Does anyone know if there is a name for the indicator line on analog radio dials? Here’s an image to clarify – the indicator I’m referring to is shown in red in this example.
Needle?
Slider?
Or, just “indicator.”
i’ve got a thingy and also a few radio dials. needle or indicator would be what it is called. a needle would move and indicator could move or be fixed.
hat is also an illuminated or lit indicator.
The manual for an old Heathkit radio receivercalls it a ‘pointer’ in the section on alignment. I’ve heard needle very often, but I do recall some kind of latin-y type name for the thing used in the past.
Number one on google search is this thread. Number two is ehow | ehow calling it a pointer or needle pointer.
Journal of Intercultural Communication - this I assume uses needle metaphorically.
Analogue Radio Dial Tuning Different Radio Stock Footage Video (100% Royalty-free) 1252498 | Shutterstock This just calls it a dial.
This guy calls it an indicator, about 3 posts down.
.
This thread calls it plastic barand needle.
a window with an indicator line might be called a raticule, reticle or graticule that might have a moving scale behind it.
Thanks, all. I was hoping there’d be an agletesque descriptor but I guess not. I settled on needle (for an object name in a software project). In trying to make up names, my favorites have been squint and fret. You heard it here, first.
You might also call it a cursor.
That’s what the sliding thingy on a slide rule is called. See this photo, with all the parts labeled.
Always called it “the needle”.
Painted a few of them with new fluorescent paint back in the day.