Fat Man Steering Wheel

[Mountain Dew]

When did the Fat Man Steering Wheel appear?

[Lanny]

I've heard that about 1910, or so, the thought of having a steering wheel
that could be moved out of the way might be handy.
I think there were various companies making various different designs
of steering wheels. Some could be slid upward on center tracks, others
were hinged at a certain place which allowed the wheel to be lifted up
to give the driver room to enter or exit the driver seat.
All had a locking device of some sort or another to keep them secure
when in the down (driving) position. Some even had a key lock on
this steering wheel device to help aid in preventing the car from
being stolen.





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[J Franklin]

Originally Posted by Mountain Dew

When did the Fat Man Steering Wheel appear?

When they stopped using a tiller for steering!

[Lanny]

QUOTE
Originally Posted by Mountain Dew View Post
When did the Fat Man Steering Wheel appear?

When they stopped using a tiller for steering!
================================


The steering wheel didn’t arrive until 1894, when French engineer Alfred Vacheron was looking for an advantage in that year’s Paris to Rouen race. Figuring that it would provide more precise control, he installed one on his Panhard et Levassor. Vacheron didn’t win the race, finishing 11th, but the steering wheel was here to stay.
And Actually, the Tiller was kept in use on some cars up into the Teens.
One of the last Tiller steering cars was built and left the Cleveland, Ohio car factory
of Raush and Lang well into the middle teens.





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[rotorwrench]

Henry Ford used a double grip tiller on the 999 race car but went to steering wheels in 1903 for the first Model A.

Fat Man steering wheels were always an aftermarket accessory along with steering wheel locks. They were available for near all the popular automobiles of the 1910s & on. This link isn't a bad one.
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/art...teering-wheels

[Mountain Dew]

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Great Info!!!

[A bones]

Yeah, Thanks Lanny and rotorwrench. And Mountain Dew.
Always cool to learn of the horseless carriage days.
Like to mention that the first long distance trip was in a stolen car

[Ron Blissit]

I put one on my 1929 roadster pickup. My steering wheel is from a 1913 Cadillac. Takes some work but well worth the effort.

[super flat]

I have a fat man steering wheel in my 27 model t hot rod. it suposedly came from a Divco crane. Gary

[Guffer]

Originally Posted by Lanny

QUOTE
Originally Posted by Mountain Dew View Post
When did the Fat Man Steering Wheel appear?

When they stopped using a tiller for steering!
================================


The steering wheel didn’t arrive until 1894, when French engineer Alfred Vacheron was looking for an advantage in that year’s Paris to Rouen race. Figuring that it would provide more precise control, he installed one on his Panhard et Levassor. Vacheron didn’t win the race, finishing 11th, but the steering wheel was here to stay.
And Actually, the Tiller was kept in use on some cars up into the Teens.
One of the last Tiller steering cars was built and left the Cleveland, Ohio car factory
of Raush and Lang well into the middle teens.





.

That's interesting. Thanks for the info