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07-30-2015, 12:48 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Eureka, California
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Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
The recent 'Gear-shift knob' question reminded me of the old (1930's, '40's, and '50's) Steering Assist Knob - AKA "Suicide Knob". I used to have one mounted on the steering wheel of my '28 Chevrolet Coupe, and later, for a short while on my '34 Ford Sedan.
I had a brief 'fling' with them because of their distinct nostalgia of earlier times. The affair ended eventually because my shirt sleeve kept getting caught on the knob when making turns. I learned that there was a valid reason that they were called 'Suicide' knobs. Also, when my Model A shifted from being just an 'old car' used for daily transportation, to a restored car with a NOS steering wheel, I did not have the courage to gouge the steering wheel with the knob's mounting clamp. I still have a box of 3 or 4 knobs tucked away somewhere in my Model A 'Stuff"; but I don't see a time when I will ever use one again. So who amoungst you FORD BARN members still has one mounted on his/hers Model A (or other) steering wheel ? |
07-30-2015, 12:57 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
One of the guys in our club has one on his '30 Tudor. He only has one functioning arm due to a stroke, therefore he needs it to be able to drive. He's the only one I know about.
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07-30-2015, 01:02 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: MN
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
My father had one on his 80s van so he could drive. One hand for the wheel and one for the gas/brake pedal handicap adapter. Dad had MS. I think they might be illegal in some states unless your handicapped.
I have one on my 38 truck. From my uncles 62 vw van he sold. Probably older then 62. The wheel on my 38 is not perfect so I wasn't concerned about any damage. |
07-30-2015, 01:12 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Eastern CT
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
I dont use one, but I have an old one with a photo of Marilyn Monroe inside. I tried one for my tractor, as I need to spin the wheel a lot when mowing, but the steering is Hydralic, and not geared to the wheels, so the steering wheel lands in a different spot each time, depending on how fast one turns the wheel. So that was a failure.
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07-30-2015, 01:16 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Quincy, CA.
Posts: 1,708
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
When I was a young guy in my teens we called them a "Necker" knob; you could drive with your left hand and play grab ass with the right hand.
Ron |
07-30-2015, 01:25 PM | #6 |
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
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Brodie Knob: Steve Brodie was a New York man in the 1800's who became famous for supposedly jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge and surviving. He did this to win a bet, a saloon, and gain fame. Although people have disputed his jump, it was published in the New York Times, and his saloon became a museum for his jump. His famous jump coined the terms "taken a Brody" or "did a Brody" to describe someone jumping off a high structure. The Brodie knob was named after him since misuse of the knob could lead to loss of control. Very few have survived jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge. Hence, by association, the slang suicide knob was coined. Necker Knob: The term for necker knob came about from a benefit of being able to drive with one hand. With one arm driving, the other arm was free to put around your date. Necking is a 1960's slang for caressing your partner on and above the neck. Sometimes also meaning to kiss and make out. Lay a Brodie: This was a term for doing a half donut with your car. By turning rapidly while accelerating, the car would spin the tires and do a 180. Guess only Washington state is the only state with a rule against. |
07-30-2015, 03:25 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Cape Cod
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
Had one on my 1933 Chev. Called it a lovers knob.
Marc |
07-30-2015, 04:29 PM | #8 |
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Tonopah, NV.
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
Have one in use on my '38 coupe. Found it NOS in The Dalles, OR and paid about $45 or $50 for it.
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07-30-2015, 04:36 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Lovelock, Nv
Posts: 20
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
Had one on my 46. Broke my thumb when I hit a curb and the wheel spun out of my hand.
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07-30-2015, 06:49 PM | #10 |
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 301
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
When I was a kid, it was called a "Barney Knob".
I used them regularly on my old tractors. Came in real handy as the tractors didn't have hydraulic steering. |
07-30-2015, 06:53 PM | #11 |
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Waxahachie, Tx
Posts: 88
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
Yep. Wife has one on her Cadillac CTS.
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07-30-2015, 07:18 PM | #12 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: now Kuna, Idaho
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
Yep, I grew up in the '50's using one of those on our tractor. Worked well because of the slow steering ratio (until we would put the front mounted cultivator on-then it was too hard to steer with the knob). There were even knobs that folded out of the way, to the inside of the steering wheel rim. I remember my Granddad having 2 of them on his '64 Corvair due to arthritis.
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07-30-2015, 07:39 PM | #13 |
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
I had one on my 65 Chebby pickup. I had it about 10 oclock , so I could hang my left arm out the window and hand on the wheal
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07-30-2015, 07:46 PM | #14 |
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Location: Melbourne, Australia
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
They're illegal here unless you are required to have one because of disability. My father had one for years after his left arm was removed for cancer. I didn't like driving his car with it fitted. When he died, I took over his car and the first thing I did was remove it.
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07-30-2015, 08:53 PM | #15 |
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Location: Portland OR
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
I think they are illegal in Oregon too. Just this week a customer came in, he didn't just have one, he had two! Guess he was planing on being real busy.
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07-30-2015, 09:19 PM | #16 |
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Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Boise, Idaho
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
We had one on our New Holland 1045 bale wagon..then called a "Haro-Bed"....you needed it to make those frequent tight turns in the hay field...
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07-31-2015, 12:26 AM | #17 |
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Location: Ogden Utah
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
I had one on my Model A for a few years and removed it. Haven't wanted to ever put it on again. Put a ugly mark on the wheel that was hard to remove.
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07-31-2015, 01:03 AM | #18 |
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Location: Shawnee, Ok
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
I still use two, one on each of my tractors...does that count?
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07-31-2015, 01:30 AM | #19 |
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
I always heard them called "Brodie knobs" or "knuckle busters".
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07-31-2015, 04:23 AM | #20 |
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Re: Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?
"Seems" I remember one design that was FLATTER, & less DANGEROUS???
Bill W.
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