Starting was accomplished by compressed air. The mechanic cranks a compressor in order to build enough pressure to move the cyinders, and the the pressure is released in the chambers. This starts the engine.
impressive, nevertheless.

When you get crap done to your car, save the receipts. Put 'em in a folder, save the folder. When shit goes bad, go back to the folder, and find the pertinent receipt, and wave it in front of the manager of the place that f**ked you over.

The insurance company will hang their hat on ANYTHING. If your dad came up with an oil change receipt, they would have accused the shop of doing it wrong and denied the claim for THAT. Insurance horror stories are another genre for which there is no shortage of material . . . .

everybody does the "forgot to check for the old gasket" thing at least once. And what a fucking mess that makes. At least if the filter's not there, the oil will shoot right out onto the ground (assuming the filter's at the bottom of the engine.) When a double gasket blows out, oil sprays everywhere.