Anyone know what this screwdriver was made for?

[nz44tool]

I just picked this up at a junk store. It's a nicely-made tool, looks like 1920s or '30s to me.
But I don't recognize the tip.
Anyone out there know what it's for?
I'm betting someone does.

 

[The Cobbler]

I was wrong

 

[J.A.F.E.]

It's a clutch head driver. There two types of clutch head one used by GM in the 50's and this one. I forget the designations though.

 

[paulsomlo]

Have you considered an Alliance membership? https://www.garagejournal.com/the-garage-journal-alliance/

 

[inphx]

Quick wedge screwdriver ( https://www.ebay.ca/itm/257039570040 )

 

[nz44tool]

Quick wedge screwdriver ( https://www.ebay.ca/itm/257039570040 )

Thanks, inphx - but I've used and sold a fair number of Quick-Wedge screwdrivers, and this looks like one, but Quick-Wedges have two blades which misalign to hold the screw when the collar is pushed toward the tip. This one is solid - no moving parts

 

[Beerhippie]

It's a clutch head driver. There two types of clutch head one used by GM in the 50's and this one. I forget the designations though.

Clutch A to be exact: https://b2b.snapon.com/category/882713

 

[nz44tool]

It's a clutch head driver. There two types of clutch head one used by GM in the 50's and this one. I forget the designations though.

Huh. I know the "butterfly" clutch heads; I think I even have one or two. But I've never seen one like this, and can't (so far) find a picture of one on the interweb.
Please let me know if you come up with a pic or a catalog listing (I'm looking too.)

Clutch A to be exact: https://b2b.snapon.com/category/882713

Well now - I think you nailed it; this does appear to be the "A"-style clutch head driver.
I wonder who made it - there's no mark. It could be Stanley or PS & W, perhaps.
Thanks again!

 

[Beerhippie]

Huh. I know the "butterfly" clutch heads; I think I even have one or two. But I've never seen one like this, and can't (so far) find a picture of one on the interweb.
Please let me know if you come up with a pic or a catalog listing (I'm looking too.)

Well now - I think you nailed it; this does appear to be the "A"-style clutch head driver.
I wonder who made it - there's no mark. It could be Stanley or PS & W, perhaps.
Thanks again!

I see Clutch B (butterfly) all the time--even new sets occasionally. I've seen a sum total of one A, not including yours. I've seen a lot of B fasteners in older cabinetry, but never seen a single A fastener anywhere.

 

[Oregon Dave]

Looks like it could be an electrician tool to me; fits those annoying screws on household outlets & switches; today's drivers have a #2Sq for the center post - in the early 1900's who knows- performs much better than a standard flat-tip.

Also the wings in your last image appear a little light-weight for clutch-head; and notice center post extends below the wings on your image. If you have a switch or outlet handy; try it for fit.

 

[Beerhippie]

Looks like it could be an electrician tool to me; fits those annoying screws on household outlets & switches; today's drivers have a #2Sq for the center post - in the early 1900's who knows- performs much better than a standard flat-tip.

Also the wings in your last image appear a little light-weight for clutch-head; and notice center post extends below the wings on your image. If you have a switch or outlet handy; try it for fit.

Just nope. Clutch A, not ECX.

 

[Oregon Dave]

Just nope. Clutch A, not ECX.

By way of observation the O.P's last/right hand image shows the center post extended beyond the wings; all the the clutch head drivers I have so far used have them flush???

 

[RTM]

Here is another thread on the topic with vintage literature.

Name of this screwdriver tip?

Any ideas what this screwdriver tip is called? I'm sure one of you guys knows what it is.

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Beerhippie]

By way of observation the O.P's last/right hand image shows the center post extended beyond the wings; all the the clutch head drivers I have so far used have them flush???

There are two types of "clutch head". This is the other--clutch A. Very seldom (never in my experience) seen.

 

[nz44tool]

I'm persuaded that it is a type A clutch head screwdriver, but I gotta say, none of the images of type A drivers that I've seen so far look exactly like the screwdriver I have.
As Beerhippie says, the "wings" are thinner and the center post sticks out more.
Anyone have any thoughts as to who might have made it? The shank is very stout - .375"; the handle is very nicely shaped.

 

[Beerhippie]

I'm persuaded that it is a type A clutch head screwdriver, but I gotta say, none of the images of type A drivers that I've seen so far look exactly like the screwdriver I have.
As Beerhippie says, the "wings" are thinner and the center post sticks out more.
Anyone have any thoughts as to who might have made it? The shank is very stout - .375"; the handle is very nicely shaped.

IIRC, the extended center post was the earliest type--but no idea of the date.

 

[nz44tool]

Have you considered an Alliance membership? https://www.garagejournal.com/the-garage-journal-alliance/

I hadn't - I'll think about it.
Thanks!

 

[Oregon Dave]

I'm persuaded that it is a type A clutch head screwdriver, but I gotta say, none of the images of type A drivers that I've seen so far look exactly like the screwdriver I have.
As Beerhippie says, the "wings" are thinner and the center post sticks out more.
Anyone have any thoughts as to who might have made it? The shank is very stout - .375"; the handle is very nicely shaped.

Just for grins, take it with you next time to Home Depot/Lowes etc. and try it out on an outlet terminal screw head.

Your driver is Model T/Model A era and coincides with the advent of the clutch head fasteners on automotive assembly lines; simplified insertion, reduce cam-out, speeds up the process - but they initially used a 'bat-wing' transverse profile for strength; a later "clutch A. Very seldom (never in my experience) seen." is also in the mix. It would require a clutch head fastener with a center recess so the wings would seat for a proper purchase; those are as yet unseen by me.

In the same era they were building and wiring skyscrapers and tract homes; electrical suppliers were using terminal hardware with a shallow flat-tip slot; phillips head and morphadite slot/phillips head terminal screws so which ever screwdriver pulled out might work. Of course some typical ingenuous American would invent your driver; speeds up the process.

EXC is relatively new; last 15 years so, but uses a square center post; I and most electricians I know just use a #1 or #2 mostly, square bit on a Klein hex bit driver, if we can't use a power driver. DeWalt & Milwaukee use flush tips; WIHA uses an extended tip.

Until a "clutch A. Very seldom (never in my experience) seen." surfaces; with your extended round tip, light weight parallel wings - still leaning to electrical/electrician use - your fit test would help at lot also - at this point am stuck on definitely maybe's.

 

[Beerhippie]

Just for grins, take it with you next time to Home Depot/Lowes etc. and try it out on an outlet terminal screw head.

Your driver is Model T/Model A era and coincides with the advent of the clutch head fasteners on automotive assembly lines; simplified insertion, reduce cam-out, speeds up the process - but they initially used a 'bat-wing' transverse profile for strength; a later "clutch A. Very seldom (never in my experience) seen." is also in the mix. It would require a clutch head fastener with a center recess so the wings would seat for a proper purchase; those are as yet unseen by me.

In the same era they were building and wiring skyscrapers and tract homes; electrical suppliers were using terminal hardware with a shallow flat-tip slot; phillips head and morphadite slot/phillips head terminal screws so which ever screwdriver pulled out might work. Of course some typical ingenuous American would invent your driver; speeds up the process.

EXC is relatively new; last 15 years so, but uses a square center post; I and most electricians I know just use a #1 or #2 mostly, square bit on a Klein hex bit driver, if we can't use a power driver. DeWalt & Milwaukee use flush tips; WIHA uses an extended tip.

Until a "clutch A. Very seldom (never in my experience) seen." surfaces; with your extended round tip, light weight parallel wings - still leaning to electrical/electrician use - your fit test would help at lot also - at this point am stuck on definitely maybe's.

"so whichever driver is pulled out will BARELY work." FIFY.

Gods, I hate electrical fasteners... I finally broke down and bought some ECX bits... only to find that they have four sizes, of which I have three. Some equipment I work on uses all four sizes.

Electricians also seem to be the only trade ever to use #1 square.

 

[nz44tool]

Beerhippie, I see why you thought it would fit electrical devices, but...nope. Way too big.

 

[Oregon Dave]

"so whichever driver is pulled out will BARELY work." FIFY.

Gods, I hate electrical fasteners... I finally broke down and bought some ECX bits... only to find that they have four sizes, of which I have three. Some equipment I work on uses all four sizes.

Electricians also seem to be the only trade ever to use #1 square.

I whole heartedly agree about electrical fasteners; and they charge such LOW wages and use such cumbersome hardware; how about the POC #4 screw head!!!

I enquired in another of your post if your Far NE Oregon was anywhere near Troy where I grew up?

 

[The Cobbler]

I was wrong

I originally said clutch head but after thinking about it, I thought I was wrong

 

[Oregon Dave]

Beerhippie, I see why you thought it would fit electrical devices, but...nope. Way too big.

Is that and outlet terminal? If not please try one.

 

[nz44tool]

I originally said clutch head but after thinking about it, I thought I was wrong

I think I thought you thought you were wrong about what I thought, but now I don't think so.

 

[Beerhippie]

Beerhippie, I see why you thought it would fit electrical devices, but...nope. Way too big.

I didn't.

See above, 'though. There are four different ECX sizes--0-3. The center post of an ECX is square, not round.

ECX #2:

 

[Beerhippie]

I whole heartedly agree about electrical fasteners; and they charge such LOW wages and use such cumbersome hardware; how about the POC #4 screw head!!!

I enquired in another of your post if your Far NE Oregon was anywhere near Troy where I grew up?

Sorry, thought I replied. Troy is about thirty-five miles from here, tucked down in the Grande Rhonde gorge. One of my co-workers outfits out of Troy.

Unfortunately, not much of a town--more of a fishing/boating tourist center. I've built/remodeled some homes around there and it has the worst bar/tavern selection of any town in the county.

It's afar enough from Enteprise and other Wallowa county towns that most folks from there do their shopping in Clarkston/Lewiston.

 

[nz44tool]

Is that and outlet terminal? If not please try one.

By outlet, do you mean a receptacle? As in, the thing on the wall you plug an appliance into? Wanna make sure we're talking about the same thing. The device in the pic is a wall toggle switch.
I'm not an electrician, but being in the sound system business for many years I built many electrical assemblies - cables, distro panels, breakouts, etc. The receptacles I have (all are 110V 20A) use the same size screw.

 

[nz44tool]

I didn't.

See above, 'though. There are four different ECX sizes--0-3. The center post of an ECX is square, not round.

ECX #2:

Sorry if I misunderstood! Actually, it was Oregon Dave. I think. I'm so confused.

 

[Oregon Dave]

By outlet, do you mean a receptacle? As in, the thing on the wall you plug an appliance into? Wanna make sure we're talking about the same thing. The device in the pic is a wall toggle switch.
I'm not an electrician, but being in the sound system business for many years I built many electrical assemblies - cables, distro panels, breakouts, etc. The receptacles I have (all are 110V 20A) use the same size screw.

If the screw on your wall toggle switch is the same size as the terminal screws on your 110V 20A receptacle made in the USA; then yes it did NOT pass the fit test.

As Beerhippie mention the EXC system comes in multiple sizes; for different sized fasteners as you know - but EXC came out 80-90 years after your driver.

Black painted wooden handled screwdrivers were made in the millions for early auto tool kits; few if any were maker marked. A source to try might be a local antique car club; Model A Club of America etc. You might get a match on the ferrule or handle design/shape; our local club tool expert has led us to believe the screwdrivers, unlike the pliers & other tools, cannot be maker identified - but hey, technology is technology, something might turn up

 

[nz44tool]

If the screw on your wall toggle switch is the same size as the terminal screws on your 110V 20A receptacle made in the USA; then yes it did NOT pass the fit test.

As Beerhippie mention the EXC system comes in multiple sizes; for different sized fasteners as you know - but EXC came out 80-90 years after your driver.

Black painted wooden handled screwdrivers were made in the millions for early auto tool kits; few if any were maker marked. A source to try might be a local antique car club; Model A Club of America etc. You might get a match on the ferrule or handle design/shape; our local club tool expert has led us to believe the screwdrivers, unlike the pliers & other tools, cannot be maker identified - but hey, technology is technology, something might turn up

Gotta admit, I'd never heard of the EXC system until now.

 

[Beerhippie]

Gotta admit, I'd never heard of the EXC system until now.

And I wish to hell I never had.

The different sizes of the ECX **** are hard to distinguish by eye--sure, I can easily tell a #0 from a #3, but a #2 from a #3 or a #0 from a #1? And confusingly, some of the higher-torque screws--like the terminals of a 30A breaker--use some of the smaller sizes on BIG screws.

 

[Mintgrun]

The tip looks like it might fit carb jets. The nub in the middle would keep it centered.

Googling for images of similar tips based on that description wasn't fruitful, but that may just mean they weren't plentiful.

 

[nz44tool]

And I wish to hell I never had.

The different sizes of the ECX **** are hard to distinguish by eye--sure, I can easily tell a #0 from a #3, but a #2 from a #3 or a #0 from a #1? And confusingly, some of the higher-torque screws--like the terminals of a 30A breaker--use some of the smaller sizes on BIG screws.

Ah, that's "progress" for ya! Makes everything ever-more-complicated...

 

[Beerhippie]

Ah, that's "progress" for ya! Makes everything ever-more-complicated...

Don't we have horrible mega-prisons where we can send people who come up with new fasteners just to say they have a new fastener?

 

[Oregon Dave]

And I wish to hell I never had.

The different sizes of the ECX **** are hard to distinguish by eye--sure, I can easily tell a #0 from a #3, but a #2 from a #3 or a #0 from a #1? And confusingly, some of the higher-torque screws--like the terminals of a 30A breaker--use some of the smaller sizes on BIG screws.

Earlier I posted; just use square tip bits, cheaper, easier to use and distinguish. Been down the ECX rabbit hole myself; lastly with WIHA - better, but square tips for now.

Also, for others viewing, the bit holder cannot easily release a bit when working around 'hot' circuits; I began with an old Irwin that had a set screw holding - good for working over high speed moving parts, when you have to, also.

 

[Beerhippie]

Earlier I posted; just use square tip bits, cheaper, easier to use and distinguish. Been down the ECX rabbit hole myself; lastly with WIHA - better, but square tips for now.

I find there's so little material left around the square drive part that they're very easy to strip out. Hence buying all the ECX bits. I now have a dedicated multi-bit driver for nothing but. Not insulated, but I never work hot.

 

[Oregon Dave]

I find there's so little material left around the square drive part that they're very easy to strip out. Hence buying all the ECX bits. I now have a dedicated multi-bit driver for nothing but. Not insulated, but I never work hot.

WERA will help your frustration; but hurt your wallet.

 

[Mintgrun]

Here is a jet tool with a nub in the middle.

 

[KnurledNut]

Seems like it would work well for threaded wood inserts.

 

[Beerhippie]

This style of tool would be better:



That's for removing/installing the check valve of a Coleman appliance pump, but it has a screw to keep the screwdriver part firmly in the fitting. I know I've seen similar for threaded inserts.