STARTER ACCESSORIES
Every Model A owner knows that the best way to start the
engine is with the spark fully retarded in case the engine kicks back. If it does so
with the spark advanced, the owner may be replacing a starter spring. If the kick
back is severe enough, internal damage may occur to the engine.
However, one must remember to pull the spark lever fully up before cranking the engine. An
aftermarket accessory available for the forgetful owner was the safety start which
automatically retarded the spark when the starter button was depressed. Various
version of the safety starter were made by different manufacturers but they all used the
same basic idea.
Below is a picture of one version of a safety starter device. This piece was
provided by by Mr. Ralph Davies of Highland, Indiana. Mr. Davies passed the
photograph along through Ron Cloat of Peoria, Illinois
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A bellcrank device mounted to the starter
between the starter rod and the starter switch. Attached to the other end of the
bellcrank was the spark control rod (see arrow). As the starter rod was pushed
downward, the bellcrank moved in such as way to pull the spark control rod and retard the
distributor spark.
Below is an vintage advertisement from a Cheyenne, Wyoming newspaper provided by Mr. Dan
Binger, a regular contributor to the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) online
Discussion Forum.
The advertisement was placed by Bob's Repair
Shop, which later went into the machine shop business. As seen in the
advertisement, Bob's offered a money back guarantee on the satisfaction of the accessory.
Jim Mason provided the following pictures of the APCO starter control belonging to Gary
Johnson.
This starter control for the Model A Ford was manufactured by
the APCO Mossberg Corporation in Attleboro, Massachusetts. In addition to retarding
the spark and starting the engine, the control also adjusted the throttle.
Another starter accessory for the Model A Ford was the hand
starter. The hand start allowed starting of the Model A Ford without having to step
on the floor mounted starter button on the upper portion of the floor board. This
accessory was especially popular with women to whom a lot of the advertising was directed
towards.
The picture below shows a new hand starter still in its box that was recently sold on
Ebay.
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This Victory hand starter was was manufactured by the Simonne Iron works in Sioux Rapids, Iowa.
The hand starter consisted of a rod clamped
around the steering column. a lever attached to the bottom of the rod actuated the
switch on the starter motor. Some hand starters had a built in spark advance like
the safety starter.
