Wednesday, September 8, 2010

What is it? I know, do you?


 I had found this a while ago and at first thought it was for a cabinet.
After a little bit of research I found that it is made from butterscotch bakelite and was used in the 1950s.
If you guessed that it is a knob, you are correct, but do you know the different names for it and what it was used for?
(I will post more information on it later, in the meantime...lets see what you know)
~jj~
Vintage Spinner or suicide knob. also known as a brody or necker knob.

(later post)
I always heard it referred as a spinner or suicide knob, but it was also called
a brody or necker knob. ( it pretty much got that name because it freed up the use of one arm to put around the passenger)
These were widely popular in the 1950s and were used to make turning the steering wheels of cars faster and easier (before the days of power steering)
Today they also see extensive use on forklift trucks used in warehouses and even riding lawnmowers. The knob is also standard equipment in most modern farm and commercial tractors.
They are now outlawed in many states.
This site has some good examples so you can see a lot of the different styles

http://www.antiquewish-online.com/knobs/index.htm

9 comments:

Peppercorns said...

It's for the steering wheel on your car. You could hold the knob and turn the steering wheel. Made going around corners tons of fun. LOL

A Collective Journal said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
A Collective Journal said...

Do you know the several different names that it was called? I came across at least 4.

goodgosh said...

Looks like a do' knob to me.

It was called a shifter! A knob adjuster?

jdavissquared said...

I have no idea...what else can a knob be used for?

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Unknown said...

It was called a "suicide" knob. Can't remember any other names for it. I really like this blog idea. :)

VintageEmbellishment said...

I think my big sister told me about these once upon a time :)

A Collective Journal said...

Yes suicide knob is correct, but there are three more names (that I know of)
as a hint I'll give you the first letters...
1. S
2. B
3. N
(I know someone that should be able to guess the 3rd one...lol)

Unknown said...

uh, I remember those....sheesh