Wigan Album

"Burn More Refuse" - which, of course, we did when we had open fires. No wonder we need such large landfill sites these days.

Aye, ½ a dustbin of ashes then, compared to 4 wheeliebins of smelly allsorts today

Yes, "Burn More Refuse" a practice still continued here to this day, it's not very often that the rubbish bin needs emptying.

I have commented on this system on a previous submitted photo. I remember it in use by Wigan Corporation in the forties. Note the starting Handle. Big muscled drivers needed

Gardner Engines didn't need big muscle drivers a 6Lw engine
if you got the starting handle at the top ie 12oclock put a
rope round the handle one man push the handle down another
man on rope pull the handle up the engine would start first
time no problem D.C.

three men to start an engine derick, witch one lost his hand and arm.

An early bin collection system No Elf & Safety or time and motion in those days.A gang of bin men and a horse and 3 men and a rope to start the wagon engine

Wasn't pushing starting handles 'DOWN' dangerous?

Perhaps I am remembering incorrectly, but were you not advised to start with a 'PULL' stroke, with your fingers opening in the direction opposite to which handle was turning: something to do with pre-detonation causing back-fire, which could break your wrist if handle could not snatch from your grip?

Your absolutely correct with a Petrol engine AP, a Diesel engine is different, some have decompression levers to help crank it over.