Cars built before the early 1920s didn’t have electric starters to rotate the crankshaft and activate the fuel pump until the gasoline could fill the ignition chambers and explode, rotating the crankshaft, so the car could be driven. There was a crank at the center front of the car, at the base of the chassis. This crank was to be pressed against the crankshaft and turned by hand until the engine “fired”. There was a skill to knowing when to release the crank engagement with the crankshaft, avoiding the crank continuing to spin along with the crankshaft, breaking a thumb or worse. At this time, at least one car owner was “kicked” every few months. And one death.
Stalking Pulaski County 