No. I called them 'spokes' as thats what the french called them. At the top of the spindle there are 4 projecting 'spokes' which you can use to spin the wheel. Nowadays the wheels have plain spindles without them. This was an old wheel ex London Golden Nugget I think. I got it in a London auction 10 years ago. You can screw the spokes in and out to alter the weight/balance fractionally (I guess if the surface is not 100% level) Other than that they just make it look good
No idea what they would cost. They are solid brass about 4" x 1/2" and I guess precision made.