I'm not sure which handbook you are referring to Nick, thus unsure of context, but I agree your (and Reckless's) analysis.
Auto-advance distributors are retarded when static (for ease of starting) and advance the ignition (i.e. the spark occurs earlier) as the engine speeds up (for performance). The basic point of ignition advance is that it takes a finite time for the burn to develop, so the spark has to occur earlier when the engine is running fast otherwise the 'bang' will occur too late to be of optimal value.
I'm not too familiar with the peculiarities of manual advance though, so perhaps others will confirm I'm not overlooking something.
<edit> ha ha, our posts overlapped - just goes to show great minds think alike Reckless!
Auto-advance distributors are retarded when static (for ease of starting) and advance the ignition (i.e. the spark occurs earlier) as the engine speeds up (for performance). The basic point of ignition advance is that it takes a finite time for the burn to develop, so the spark has to occur earlier when the engine is running fast otherwise the 'bang' will occur too late to be of optimal value.
I'm not too familiar with the peculiarities of manual advance though, so perhaps others will confirm I'm not overlooking something.
<edit> ha ha, our posts overlapped - just goes to show great minds think alike Reckless!