Anybody recognize this screwdriver(T-handle?)

[Jacobs976]

This was in a lot I recently got along with some other tools with the "perfect" handles(RR style pipe wrench and ball peen hammer so far).

It needs cleaned up but it looks like when the screw is loosened both sides of the handle drop down making it a T handle(or just a side handle if tightened with one half still up right).

It's sitting with another screwdriver I haven't seen before but looks to be a promotional multi-position handle.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

H.D. Smith. That is a truly terrific find. Not unicorn rare, but by no means common. A very desirable piece among collectors. There are a couple in the H.D. Smith thread, which you can find in the A-Z Index in the Sticky at the top of the forum. You can see catalog images of it there as well. EDIT: You should post it in that thread when you get it de-rusted and cleaned up. Congrats.

 

[Jacobs976]

H.D. Smith. That is a truly terrific find. Not unicorn rare, but by no means common. A very desirable piece among collectors. There are a couple in the H.D. Smith thread, which you can find in the A-Z Index in the Sticky at the top of the forum. You can see catalog images of it there as well. EDIT: You should post it in that thread when you get it de-rusted and cleaned up. Congrats.

Thanks for the help! I'll post it there once it's cleaned up but it might be awhile.

Currently sitting on 6 tables of stuff I'm keeping for now(along with it) that'll need cleaned up plus another 4 tables of stuff I have to go through to figure out what's sticking around from a bundle I bought. Downside of buying half a garage. On the plus side I am finding a good amount of interesting stuff from 1874-1990 so far.

 

[crguy]

Thanks for the help! I'll post it there once it's cleaned up but it might be awhile.

Currently sitting on 6 tables of stuff I'm keeping for now(along with it) that'll need cleaned up plus another 4 tables of stuff I have to go through to figure out what's sticking around from a bundle I bought. Downside of buying half a garage. On the plus side I am finding a good amount of interesting stuff from 1874-1990 so far.

If you spray it down with something like Kroil now, it will be easier to clean later.

 

[Jacobs976]

If you spray it down with something like Kroil now, it will be easier to clean later.

I'll be drenching it in a heavy coat of PB Blaster when it goes into processing then it'll sit for a few hours to a day before starting NDT(non damaging techniques) cleaning cycles.

Don't have a clean room open till I get stuff situated so I can't pretreat at the moment.

 

[mogandave]

Plastic bag?

 

[bonneyman]

I love the OP's perfect handle! Never seen that style before.

I found a similar folding handle driver about a year ago. Plastic but seems very durable. I don't know if the labeling is the manufacturer or a vendor.

 

[Jacobs976]

Plastic bag?

I have totes open but I don't like having anything processing in the shop because of the humidity and dust. Probably not an issue but I like using my setup where everything is controlled better.

I love the OP's perfect handle! Never seen that style before.

I found a similar folding handle driver about a year ago. Plastic but seems very durable. I don't know if the labeling is the manufacturer or a vendor.

I'm assuming the branding is vendors like promotional pens or pocket drivers but fancier. Mines from a stock yard and yours is a john Deere dealer so it seems like good evidence they're promotionals made by a third party.

 

[Ricky Joe]

I remember those plastic handled ones from the 1970s. I think made in Hong Kong or something.

 

[Jacobs976]

Interesting turn on the promo driver, mines aluminum. Also has some info on the shaft.
PAIL, LIC. 29.
PAT 2507231
ALLOY—#2

Went ahead and made some room to work on the driver's and two other pieces(machinist level and tuning fork) since I'm a bit worn down on organizing at the moment. Got the Smith stripped down and found it's a Smith "Triple Lever" and has barely any rust inside the handles, bluing still on the panels, and majority of rust on the outside is flakey with hard spots underneath.

 

[Jacobs976]

Patent comes up as the Phillips tip design assigned to American Screw Co. and suggested mfgd under licence if I didn't mess something up.

Also PAIL must be PHIL but worn.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'll post it there once it's cleaned up but it might be awhile.

No rush or necessity. I was just letting you know we had an H.D. Smith thread with other examples of the "Triple Lever" if you were interested in seeing them and adding yours if you felt like it.

Patent comes up as the Phillips tip design assigned to American Screw Co. and suggested mfgd under licence if I didn't mess something up.

You are correct. That's the improved Phillips patent from 1950. The "#2" is the Phillips tip size. The "LIC. 29" refers to the Phillips license number. They were licensing the use of the cruciform design since the first patent in 1934. It's a very high number! (EDIT: Stanley had LIC. 1, IRWIN had LIC. 2, etc. I only have them tracked up through LIC. 9 or so, and I have no idea who owned LIC. 29.) Am. Screw Co. was sued by the US Government just a year earlier for cartel practices surrounding the licenses, and they lost! - but I've never been able to figure out how that affected them since there are plenty of screwdrivers like yours with the 1950 patent and a license number. (Seeing that PAT on a shank on a Phillips screwdriver in the wild is a postwar tell for WWII tool hunters and there are A LOT of 1950's Phillips screwdrivers out there.) It expired in 1966, so that folding plastic T-handle can't be later than that anyway.

 

[Jacobs976]

No rush or necessity. I was just letting you know we had an H.D. Smith thread with other examples of the "Triple Lever" if you were interested in seeing them and adding yours if you felt like it.

I'll be posting parts of the lot as I get stuff cleaned up on their threads (Williams short 1/2 brace, Husky 1/4 set in tin, body tools, SO papers and tools, and more) so it'll go up too.

Just got tired of organizing so I figured I'd go ahead and start on it since it's more unique (read more fun to work on) plus if I clean up some stuff and put it away I'll be breaking up the mess in the shop easier than making a mess trying to fit it all in totes in the office.

You are correct. That's the improved Phillips patent from 1950. The "#2" is the Phillips tip size. The "LIC. 29" refers to the Phillips license number. They were licensing the use of the cruciform design since the first patent in 1934. It's a very high number! (EDIT: Stanley had LIC. 1, IRWIN had LIC. 2, etc. I only have them tracked up through LIC. 9 or so, and I have no idea who owned LIC. 29.) Am. Screw Co. was sued by the US Government just a year earlier for cartel practices surrounding the licenses, and they lost! - but I've never been able to figure out how that affected them since there are plenty of screwdrivers like yours with the 1950 patent and a license number. (Seeing that PAT on a shank on a Phillips screwdriver in the wild is a postwar tell for WWII tool hunters and there are A LOT of 1950's Phillips screwdrivers out there.)

The site I found the patent info on actually listed one example as Lic. 40 so they might've been in good shape even after a federal lawsuit assuming the info is good(haven't looked up anything via patent # before so I don't know how accurate any sites are).

US Patent: 2,507,231 - Screw Driver Having Cruciform Bit

US patent 2,507,231 Screw Driver Having Cruciform Bit was issued to Joseph J. Tomalis, estate of (deceased) of Providence, RI and Lillian Dolores Tomalis, administratrix of Providence, RI. It was granted on 05/09/1950. Watson, Cole, Grindle & Watson - patent attorneys {br}Original application...

www.datamp.org

Curious what @bonneyman one says now because that Lic. # would be a confirmation of mfg(granted a currently unknown one).

It expired in 1966, so that folding plastic T-handle can't be later than that anyway.

This one's actually aluminum. Don't know if that'd mean anything though dating it through 50-66. Only seen the Tuffy (think that's right) aluminum handles so I don't know if aluminum had any rises in popularity at some point.

 

[Jacobs976]

Just posted the Smith(cleaned up) in the Smith thread.

H.D. Smith Company, Plantsville, CT

“Another "I didn't know they made them," which brings me to the most important ask. Do you have any catalogs? The only thing available on IA/ITCL are some ads or a few pages from hardware store catalogs.” I do have a catalog of their hand tools and a catalog of their “carriage work” products...

www.garagejournal.com

Lost the bluing taking out the hard rust spots using evaporust but it turned out fair enough.

 

[mogandave]

Just posted the Smith(cleaned up) in the Smith thread.

H.D. Smith Company, Plantsville, CT

“Another "I didn't know they made them," which brings me to the most important ask. Do you have any catalogs? The only thing available on IA/ITCL are some ads or a few pages from hardware store catalogs.” I do have a catalog of their hand tools and a catalog of their “carriage work” products...

www.garagejournal.com

Lost the bluing taking out the hard rust spots using evaporust but it turned out fair enough.

Came out nice! Will you re-blue it?

 

[Jacobs976]

Came out nice! Will you re-blue it?

No, doesn't appear to have been originally blued by mfg so it'll sit as is.

Plus cold bluing never turns out right so I'd have to set up a hot bluing tank to make it look good and that's alot of work and alot of boiling acid I don't want to be around.