Picked up this screwdriver at the flea market this morning. The amber handle and blue ferrule combination caught my Craftsman eye. Marked with the short geometric "C" logo often seen on late 40's tools and a Circle-I code on the handle. The interchangeable tips, stored inside the handle (that knurled end cap is threaded...), are marked Stanley and they owned the patent number (2,287,457) marked on the shank, which dates to 1942. Tips included are a slot type and a #3 Phillips. I have not looked this up in a catalog yet, but I am assuming it probably also came with at least a #2 Phillips and maybe another size or two slot types.
I am a big fan of tools with replaceable parts, but I am not sure I am a big fan of this particular design principle for a screwdriver. The tips have a tapered bit essentially pushed with force into the shank opening, which has been crimped. To change bits you have to pull (I actually had to use a pry) with an equal amount of force to remove the bit. I am picturing that action, as well as the torque when in use, opening up those pinches in time, making it too loose to hold the tapered bit. I could be wrong.
Are these a FOAK for this thread? I just searched the site and this thread on "Stowell" (the patent holder), with no luck. Of course, these may have come up before without a reference to the patent holder, but that kind of search exceeds my interest in determining that or not.
Anybody seen one before? Is my mid- to late-40's guesstimate correct? What do I have here, fellers? Common? Rare? School me.
Seriously, very nice.
