mikem said:
There does appear to be a leaf spring under the lever to return it to it's start position.
I feel the spring metal plate may be more to hold rocker in place, unless the rocker has a cam/lobe such that it will return to a preferred position. I think the shape of the "handle" is less likely to be foot operated but more likely hand operated. Note the similarity to a cast spokeshave handle.
Does the crossed hole line up with the lower of the two holes in the base casting?
Perhaps when the handle of the lever is pushed either a strut/tierod would be lifted/pulled guided through the lower of the two holes and operate something else
or
perhaps pushed a push rod in the opposite direction to operate something else.
Maj.