistance needs to be as low as you possibly can get it this would have large gauge wire, example make sure that the wire that is connected across the cell and the choke are heavy, example, 12v / 0.1ohm is 120amps at the resonant frequency.
hope this helps Brian