Handcrafted Nautical Decor - Solid Brass/Copper Ship Wheel Key Chain 5"

Developed in the early 18^th century, the ship’s wheel transformed sailing in a manner that has since touched upon our everyday lives. In the earliest days of sea faring, aside from multiple oars for propulsion, a large steering oar was operated to maneuver the vessel, later becoming the fixed rudder standard on sailing ships around the world. The helmsman steered in a counterintuitive method using a large vertical rod, or whipstaff, to manipulate the rudder; turning a ship to starboard required the helmsman to manipulate the whipstaff to port. Tillers, much like large, horizontal torque wrenches attached directly to the rudder, were also used in this manner and are still in use today on many luxurious sail boats. The earliest known ship’s wheel, circa 1700 England, is displayed at London’s National Maritime Museum and represents a new chapter in sailing. Reproduced in these brilliant brass key chains, the ship’s wheel was designed to turn the rudder in the same direction as the wheel, thus a turn to starboard resulted in the ship’s bow pointing to starboard. Represented on these solid brass key rings, the engineering behind the ship’s wheel has not only been advanced with electronics and hydraulics, modern adaptations to control the largest ships the world has ever seen, but has become a standard fixture you will see in any automobile. The beautiful ship’s wheel depicted on your brass key chain was a true revolution in sailing, and since its inception an almost mythical aura has grown around it. The earliest sailors viewed the ship’s wheel as a talisman of good fortune, much like this brass key chain, often wearing replicas on necklaces in hopes of providing a safe journey and return to port. Going so far as to add this symbol to the stable of traditional nautical tattoos, sailors would emblazon themselves with the ship’s wheel as a sign of longing, searching for a port to call home,  and to represent the freedom of life on the high seas. The ship’s wheel represented on this brass key chain is so much more than what seems like a simple advance in sailing, it has become a symbol of hope, of good luck, of freedom and longing, and of the magic and wonder of the ocean deep.