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, Granny 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 or gearshift. They also see extensive use on forklift trucks used in warehouses and even riding lawnmowers, where frequent sharp turning is required while moving about.
Wheel-spinners are also used for helping people with disabilities, such as multiple sclerosis, and people with only one hand or arm to drive automobiles. Some states have outlawed their use except by people with disabilities.
Decorative versions of brodie knobs are also available. Popular designs include chrome-plated and 8 ball.
Brodie Knobs were widely popularized, especially on the west coast of the U.S., during the 1950s. Their intention was to be used primarily as addition to a Hot Rod. The knob was used to spin the steering wheel, rapidly in one direction or the other, while accelerating, to cause the tire(s) to spin while rapidly whipping the car 180 degrees or half of a "doughnut". Hence, comes the term "lay a brodie". In the 1950s and 60's a person could go into any local "Pep Boys" and choose from a large variety of brodie knobs, with every conceivable theme, from "Candy Apple colored", "Product Logos", to "nude women," and everything in between, some automobile dealerships even used them for advertisements. They were very useful during a period of auto manufacturing when power steering was truly a luxury.
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Brodie knob (plural Brodie knobs)
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