What is a kick wheel?

A kick-wheel is a NON-motorized potters wheel. Instead of a motor running the wheel, a kick-wheel has a pedal connected by a shaft to the spinning wheel. You use your foot to push the pedal backwards and forwards, which keeps the wheel spinning.

The usual Western kick-wheel has a pedal which swings sideways in an arc, kicked with one foot. There are Asian variants with different one or two footed mechanisms.

See several varieties of wheels on http://www.robertcomptonpottery.com/Wheels-of%20Potters.htm