Steering Wheel

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!

 

I think you are talking about "spokes".

 

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!

 

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

 

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!

 

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.

 

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.

 

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........

 

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.

 

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