On Mon, Jul 18, 2022 at 12:42 PM, Dennis Storzek wrote:

This one is particularly goofy,

Goofy, yeah, but there's some purpose to it. 
I want to point out that lever - staff hand brakes need to have two ratchet and pawl mechanisms. One, seen here above the running board, keeps the staff from unwinding and releasing tension in the brake rigging, same as with horizontal wheel staff handbrakes. The pawl can be kicked to disengage it and release the brake.
The second mechanism engages the handle with the staff, allowing the handle to be ratcheted back and forth applying the brake. This one is designed so the pawl on the short end of the lever is lifted clear of the ratchet wheel when the handle drops.   I suppose there's a reason why the ratchet is tapered, but it's not apparent.
The Miner mechanism performs the same two ratchet functions in a single enclosed mechanism with a release lever.

Jack Mullen