Steering Wheel

[garys]

I am looking for an expert to tell me what, if there exists, the name or names of the handles on the helm steering wheel. I am hoping they are named something other then "handle". Perhapes a reference to the large steering wheels from the 1400 to 1700's. A reference in an appropriate European language would also be helpful. Any historical information would be helpful, or a different website that could point me in the right direction.

Thanks for your help!

[Robjl]

I think you are talking about "spokes".

[garys]

I have seen them called spokes, but that is so generic. I have got to believe that there is a more specific name for the actual handles on the end of the spokes. Such as, "I broke my spoke, not the whole spoke, but the end of it where I grab with my hand". That has to have it's own name!

[cyclops]

Pins, because the old sailing ships found that a " belaying pin " fit the hand so well.

[safewalrus]

And after careful measuring to ensure that it was square one of these spokes or pins was called the 'king pin' or 'king spoke'. This was the central spoke/pin which indicated that the rudder was 'midships' or square to the hull (had no steering effect). 'Twas normally marked in someway. natural way being to clap a turks head around him tighened up 'ee looked proper 'ansome and could be easily found in the dark. _ typical steering order from an old mate to an old hand when close to the course would be to "give 'er a couple of spokes up wind/down wind" course would be no good to a sprog 'cos he bain't be knowin' what 'ee be talkin' bout!

[yipster]

me, i'm not so sure. bout "pins and spokes" nor that "king pin". do belive there must be a marker but most wheels have many cycles to turn. once had a small indicator on the wheel showing how many turns the wheel was star or port. having the "pin?" belayed i think of a rope or string keeping it on course.

[hateka]

In Dutch they are called 'spaken' , one is a 'spaak' close to spokes. The centre one, for rudder midships is called the konings-spaak, or king-spoke. Marked with some brass cap, or turkish knot.

[D'ARTOIS]

I think hateka comes quite close with his reply - a "handspaak" is similar too a belayinmg pin, so that's not the explanation.

I remember, however vaguely, that there is a specific name too........

[hateka]

In Dutch the 'handspaak' is also a removable horizontal bar, with a tapered end to insert in a capstan, usually 8 handles in a capstan, in Dutch 'kaapstander' . A Belaying pin, is a removable bolt of the nailbench, 'nagelbank' used to belay a halyard. That bank was around the foot of the mast, only beside, either side or three sides, on the square riggers. The belaying pin is called in Dutch: 'korvijnnagel'. Often used as weapon on board, as the handspaak. Coming back to the handspaak, it is used in two locations, the wheel and the capstan.

[D'ARTOIS]

Absolutely correct.....forgot to imply that......