The term "solenoid" has been used. So, just to complicate this discussion, it should be noted that a starter solenoid (an electric solenoid) was used on a few truck engines from 1948-1959. Forward Control ("step van") trucks had an electric solenoid on their starters, as did automatic-transmission trucks from 1954 through 1959. However, the vast majority of trucks used a foot-pedal (foot-actuated) starters through 1959.
