Number DescriptionXXXXXXXXX Purpose
1 Trim Indicator Hanging pointer indicates the degrees of hull roll (trim) along a curved scale.
2 Speaking Tube Standard marine communication horn which is piped into the engine room. In one scene, a crewman is asked to adjust a secondary power control in the engine room.
3 Ballast Control Valve Valve control wheel to trim ballast. Ned gives this one a turn just before the Nautilus sinks at the end of the movie.
4 Propulsion Switch Forward and reverse settings to change engine prop rotation and send the Nautilus in the desired direction.
5 Cable Tube Clear tube protects traveling ball to indicate depth. The ball is on a cable that runs down through the deck and into the chart room where it makes a 90 degree bend around a pulley wheel on the map near Nemo's Cabin door.
6 Atomic Counter Lever rocks back and forth when engines are on. As power is increased, the lever rocks faster. Lights on the Atomic Counter flash to indicate they have reached the maximum travel by hitting one of two Damper Assemblies.
7 Damper Assemblies Ice cream cone shaped assemblies soften impact of the Atomic Counter's arm as it travels back and forth. When the arm impacts the damper, it sends a conformation pulse to one of two indicator lights on the face of the Atomic Counter.
8 Trim Indicator Large pendulum pointer hangs down by large round weight. It has two arms that show angle of dive or assent. Each arrow pointer showing the degrees etched into the fixed curved bars on each side.
9 Checklist Holder Holds five quick reference checklists on a articulated arm that can be manually positioned. (one on each side).
10 Map Table For Camera Obscura Projections when a pole is raised through the top hatch. A 3-D image is then transferred to the map table by the Camera Obscura to aid in navigation.
11 Aft Window Allows observation of air intake vents and when surfaced, supervision of movement of the crew when on deck.
12 Camera Obscura Hatch When opened, a pole containing the Camera Obscura on top, is raised for navigation purposes. This was not actually used in the film. The hatch is way too small to allow egress by a crewman.
13 Map Drawers Holds numerous charts without descending to Map Room. There are 6 drawers in all. Two very large drawers on the bottom. Two medium sized compartments in the middle and two very small drawers on top to hold small plotting equipment.
14 Map Roller Map pulls down from above to allow viewing from helm station. It has been said that this was just a device to cover the aft window so rear projection wouldn't have to be used in certain scenes.
15 Water Pressure Valve This valve was never used in a scene in the movie so we don't have anything to base its use on. UNKNOWN
16 Power Control Large rheostat like device that allow the adjustment of the main engine power.
17 Control Box Really a stage lighting unit thrown in to just fill up space by the set design crew. Not used in any scene to activate a response. This prop turned up a second time in a Disney film inside the flying ship - the Albatross. At the Anaheim walk-through exhibit, it was moved to the starboard side of the wheelhouse.
18 Floor Levers Tall levers seen only at Disney Anaheim walk-through exhibit
19 Dive Plane Controls Controls angle of assent and descent with dual levers. These where rented for the film and lesser quality replacements where used for the Anaheim walk-through exhibit.
20 Wheelhouse Windows Port and starboard navigation windows. It has been said that to save money, only one was rented for the filming of the full sized waterline set. The other side had no large domed window at all.
21 Helm (Ship's Wheel) Controls rudder movement. Compass is gimbal mounted directly on top. Rear of helm is chain driven and descends through the wheelhouse floor. The Anaheim exhibit had to make due with a lesser quality helm for it's display. It has a different number of spokes and no compass on top.
22 Ballast Control Overhead lever blows ballast.
23 Gauge This device has two large vertical strips. Clearly seen in one of Ty's DVD screen grabs. No information has come in on this gauge yet. UNKNOWN
24 Stairwell Access to Map Room compartment, also nearby are a small set of stairs from the helm area



Below is a screen grab from the DVD that Ty Bumgardner sent in. He thinks the object at the left side middle is a Gauge (# 23) but what could it be for? You can clearly see the Voice Tube (# 2) and the List Indicator (# 1). You can also see the gearing at the rear of the helm used to transfer the Ship's Wheel commands to the rudder.





Below is another screen grab but this time from Wayne Orlicki. We can clearly see device # 8 which is the Pitch Clinometer. This is also a good view of gimbaled compass at the top of the Helm (# 21).





This scene prominently displays the Atomic Counter (# 6) and the left side Damper Assembly (# 7) there are a pair of these on each side of the Atomic Counter. To the left of that is the Propulsion Switch (# 4). Plus this scene has one of the nicest shots of the Depth Indicator Tube (# 5). The float ball is orange! Ned has his hands on the Ballast Control Valve (# 3).




This last scene was also sent in by Ty Bumgardner, he is the king of DVD screen grabs. What a beautiful set this one is. On the left is the Water Pressure Valve (# 15) which was not used in any of the scenes so we won't be able to assign a function to this device. Also in this view is the Power Control unit (# 16). And right next to it, in all it's glory - is the Control Panel (# 17) which is my personal favorite. It was just a funky looking stage lighting device that was pressed into to duty to dress up the wheelhouse set! You just
gotta love that story.

The eerie green glow of the numerous gauges are also very striking in this shot. At the very forward of the wheelhouse is a great view of the upper Gauge (# 23) which is now clearly not a mirror but a device with two vertical strips. We may never know the purpose of this gauge either. And finally at the right is a new viewing angle of the Damper Assembly (# 7). See the comments below as to what was previously one of the mysteries of the Nautilus Wheelhouse.