Picked this up today as a throw-in at the flea. Expect to see Yankee or Millers Falls or something along those lines with the wood handle, brass ferrule, and distinctive reverse switch but has a Williamsesque W mark and 3/8 drive socket end instead of a screwdriver so I'm curious. No other markings, so not even sure if USA.....Little help?
ID cool old vintage socket driver
- Thread starter MR.X
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Oldtuleguy
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Probably made for williams by yankee or someone. Very cool.
Thanks. probably should have put Williams and Yankee in the title to at least get some more eyeballs on this. Is there an emoji for a tumbleweed rolling by I can use?....... or maybe crickets?
Rileysan
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ganymede
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That Williams W looks like it could be a Mossberg M.
Private Lugnutz
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Of course I'm familiar with both Mossberg and Williams and yes, as you noted I put the "esque" in there. However between those two companies , IMO, it's closer to the Williams mark and it's oriented in a way that would suggest to me a 'W'. Anyway, we know, logos often get tweaked in contract situations so not ruling anything out based on that.It's not really characteristic of either, oddly. The Mossberg M had serifs on the feet and the corners of the M. The Williams logo didn't have any serifs. MR. X did caveat with the "-esque."
EDIT: Adding as a handy reference...
BTW Lugz, that comparison photo array is pretty sharp.
Private Lugnutz
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I agree, it does look more like a "W", (and, moreover, I think it is oriented on the tool for it be read like a "W"), and it is possible that an OEM could've bungled the Williams logo. (How long would that have lasted though?) I don't think the serifs rule Williams out. I do think the serifs, along with no 'U.S.A.' marking (as you already noted), and no previous record of this tool as a Williams tool in this era (I think it would be 30's or 40's) put the heavy onus on finding other substantiating evidence, though. It's an interesting case. And it would be an interesting case even without any logo, because a ratcheting spinner is unusual to begin with. I have one somewhere. Later than this, though. I don't think it had a wooden handle. I'll try to find it.
Private Lugnutz
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I spent a good hour going through various sources and references on this, X. I tried ratcheting socket drive spinners (not much out there), ratcheting driver patents, old trademarks, and all obscure companies starting with "W". Not even a bite.
Kind of makes you wonder what the rest of the set looked like, though, right? I can't see investing that much work into a solo drive tool, can you? I bet it was as handsome as the spinner!
Kind of makes you wonder what the rest of the set looked like, though, right? I can't see investing that much work into a solo drive tool, can you? I bet it was as handsome as the spinner!
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
No. See posts #1 and #10.