Can anyone help identify this engine starter?

[kenleo56]

My neighbor has this engine starter (he believes) in his garage.
He knows it's from WWII but has no other information regarding the item.
any knowledge would be much appreciated!
thanks,
ken

 

[kenleo56]

Any ideas?

 

[B-17engineer]

Hmmm I'm not the right person.

Where did you find or get this?

 

[kenleo56]

It is his dads...in Vermont somewhere....

Hmmm I'm not the right person.

Where did you find or get this?

 

[B-17engineer]

Oh huh, well there are plenty of guys around here who will know! I don't

Best of luck!

 

[KMeyrick]

are there any serial numbers or identification of any sort anywhere on it? Letters.... partial words.....

That might help people here help you.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

It might be a "Hucks Starter" that would either spin a propeller at the hub or an inertia starter on the side of the fuselage. Any data plates on the item?

 

[Milosh]

Were not Hucks starters a shaft mounted on a vehicle driven by the vehicle's engine?

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Not all of them - some were smaller units that would turn an inertia starter and in turn that would start the engine. Not a True Huck's starter in the terms of spinning the prop, but essentially doing the same thing

 

[kenleo56]

Any other ideas???

 

[vikingBerserker]

The only thing that really puzzles me is what's on the front of it. Is it made out of wood or some type of compressed fiber?