Hello; The very first self starter I had any experience with, was on an old laFrance fire engine, around 1911. All it would do is fire all four spark plugs at the same time. The hope is that at least one of the cylinders would have a combustible mixture in the cylinder, and that everything was in the proper position to fire in the right direction. If it didn't fire and continue running, you would have to get out and deal with the hand crank hanging off the front of the engine.

It's easy to see that an engine could start with everything in the right position.