I've owned this old Wheel since 1973. I purchased it along with a couple of dozen other Ships Wheels at the same time. It had 6 coats of marine paint on it which I careful removed. I have never sanded this Wheel and only used steel wool to remove the layers of paint and buff the wood.

I purchased this Wheel and the others in Wilmington, NC from a scrap metal yard on the Cape Fear River. After cleaning it I saw that it was much older than the other Wheels I purchased. So I took it to the Museum in Wilmington, NC and one of the Maritime Curators there at the time told me it was used on a wooden 2 mast schooner built sometime in the late 1700's. He gauged the size of the ship by the size of the Wheel which is 60" (5 Feet). I have kept it stored away all these years and have decided to sell it now. I called the Museum in Wilmington, NC and the entire staff has changed since the Mid-1970's. I understand that the curators at that time are now all dead and gone.

I'm just describing my experience with this Wheel and if anyone interested wants to see it or have someone come to look at it to assess it's age and value before purchasing.