Suicide Knob - anyone still use one ?

DougVieyra

DougVieyra

Well-known member
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 ?
 
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.
 
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.

233354
 
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.
 
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 *** with the right hand.

Ron
 
Knob Slang from: http://www.suicideknob.net/

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.
 
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.
 
bobpo1 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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. ;)
 
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...
 
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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