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Let's show our wood (screwdrivers)

d42jeep

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I spent a few minutes today cleaning up my new Dunlap perfect handle screwdriver so it looked less like a paint stirring stick. JoCo sent me a listing from an early Sears catalog. They were only shown in 1939 and 1940.
-Don97777DB3-C7A8-42A1-B5F9-451DF46BE666.jpgBCA5389C-4393-4D44-A118-E758612FA255.jpgDD3765B3-ACFE-4B99-8CD0-93F3D9775B2E.jpgA3EE1451-D7A2-4BA9-AA67-E3757407F998.jpg8329D2A9-7C0C-449F-A327-318AD39FAFF1.jpg
 
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Semi-hole mechanic

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My three, none with markings. A round handled scratch awl, a squarish handled stubby phillips and a black handled straight tip (Vlchek ?).
 

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outofbounds

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"I am small, but mighty!" (said this stubby Harrold slotted driver.....)
 

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outofbounds

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Came across this cute little stubby bearing only USAC. No maker's mark found. Anyone have a suggestion as to who the mfr. could be? Could this be considered "war era"?
 

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Private Lugnutz

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Could be Air Corps. We see the "USAC" mark, as well as just "AC", without any suggestion of their affiliation with the Army, on plenty of stuff. As I have discussed elsewhere in several threads, they were always a prideful, independent lot, in ways that exceeded even that of the Signal Corps or the Corps of Engineers.

What is the OAL? And what is the length of just the blade (from the tip to the ferrule) and the diameter of the tip? The federal specs for a wartime stubby that was used by many technical branches was 4" OAL, 1-3/4" blade, and 1/4" width.
 

outofbounds

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What is the OAL? And what is the length of just the blade (from the tip to the ferrule) and the diameter of the tip? The federal specs for a wartime stubby that was used by many technical branches was 4" OAL, 1-3/4" blade, and 1/4" width.

Thanks for that, Lugz. I'll have to get those specs later tonight, as I'm stuck in the office for the day........:(
 

d42jeep

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Here are a couple of specification matching screwdrivers from my WW2 set. The stubby is a Forsberg and the upper screwdriver is a Crescent.
-DonD8CFFC0F-E600-43CC-88FC-CBFCCFBF59D7.jpg
 
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Leviton

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Yes, I cracked that mystery several years ago.

Androck Phillips head screwdrivers like the one Don is showing have shown up in the UK and elsewhere in the ETO and also in the US for many years and became a WWII collectors' choice, especially for Dodge 1/2 Ton 4 x 4 trucks, and later, for GMTK's, as a somewhat questionable alternative with questionable provenance for Vlchek screwdrivers of the same type. Questionable because there was no substantive information or evidence other than them showing up in surplus lots, and, as Mintgrun alluded to, the fact that the name "Androck" is found on antique and vintage kitchen utensils (spatulas, strainers, sieves, sifters, wisks, etc). Putting two and two together, I tracked it down to a brand name of the Washburn Company, which was largely converted into a defense production plant during WWII. Products included tent slips, tent pegs, and can openers, but also bomb parts (arming wires), and of course, tools, including a $53,000 contract with the US Army Ordnance Dept in late 1942 into 1943. ORD owned the tracked and wheeled vehicle maintenance role and they bought tools for that responsibility as spares for on-board toolkits that the vehicle OEM's were supplying as well as equipping rear echelon depot maintenance shops.

EDIT: They are somewhat rare. I have only found a few in the wild.

A recent Androck find. Overall length is 6.7 inches.

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outofbounds

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Private Lugnutz; What is the OAL? And what is the length of just the blade (from the tip to the ferrule) and the diameter of the tip? The federal specs for a wartime stubby that was used by many technical branches was 4" OAL said:
Apologies for the tardiness in replying these specs. I have been out of pocket for a few days.....

OAL on the USAC screwdriver is 3-3/4" and the blade length is 1-3/8" long.
 

Mintgrun

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This is one of the oldest tools in my box. Patented Dec. 17, 1878. Gay's ratcheting screwdriver that someone mistook for a chisel. It boggles my mind that someone would do that to such a beautiful old tool. I may be sculpting a wooden patch for this handle. The ratcheting mechanism was stuck in the middle position, but once it was freed up and oiled it worked fine in both directions.

IMG_6107.jpg

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There are a couple of similar examples on Worthpoint, but I am not a subscriber, so I don't know what they sold for. One of the listings gave the patent link as well.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US210942A/en

Tom
 

TailGunner3000

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Great looking tool, Mintgrun. The sympathetic side of me hopes that damage was the result of wear, but the realistic sides agrees it was likely the result of a barbarian hammer.
 

outofbounds

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A few wood handle ditties out garage sailing today.

Millers Falls stubby, Stanley Awl, an old exacto-type knife, and an interesting (to me) Vesco Spiral ratchet clutch head driver.
 

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RTM

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Oldtuleguy

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Early 20s screw gripper screw driver. Also posted on snap on thread but thought it might be of interest here.
 

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outofbounds

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From the upper tray of my latest "box and contents" haul...... Two Stanley No. 20 Wood (Hurwood?) handled screwdrivers. 15" & 9" overall length. In terrific original overall condition....not sure how vintage they may be. I'll take a stab and say 1960s?
 

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drivesitfar

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just noticed this thread that I'm sure I will like.

as Arnold says: "I'll BE BACK"

I know I have at least one if not 2 flat file drawers full of wood handled screwdrivers so while I'm not sure what all I have maybe I can learn here while helping some of you if I can.

cheers

EDIT: I just took a picture to post of a big drawer i have for just wood handled tools and mostly screwdrivers in this drawer. I actually grab and use some if needed and some need more work than others, but I try to pick up any and all when I see them if they are a decent price or a package deal item.
 

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ed4banger

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You will have to excuse me, couldn't resist. It was a period of time I was working on a bunch of knifes.......
 

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Shiftless

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You will have to excuse me, couldn't resist. It was a period of time I was working on a bunch of knifes.......

That’s in really great condition. Did you replicate the wood handle or did you find it in close to that condition and just clean it up?

I have the same screwdriver but it was soaked in black oil and/or had endured a lifetime of dirty greasy hands.
Soaking in lacquer thinner overnight seems too harsh.
 

ed4banger

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That’s in really great condition. Did you replicate the wood handle or did you find it in close to that condition and just clean it up?

I have the same screwdriver but it was soaked in black oil and/or had endured a lifetime of dirty greasy hands.
Soaking in lacquer thinner overnight seems too harsh.

I just removed handles and cleaned them up a bit. As you mentioned, lots of oils soak into these grips.
 
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abailcb

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I know, I know .... not vintage, and not nearly as **** as some of these vintage tools. But, I do love these drivers. I did sneak some vintage **** into the picture though:thumbup:
 

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didit

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Not much to contribute to this thread. A couple of "Made in Canada" Stanleys, a Philips with a Pat. date of 1927 and a slotted. The small black handled slotted was included in a Made in Canada tool kit for a Model A. There are 3 wood handled babbit bearing tools and a set of wooden handled screw drivers I remember buying at Canadian Tire about 50 years ago. I think those were made in Japan or India, not sure.
 

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Heavymetal

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Not a screwdriver,but this is where my Perfect Handle search led me. Anybody know details of this sweet thing? Its got serious strength in the side beams. The holes have to have a purpose.
 

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drivesitfar

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HM: i'm guessing that is some sort of pry bar, but not sure. I think a lot of prior owners drilled holes in their heavy old tools to make them a bit lighter especially if they used them a lot. most times it didn't have any side effects on the actual use of the tool cause most tools were overbuilt then, but it could have weakened it a bit.

BMW: I have to agree with HM those wood handled screwdrivers in their original case are pretty sweet.
 

drivesitfar

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Any of you that have taken apart one of these old metal and wood screwdrivers and restored them do you have any before and after pics and maybe your step by step process to share?

there are a lot of these that i've picked up and saved that need a new piece of oak or maple (scraps otherwise) to really get them back looking like they did when they were new.

do you punch out the pins or drill them out? i'm guessing you fit the new piece of wood in as good as possible and shine it up and shape it while it's in the handle or do tell?

what kind or pins do you use to replace old ones if they are not there or damaged from removal or from use?

i've seen some members soak their wood handled tools in a jar of veggie oil for a day or two and then let dry in the sun. is this the preferred method cause I like wiping on BLO?
 

leg17

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Not a screwdriver,but this is where my Perfect Handle search led me. Anybody know details of this sweet thing? Its got serious strength in the side beams. The holes have to have a purpose.

Valve spring compressor missing the chain and 'C' hook.
 

d42jeep

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I have taken some apart, usually for repairs. These pictures are from an attempt to install an Ink marked handle from a 9-1/2” extra heavy duty driver onto a Jeep toolset correct 11” blade. It turned out that the ink marked handles from the donor driver were slightly narrower. To disassemble I drove out the least peened over end of the pins with a small drift. Before reinstalling, I filed down the less peened ends of the pins to minimize damage during re-assembly. The final step was to re-peen the ends of the pins until the handles were tight on the shafts.
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Private Lugnutz

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The holes have to have a purpose.
Valve spring compressor missing the chain and 'C' hook.
Here's an ad (see Pic 1) to illustrate what Leg is referring to, Heavymetal. Where did you find it? Is it possible to go back to the source to see if there was a chain and hook somewhere in the same lot that nobody had associated with the handle? It would be worth the effort. It's one of the hardest of the dozen or so different tools that H.D. Smith made after the original screwdriver to take advantage of the "Perfect Handle" design, adding it in 1911. I would love to add one to my collection (see Pic 2) one day. Nice find. :thumbup:
 

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drivesitfar

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LUG: that is one cool method of displaying some cool old wood handled tools!!

so i guess the holes were for rivets since his tool had a wood handle?

my real question is how in the heck would you use that tool on an engine? (not that you need to know or that I really care that much, but it seems awkward at best)

42: I was wondering after thinking about your wood handle replacement did you maybe cut the wood a and just pin it in place? wouldn't it be a bit easier to make wood a bit oversized and sand it down on a belt grinder or hand sand so you don't get any gaps or do you think that would scratch up the metal too much?
 

d42jeep

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42: I was wondering after thinking about your wood handle replacement did you maybe cut the wood a and just pin it in place? wouldn't it be a bit easier to make wood a bit oversized and sand it down on a belt grinder or hand sand so you don't get any gaps or do you think that would scratch up the metal too much?

All of the handles that I’ve worked with have been original Irwin handles. Other people have made replacement handles but I never have.
-Don
 

Private Lugnutz

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LUG: that is one cool method of displaying some cool old wood handled tools!!
Thanks. Those are all H.D. Smith.

drivesitfar said:
so i guess the holes were for rivets since his tool had a wood handle? my real question is how in the heck would you use that tool on an engine? (not that you need to know or that I really care that much, but it seems awkward at best)
The holes are not for rivets, they're for the chain to pass through. I've never used one, but it looks like the hook was meant to go over the cylinder head. Flat head. Valves in the block. That's where the leverage came from. I imagine the forked piece on the end of the shank was for the valve head. Picture a valve spring compressor with wide solid C shape, that have a lever. Those screwed tight. This one looks like it adjusted by pulling more chain through. Definitely looks awkward. But a cool piece to own. And, as I said, along with the Triple Lever machinists' screwdriver at the bottom of my display, and the "S" adjustable wrench at the top, hard to find!
 

drivesitfar

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42: replacing some of my broken or damaged wood handles is on the TO DO LIST, but WAAAY down. that said i'm always trying to learn and maybe someone else can benefit from all my questions as you all share your knowledge.

LUG: I guess I never worked on an engine that small before I stopped working on cars, but your thoughts sound about right. i'm sure before the days of Kroil and other penetrants where rust played even a bigger challenge you needed all the leverage and maybe heat and cold you could get to break loose parts.

ALL: I have to say I really like how these old wood handled screwdrivers where there is just wood on each side of metal that runs all the way through feel great in my hands so a couple of them are my GO TO's.
 
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