Goodell Brothers Company Reversible Automatic Interchangable Screwdriver

[BlueBomber]

Check out this cool spiral screwdriver I found at an estate sale this weekend. When I got it home, I thought that it only spiralled one direction - clockwise - and thought it odd.



It was only after researching it on http://oldtoolheaven.com that I discovered its secret: it has two separate spiralled barrels instead of the more popular single barrel with a dual spiral.



It seems all early ratcheting screwdrivers were one-directional at first, but in the late 1890's, the market began to demand one that could also remove a fastener. Several competing designs were developed and sold, and although the dual-spiral single shaft dominated the market in short order, the Goodell Brothers design continued to sell through 1930.



Just thought I'd share - anyone else have one of these or another manufacturer's version?

 

[woody 73]

That is one cool looking screwdriver and it would make for a great story! Thank you so much for sharing those pictures with us.

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

that's pretty cool!

 

[pendragon1998]

I have one or two of the later models with the selector switch. They're pretty neat. Goodell bros, I suppose, became Goodell Pratt not long after your driver was made, then lost it during the depression and were incorporated into Millers Falls.