8 Spoke Ships Wheel

This is a very sound original example. We believe it to be made from oak and is very solid. It is fitted with a chrome 'lazy handle' so we guess is it may have came from a working boat. The central boss is solid brass (or might even be bronze) and is stamped 15 and on opposite side 1064. A nice touch is the brass acorn on the 12 o'clock spoke used by the helmsman as a guide for straight ahead. This wheel has riveted brass banding front and back although as normal on a working wheel the brass has only been polished on the visible side. The diameter from spoke end to spoke end is 27" (69 cm) so an excellent wall display size. Like all the items offered this is for sale a collectable and we can't guarantee it for its original purpose although it certainly looks strong enough to go back to sea, subject to the necessary checks. The wheel does not carry any makers marks so we have no idea of its origins but estimate it probably dates from the middle of the 20th century. For anyone who has seen the rather nasty replica wheels now flooding the market we can assure you this beauty is in a different league!