Virgo
There's no reason it couldn't be a GAPCI adapted for another use. The Belvedere starting aid would be a plausible answer, except for
instead of the bulldog clip, it was fitted with a 3 inch length of circular rod about half-inch in diameter at 90 degrees to the long stick. Function ?
It's the words "instead of the bulldog clip" that count; surely you can't press a starter button with a bulldog clip?