<VV> Brodie knobs?

[J R Read_HML]

We called them "suicide knobs" in my neck of the woods, so maybe?

I thought (mistakenly?) that it was because it could fail or catch in your 
sleeve and you could end up off the road or into another vehicle.

This is what Wikipedia offers on the topic:

A brodie knob (alternate spelling brody knob) is a knob that attaches to the 
steering wheel of an automobile. The knob swivels, and is intended to make 
steering with one hand less difficult. Brodie knobs are also known as necker 
knobs, presumably because they allow steering with one hand while the driver 
wraps his other arm around his passenger's shoulders. Other names include 
Suicide Knob and Steering Wheel Spinner.
Although brodie knobs were never widely popular, they enjoyed limited 
popularity on trucks before the advent of power steering. Their main use 
today is still in trucks, particularly semi trucks where they allow 
simultaneous steering and operation of the radio. They also see extensive 
use on forklift trucks used in warehouses, where frequent sharp turning is 
required while moving goods about.

Wheel-spinners are also used for helping people with disabilities, such as 
multiple sclerosis, to drive automobiles.

Decorative versions of brodie knobs are also available. Popular designs 
include chrome-plated and 8 ball.

Later, JR


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Arjay Morgan" <n3lkz at yahoo.com>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>

CUT

> brodie knob, etc.)."
>
>  I understand all except 'brodie knob'/.  What, pray is a brodie knob and, 
> better yet, where did the usage come from. Certainly not Steve Brodie who 
> 'Did a Brodie" off the brooklyn bridge, thus becoming its first suicide. 
> But who knows.

BIGGER CUT
>
>  Arjay Morgan
>  64 monza convert
>  And I still need to know what a Brodie Knob is and where it got its name.
>