-> That would be a challenge!  Didn't the old A have manual spark
-> advance,
-> perhaps you could really stick the advance to it and get it to knock
-> a bit. 
Depended on how you timed it. "Ears Down" was the method I was taught,
"Ears Up" was the way my buddy with a genuine BATTERY timed his.
Ears Down set the max advance to whatever you considered TDC.  Ears UP
set it to TDC plus the advance.
An "A" was timed by positioning a bolt through the case into the timing
gear which demonstrated TDC.  Then the points were made to break with
the advance lever on the column set Ears Up or Ears Down.
 I had RETARD so I could crank it comfortably (and safely)  He had
advance so he could get a bit more Oooph out of his engine.
Mine consistently out RAN his because he had standard 21 in tires,
whereas mine were considerably smaller diameter 15 inchers. (Effectively
lower gearing.)
I can't remember EVER hearing an "A" spark-knock.  I sure remember
hearing the RODS knock when the lower end was worn.  We'd pull the pan,
wiggle the rods to find the loose one, pull the rod-cap and file the
mating surface to tighten it. When it wouldn't wiggle sideways it was
tight enough.
 ^..^
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