Here`s my odd-ball Standard, one of my more unusual walk-behinds, the early model (second generation?) mid-1920`s with the open flywheel and friction-drive cooling blower in front. It is equipped with 6 volt electric start, which I believe is adapted to it at the factory, since the battery box and other additional brackets are put together professionally with rivets, and where the starting crank holder bracket would be, is painted over with the original paint, a farmer or garage wouldn`t go through the trouble to make it look so nice. But a fussy mechanic who was also a skilled blacksmith could have done the conversion also. I think it was done in the late 1920`s or early 1930`s when farm tractors were starting to get electric starters, someone decided why not try it on a small tractor? And this beast was created.
This tractor had one major flaw, it could only be started with the electric starter, and it has battery ignition. I`ve tried using a regular Standard crank on it, without that bracket to hold the crank straight while you turn it, it just wobbles all over the place and destroys your knuckles. So if you were out in the back forty with it, stopped it for lunch or it stalls, there`s a very good chance that it won`t start, if the battery is worn down enough. then you`d have to bring out Old Dobbin to pull it back to the house to charge the battery, or carry the battery back to charge it for the afternoon. This machine still has most of the original paint, and it has super compression and runs like a top, so I doubt it saw a lot of use.
This has a novel method of starting. There is a belt that runs from the starter to the crankshaft pulley, the starter has a handle and is hinged so the belt can be tightened or loosened, with the starter button on the end of the handle. To start, you hold down the compression release on the intake valve, press the button to spin the starter, and tighten the belt to start the engine spinning. Then let go of the compression release, choke it, and it starts. Once it is running, loosen the starter belt, let go of the starter button, grab the wooden stick clamped onto the handle, and use it to pop the belt off of the engine pulley. Put the stick back on the handle, pick up the belt and put it on the handle, and away you go! Simple! I wish I could be more certain of it`s original history, it will probably never be known, but it certainly is a unique garden tractor, and possibly the first attempt to install an electric start on one!