Liberty Ship wheel

[hink441]

Found this Liberty Ship wheel today. She needs a good polishing and clean up, but I kinda like the worn look. 
 

Should I clean her up or leave as is?

Here are some pics.
 

The last picture is a WW2 vet on the SS John W. Brown a Liberty ship out of Baltimore. 

 

[aznation]

1 hour ago, hink441 said:

Should I clean her up or leave as is?

 

Very cool!  I'd just use a moist rag and get the surface dirt off it and call it done.  I personally wouldn't attempt to do a total cleanup and polish but it's your wheel.  I wish I could find one to go with my Liberty hatch table but I'm not likely to find one here in Oklahoma, although you never know.  Congrats!

[hink441]

Thanks, I am gonna try and remove the old oxidation (white) from the wheel. I want to keep the overall used patina look. Not really sure how to proceed though. Probably try some brasso and start lightly on the white oxidation and go slow. 
 

Here is a close-up of the king spoke handle and some of the oxidation. 

 

 

 

[scottiques]

I like the patina-- be careful with the brasso.

 

I'd try a toothbrush on the green gunk.  Once you start with brasso you'll get a shine on some areas and can't put that beautiful patina back on!

 

Scott

[dhcoleterracina]

Less is more. 

[TheCrustyBosun]

This type of wheel was used at the helm station on the flying bridge of liberty ships. I’m not sure if they’d be kept polished. The helm station below in the pilot house would be more ornate. It would be a wooden wheel trimmed in brass and would be kept polished as with the other fittings in the space such as the engine order telegraph and the compass binnacle. 

[hink441]

Thanks Boats!  
 

That is some good info. I will try to remove the corrosion only and leave the patina. 
 

Chris

[Wharfmaster]

I like the patina on the wheel the Vet is stand at. Handles only polished somewhat from real use.

 

 

W

[hink441]

I have cleaned the wheel up and I am happy with the results. I used vinegar and a small brush and got most of the corrosion removed. 
 

A couple of before and after pictures. 
 

I noticed there are remnants of gray paint on the wheel. I tried to leave the remaining paint in place. You can see some of the gray paint in the third picture. 
 

 

 

[aznation]

Looks like you did an awesome job to me.  Nice!

[scottiques]

GREAT job!

 

I think you were wise to steer clear of the brasso.

 

Scott

[hink441]

Thank you fellas. 
 

Now I need to find a way to display the wheel.
 

Preferably I would love to find an original steering station made by Dake to mount the wheel. Probably not going to be easy to find one though, or I could build a steering station mount. 

 

Here is the Dake Engine Co. steering station as originally used. 
 

The second picture is a something I could possibly make. 
 

 

[hink441]

Here is the top plate for the Dake Engine Co. steering station.