GRASP-IT Screwdriver

[Private Lugnutz]

Keeping my streak of finding oddball/unique screwdrivers alive (see the Grover, Hobson’s, Sawyer, and Decatur Coffin Company threads), here is another one.

I picked this up at my flea market this morning. It has no markings on the handle or the ferrule. It has a GRASP-IT logo (a huge fancy G with the tiny letters RASP-IT inside the opening) on one side of the screw holding mechanism, and it’s stamped PAT APLD FOR (patent applied for) on the flip side of that.

Based on the screw holder mechanism, the trade name, and the age of the tool, I am surmising that this is an early approach, way before the Upson’s HOLD-E-ZEE hit the market.

The design is interesting. The frame is curved so that as it is pushed up the shank of the screwdriver in its slots on that T piece near the end, the jaws at the ends that grip the screw first open around the screw head, and then close on the other side. Once the screw is gripped (in this case, better said grasped), the spring provides the tension.

I have used Google, Google Books, and Newspapers.com, but so far I haven’t been able to find any reference to GRASP-IT. Going to plunk away at some patent sites later.

If anyone has any info, please post it.

 

[four.cycle]

I didn't even know this post existed until after I had placed the order on one and then started poking around looking for information on it, which led me straight back here!
I'm not going to even bother posting the photo here - mine's almost rusted solid at the business end. I may have to finally break down and go buy some evil Evaporust.


(Or maybe just pack it up and send it to Steve?)

 

[Oldtuleguy]

It's for spring hose clamps? Or is that a screw holder?

 

[four.cycle]

^ It's a screw-holding slotted screwdriver. The forerunner of the Upson Brothers "Hold-E-Zee" (which preceded the later all-metal aluminum-bodied screw starters made by Ullman and Aircraft Specialties (later SE Tool.) Interesting concept. I'm going to have to de-rust mine in order for it to function properly.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

And then there were two!!

I never did find the patent.

 

[RTM]

Wow, earlier than I expected, 1916

Profitable Storekeeping

books.google.com

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's a cool figure in that blurb with the letters on the knuckles.

 

[RTM]

Here’s another, with a potential maker. F. Lewald & Co of Chicago.

Hardware merchandising April-June 1916 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Publication frequency irregular

archive.org

 

[four.cycle]

I think I will go buy some of that stuff. I don't think I need to worry about removing Japan finishes....


1916 Grasp-it Screwdriver ad

thanks RTM.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

F. Lewald & Co of Chicago.

That and the date should help with the patent.

 

[RTM]

Neither helping me much so far, nothing in that era for Lewald, so wondering if he bought the patent. I saw a Coburn selling his patent, but it’s the wrong one.

 

[four.cycle]

1913 Clothier and Furnisher pp 135 F. Lewald & Co. ad


1916 Hardware and Metal pp 36

(* This particular compilation of "Clothier and Furnisher" features several large ads for Lewald's products, most of which are clothes hangers, as shown in the advertisement above.*)

Lewald / F. Lewald Co., 200-206 W. Adams, Chicago, IL / "Grasp-It" screwdriver / patent 1212743 Jan 16 1917 John W. Cowell / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/grasp-it-screwdriver.402461/ /

(* edited 12/29/22 08:47 PST *)

 

[RTM]

Earlier (1881) , F Lewald & Co was listed as a jewelry wholesaler. I think marketer may be the best term for them.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I think I may have found the patent. Cowell / 1,212,743 / granted Jan. 16, 1917. It was submitted on Jan. 14, 1916, which jibes with the GRASP-IT being advertised in 1916 marked PAT APLD FOR. There were two (2) screw-holders patented in 1916 (Eckman-1,178,141; Doubt-1,206,097) and three (3) in 1917 (Haufe-1,240,138; Royer-1,231,792; and Cowell), and Cowell's is clearly the best match.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Not nearly as old or as large and complicated as my ca. 1902 "Campbell" screw-holder, shown in this thread here, and also in the Screwstarters/Screwholders thread [see A-Z Index in Sticky), but it's interesting to see the progression, and so many probably failed attempts.

 

[RTM]

And let’s add a famous phrase Not in DATAMP, for finding it later. Nice work

 

[Private Lugnutz]

And let’s add a famous phrase Not in DATAMP, for finding it later.

Feel free to use my photos or I can take better ones if needed.

Nice work

Nice teamwork. Finding the patent number for an item that doesn't have one marked on it is fairly easy and straightforward in the Alphabetical List of Inventions section of the annual reports, but you need a year or at least a narrow range. If not, it's drudgery.

 

[four.cycle]

wow! thanks!
so... we still don't know the WHO or WHERE on the Campbell though, right?

Campbell / Campbell / screw starter / patent 703638 Jul 1 1902 John D. Campbell and Judson K. Gunn / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/spiral-ratchet-screwdrivers.391288/page-2#post-8652573 /

^ that thing is really quite a piece of work. first time I've seen that one.

Lewald / F. Lewald Co., 200-206 W. Adams, Chicago, IL / "Grasp-It" screwdriver / patent 1212743 Jan 16 1917 John W. Cowell / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/grasp-it-screwdriver.402461/ /

photos from the ebay listing for reference. shows the construction at the business end of the thing, which certainly looks like the gizmo in the patent drawings that Private Lugnutz found:

 

[Private Lugnutz]

wow! thanks!
so... we still don't know the WHO or WHERE on the Campbell though, right?

Assuming you mean who made it and where it was made, no. I have surmised, based only and completely on my example being found on a "YANKEE" driver and the proximity of Mssrs Campbell (Philly) and Gunn (NJ), that North Brothers was making them in Philly. But that is complete conjecture. North Brothers were advertising a completely different screw holder in 1910, so it may have been a short-lived relationship. If we're going to discuss "The Cambell Driver" further, I'd suggest the generic screw-starter/screw-holder thread, though.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Agreed, fully. That's the first time I've even seen that thread, btw - I'm always amazed at the amount of stuff I miss here. If I stumble across something on the Campbell I'll post it in that other thread. I was actually trying to focus on some entirely different stuff.

 

[Dotcomdz]

This is the only place Google showed. Since it was interesting to everyone, I figured I would share. I found one in a toolbox I bought Its actually in quite excellent shape just needs a light cleaning.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Hey! Nice find! That's only the second I have ever seen.

 

[four.cycle]

excellent find, Dotcomdz! welcome to the site!

 

[Dotcomdz]

Thank you for the welcome, I mostly buid/rebuild garden tractors and small engines but love estate sales and that was in an upright 6 drawer full of old tools I got at one.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Thank you for the welcome, I mostly buid/rebuild garden tractors and small engines but love estate sales and that was in an upright 6 drawer full of old tools I got at one.

Same page with old tractors and engines and old tool finds. This is your birth here. Have fun. And welcome. I am also new.

 

[pindiana]

Just found this cleaning out my grandfather’s tool box.

 

[Nutria]

Just found this cleaning out my grandfather’s tool box.

Very nice, and welcome to GJ.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Just found this cleaning out my grandfather’s tool box.

Cool! He obviously took good care of his tools, and, that's only the fourth example on the thread.