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Topic starter
24/02/2022 8:24 pm
My 1913 Cadillac model 30 5 passenger Tourer arrived today and it’s a lovely little addition to my National Motor Museum Collection.
I did have to chuckle as in this was the 1st car built with an electric starter and it was a huge advertising/selling point …..yet I find a crank sticking out of the front of it lol.
non the less it’s a sweet little model…
25/02/2022 8:18 am
Belt & suspenders? Given the dependability of battery and starter in 1913, I think the crank might have been quite reassuring. Good looking model!
Karl Schnelle and Karl Schnelle reacted
Topic starter
25/02/2022 11:23 am
surprisingly the electric starters on the 1913 Cadillacs were considered quite reliable….
25/02/2022 11:40 am
I agree with David H.
25/02/2022 12:39 pm
@d-m-holcombe My MG TD from 1953 came with a crank. At MG meets there would be timed contests to crank start and go a short distance.
25/02/2022 4:27 pm
@d-m-holcombe Ford started offering an electric starter on the Model T in 1919 (as an option). Whether or not you ordered your T with the electric start, it came with the crank too. If your battery went dead, the crank was there to get you going.....
Skip Johnson
Tonawanda, New York
Karl Schnelle and Karl Schnelle reacted
26/02/2022 11:24 pm
With today's compression rates, I think the crank is officially a museum piece and just memories now. Well, I'm not sure about the old car clubs. . . Thanks for the input, gentlemen.
27/02/2022 2:47 am
The Russian cars in the 70's still had cranks. I have never seen them used though; it was much easier to call few bystanders (often kids) to give it a push. I have pushed so many cars as a kid... All cars had manual transmissions, often the driver participated on the push too, with open driver's door, one hand on the steering, one on the A-pilar and jumping in when the car builds a little speed, then switch to 2-nd gear and with a little luck the car is roaring. Honk to the helpers, and when you stop next time, park downhill.
Sorry, could not find video of a driver pushing the car with an open door ... that technique doesn't seem very popular ... perhaps I should make a video 
PS: here is one ... by a woman! She is obviously doing it for first time and succeeds only on the 3-rd attempt. Achieving good speed is a key.
Harv Goranson and Harv Goranson reacted
27/02/2022 3:06 pm
@d-m-holcombe My MG TD from 1953 came with a crank. At MG meets there would be timed contests to crank start and go a short distance.
As do all Morris Minors up to the end of production in 1971. A hand crank demonstration at car shows always amazes bystanders.
John F. Quilter
Eugene, Oregon USA
Harv Goranson and Harv Goranson reacted
27/02/2022 3:09 pm
surprisingly the electric starters on the 1913 Cadillacs were considered quite reliable….
I think some cars from the 20s had combined generator/starter units. Seems like a simple solution, not sure why it did not continue.
John F. Quilter
Eugene, Oregon USA