No spark.

[Ray White]

A duff condensor affects the ability to create a good spark. Various things are possible.

But this sounds like a dead short in the rotor arm. 

Hold the king lead near the head and spin the engine on the starter. You should get a cracking lively spark. Then with the rotor arm in place hold the king lead near the rotor arm and spin the engine. You should get no spark jumping to the rotor arm. If you get a good spark jumping to the rotor arm then there is a dead short within the rotor arm, and it needs a new one.

Do I look for a spark jumping to the centre contact spring on the rotor arm?  

Will this work the same if I just flick the points as I can't operate the starter AND see what is going on...or do I have to persuade my long suffering wife to operate the starter.?  (SWMBO doesn't share my interests and only likes new cars. _)