HOW DO YOU HOLD THE STARTING HANDLE?

Southland Times, Issue 20669, 15 December 1928, Page 17 (Supplement)

HOW DO YOU HOLD THE STARTING HANDLE?

Now that the self-starter is a practically universal fitting, much less attention is paid to the manner in which the starting handle should be held than it used to be when it was the essential preliminary to a run, says a writer in “Morris Owner.” At first sight it would almost appear that the operation is too simple to require explanation, but, as with most things, there is a right and a wrong way to hold the starting handle, and it is regrettable to note that nine modern motorists out of ten choose the least desirable hold. The natural tendency in gripping the starting handle is to place the thumb on the left of it. overlapping the first finger. This is a graev mistake, as if the engine backfires—an unlikely but by no means infrequent happening—there is every possibility of a sprained thumb, and the chances of a broken wrist are not altogether remote. But if the handle be gripped with the thumb on the farther side—in the event of a backfire sufficiently severe to be dangerous the tendency would be for the starting handle to jump out of the hand lyit may be mentioned for the benefit of timid newcomers to the pastime that a few determined swings are much better than a greater number of comparatively leisurely efforts. This is the only secret of the man who, following upon the unsuccessful efforts of others, frequently walks up to the front of the car and, as if by magic, endows it with life. Timidity in itself is conductive to backfiring on a car where the spark is too far advanced.