Very intersting Eric.
In this area of small farms, on steep hills in a cool climate with many berry "patches" (raspberries, blackcurrants, strawberries etc etc....)Howard rotary hoes were very poular. Most farmers had one.
I seem to recall that the engine was cranked through the gearbox. The crankhandle was permanently fixed to the machine on a swivelling block. Pull it up and out, rotate it in its block, and slide it onto the starting dog that projected from the side of the gearbox. Push in against a spring to engage the gears, then crank as with any engine. When the engine fired, the spring loaded dog pushed itself away from the gears, so that it did not rotate all the time.
Rotate the handle in its block to return it to its non-working position on the machine.
I mention all this, because I wonder how this ststionary engine version of the Howard was started? No way of pulling on a front pulley, with the governor there.
Yes, I agree, governing on the rotary hoe engines was by air vane.
A curious little modification!
Teddy.
