Navy WWII wheel

[barts]

I picked this up a couple of years ago... it is a little large for our next boat, but I was really taken w/ the idea of standing in the pilot house, steering behind this wheel.... photo taken on our living room rug w/ my phone, so a little hard to see. The handles are clearly an add-on, and that's a full size bottle for scale.
The wheel is about 40" across IIRC. The hub's been knocked about a bit, but definitely serviceable.

I want to make some proper handles - ash, probably, on some stainless spokes, w/ bronze end caps.


Here's the only picture I can find of something similar.... it has solid brass handles, but they also look like something added later on. Does anyone know what the originals really looked like in service?

http://www.antiquesofthesea.com/0239_bronze_usn.html

- Bart

[SteamerDon]

Cool wheel! I don't know what the original handles would have been, but I would favor some nice beefy Mahogany handles. What is that at the 8:00 position, a spinner, like some of the older auto steering wheels?

[boatbum]

Bart,

Looks very similar to the wheel in my boat the Arc (actually ARCTURUS, but I like the nick name). Here's a picture of the wheel house. The wheel is mated to a rudder indicator all solid brass, made in Seattle, Wa. same year as the boat 1929.

Keith

[barts]

That looks nice!

Telegraph, binnacle, proper reverse, lots of radios....

Yours looks like it may be built w/ the spokes separate; on mine the spokes are flat and cast in one piece w/ the hub and rim.

There is a spinner on the whee, but it's pretty crude - definitely added on afterward, like the handles.

I spent some time thinking about how to connect the wheel with the rudder - seems like a hydraulic setup is really the only way.

- Bart

[boatbum]

Bart,

Yes the spindles do screw into the base on my wheel and can be removed. As you can see I have to manufacture one replacement handle (the wooden part) as someone removed that one so they would know where rudder amidships was. I had to reset the indicator as it was way off. The telegraph is fun and still works, going to the engine room.

Keith

[Cyruscosmo]

Hey Bart

Ok I tried a couple times to post like five links of ships wheels I saved. A couple weeks ago I was looking at different wheels to get ideas for what I want to cast for my own wheel so I have a bunch of reference stuff.

Anyway I tried to post it twice today and both times the site like disappeared. I am not sure if it was the links, number of posts or what but it seems to be working now so I will try a couple.

http://www.rubylane.com/item/783510-201 ... hips-WheelI actually kinda like this one and after seeing the price I decided to cast my own.

http://www.greatsouthbay.com/BridgeNRSH.htmAnd here is a few that are good for ideas.

Cheers,
Scott

[Oilking]

Bart,
Looks like a wheel from an LCM landing craft. I think some of them had the bronse handles as part of the casting. Whether there was a change in production or a field mod, many show up with wooden handles. If your in the cold, brass handle or brass monkey, what's the dif.

Taken from on that can't tolerate much cold on the hands.

Dave

[barts]

Bart,
Looks like a wheel from an LCM landing craft. I think some of them had the bronse handles as part of the casting. Whether there was a change in production or a field mod, many show up with wooden handles. If your in the cold, brass handle or brass monkey, what's the dif.

Taken from on that can't tolerate much cold on the hands.

Dave

http://www.history.navy.mil/library/onl ... kill-6.htm

The LCM wheels look a lot smaller in the photo on page 40.

- Bart

[marinesteam]

Bart,

I think my wheel (though much smaller) is from the same manufacturer. Here are photos. I have the wheel apart as I am in the process of cleaning & polishing. The bronze threaded bit seems to be pressed pretty firmly into the wood of the handle. I can take measurements and send them if it would be helpful.

Ken

[barts]

This looks like the wheel I have:
Dake Bronze Steering Wheel....

http://www.lighthouselens.com/items/index.php?id=335

I think I'm going to put oversize bronze jam nuts against the wheel on stainless rods threaded at each end so that the wooden handles won't have to take the the end force needed to keep the rods from wobbling and turn some bronze acorn nuts to retain the handles. The stainless won't show, and it will be nice and strong.
- Bart'