# Analog Radio Dial Thingy **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 29, 2012, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-radio-dial-thingy/632986 "2012-08-29T00:48:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ZomZom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zomzom/32/5620_2.png) [@ZomZom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZomZom)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-radio-dial-thingy/632986/1 "2012-08-29T00:48:34Z")
Does anyone know if there is a name for the indicator line on analog radio dials? Here’s an [image](http://www.seatacradio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/radio-dial.jpg) to clarify – the indicator I’m referring to is shown in red in this example. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-radio-dial-thingy/632986/2 "2012-08-29T00:54:43Z")
Needle? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-radio-dial-thingy/632986/3 "2012-08-29T00:56:27Z")
Slider? Or, just “indicator.” ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-radio-dial-thingy/632986/4 "2012-08-29T01:04:51Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-radio-dial-thingy/632986/5 "2012-08-29T01:43:24Z")
hat is also an illuminated or lit indicator. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-radio-dial-thingy/632986/6 "2012-08-29T03:02:07Z")
The manual for an [old Heathkit radio receiver](http://www.vintage-radio.info/download/download.php?dir=heathkit&file=gr-78.pdf)calls 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. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-radio-dial-thingy/632986/7 "2012-08-29T03:10:23Z")
Number one on google search is this thread. Number two is [ehow | ehow](http://www.ehow.com/how_7788946_repair-tuner-string-radio.html) calling it a pointer or needle pointer. [Journal of Intercultural Communication](http://www.immi.se/intercultural/nr22/koksalan.htm) - this I assume uses needle metaphorically. [Analogue Radio Dial Tuning Different Radio Stock Footage Video (100% Royalty-free) 1252498 | Shutterstock](http://footage.shutterstock.com/clip-1252498-stock-footage-an-analogue-radio-dial-tuning-in-different-radio-frequencies.html) This just calls it a dial. > **[Redirecting to Google Groups](https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!topic/rec.radio.shortwave/2-1efn-KGrk)** This guy calls it an indicator, about 3 posts down. > [@](#): > > I like to give the knob a quick spin, watch the indicator and hear which > bands are hot. It’s not the same with a digital set, especially the > ones the chuff with tuning . > **[Retro analog radio tuner | Wish List | unofficial empeg BBS](https://empegbbs.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/270664/Retro_analog_radio_tuner)** > > I just had an odd thought. Wouldn't it be great (ok, completely pointless but cool) to have a retro style analog radio tuner thingy like old car stereos used to have - the ones where you turn the knob and a little plastic bar moves up and down the... This thread calls it `plastic bar`and `needle`. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-radio-dial-thingy/632986/8 "2012-08-29T03:14:39Z")
a window with an indicator line might be called a raticule, reticle or graticule that might have a moving scale behind it. ---
**Author:** ![ZomZom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zomzom/32/5620_2.png) [@ZomZom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZomZom)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-radio-dial-thingy/632986/9 "2012-08-29T11:56:04Z")
Thanks, all. I was hoping there’d be an [aglet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aglet)esque 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. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-radio-dial-thingy/632986/10 "2012-08-29T12:20:38Z")
You might also call it a _cursor._ That’s what the sliding thingy on a slide rule is called. See [this photo](http://sliderulemuseum.com/SR_Class/Figure0_SR_Parts_med.jpg), with all the parts labeled. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/analog-radio-dial-thingy/632986/11 "2012-08-29T14:03:59Z")
Always called it “the needle”. Painted a few of them with new fluorescent paint back in the day.