Billings and Spencer screwdriver No 1

[Offwith]

My first posting, so hello all.

I have a 9.5" B&S cast screwdriver with "No 1" stamped on the tip. I can't find anything online about the screwdriver, can anyone enlighten me on its age, rarity or any other details? We don't see a great deal of B&S on this side of the pond (Wales, UK), so asking at steam rallies etc has drawn a blank. However, I have always had a soft-spot for their tools and have a very nice set of tool-post wrenches.

The screwdriver was a car-boot find, BTW. I rather enjoying finding/refurbing the rusty and unwanted. Mostly vintage car/motorcycle stuff, but anything that takes my interest really.

 

[ganymede]

I believe that those were made for machinists .
Can't help on time frame though.
Heres a #22 by Billings and a wood handle machinists driver by Irwin.

 

[woody 73]

Just some more information for you, although no pictures or dates for screwdrivers:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=277390

 

[Offwith]

Some good stuff there. I like that the factory has been converted to something useful, so many good industrial buildings just get demolished and the architecture is lost forever.

Would have been even better if it was still a factory though......

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here's a #22 by Billings and a wood handle machinists driver by Irwin.

Ganymede,
Those are two very fine examples of two different kinds of Extra Heavy Duty Machinists' screwdrivers. They were both included in a 1939 copy of the Federal Standard Stock Catalog that I own. The Type V Class B (wood insert) was issued in early war US Army Motor Vehicle Mechanics' Tool-Sets, and all Machinists' Tool-Sets, and I have collected several from Irwin, Tobrin, and Federal. EDIT: Yours is wartime, btw. Several manuals include figures showing the ink-stamped handles.

Here are some scans if you're interested in reading the specifications.

 

[ganymede]

Oh heck yea,
Thanks Lugz !!