@Piper Classique -Are you saying that your starter is of the inertia-type? IE the pinion slides along a helix (quick-thread) and not pre-engaged? In that case, you'd have a separate solenoid (just a bloody great relay, really) in the lead from battery to starter.......I did have a car where you pulled a knob to start....the knob connected to the solenoid via bowden cable.....main contacts have to take a couple of hundred amps,plus , when you actuate it, you're switching an inductive load...so the solenoid contacts have a hard life.
Another "gotcha" for the inertia starter.....the engine firing gives a flick which reverses the pinion and throws it back along the Bendix, where it's arrested by a big cush-spring.......but what stops it vibrating back along the shaft?... there's a light control spring that sometimes breaks.....when it does, the pinion can keep hitting the revolving ring-gear on the engine.........so, if you hear an intermittent metallic tinkling, check the starter!