Small, bronze, bottom-action winches on eBay (offers)

[rbgarr]

Not mine:
http://tinyurl.com/cyejrx

[Canoeyawl]

*Just a note about bottom handle winches.
Most of these were designed as halyard winches and will bind when slacked rather than slip, making them a poor choice for a sheet winch.
Unlike a sheet winch the drum is tapered (larger at the base) to cause the line when slacked to slide up toward the top of the capstan and jam against the larger than normal rim. By design this allows you to cleat off the halyard without losing your purchase.

[rbgarr]

Interesting. Th tapered drum observation makes sense.

I've used these for decades as deck winches for sheets and backstays and never had problem. Just lucky, I guess.

http://i43.tinypic.com/256vh4j.jpg