Let's show our wood (screwdrivers)

[JjKk40]

Posted these in the Bonney thread but going to post them here. Found these Phillips and flat heads a few weeks back!

 

[d42jeep]

I spotted this NOS wartime ink marked Irwin extra heavy duty screwdriver on eBay and was lucky enough to win the auction. It replaces a slightly used one in my keeper MVMTS. The first four eBay photos clearly show how Irwin finished these by dipping the finished screwdriver in shellac.
-Don

Here it is with the one it replaced
With the other ink marked Irwins in the set
Back in the MVMTS

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Looks like a step in the process got skipped on that one. Very cool Don!

 

[d42jeep]

These ink marked Irwin screwdrivers with 3” blades arrived yesterday.
-Don

 

[txlonghorn1989]

I picked up quite a few screwdrivers at an estate sale on Sat. After getting home with my haul I noticed the set of Bridgestone phillips drivers No 4 (large) thru No 1 (small). All marked Lic 7 on the shaft. A Stanley marked with "Lic " but no number after that but two patent #s different than the Bridgestone patent. Below the Stanley phillips is a Reed-Prince phillips. Above the phillips drivers is a 23" flat screwdriver which looks old to me but is unmarked. In pic 2, a perfect handle screwdriver which is stamped on the shaft but at an angle. It is difficult to read but appears to be 3-line banner with "The H______ Co" followed by "Pat______". The 2nd banner underneath the 1st has "Perfect Handle ___" and I cannot read what is stamped in the 3rd banner. I'm sure someone here recognizes that description. Yes? If so please share the maker. Below the PH driver is a Stanley, followed by 4 unmarked as far as maker goes and finishing up with my first wooden Proto driver, a phillips.

 

[Tostal]

Not much to offer, but I found this old (probably pre 1960's?) stubby - the only marking that I can find on it is 'Made in the USA'. Can anyone identify the maker?

~Tostal

 

[RTM]

In pic 2, a perfect handle screwdriver which is stamped on the shaft but at an angle. It is difficult to read but appears to be 3-line banner with "The H______ Co" followed by "Pat______". The 2nd banner underneath the 1st has "Perfect Handle ___" and I cannot read what is stamped in the 3rd banner.

H.D. Smith Company, Plantsville, CT

Hard to believe there’s not a thread dedicated to the history and tools of H.D. Smith (est. 1855 in Plantsville, Conn.) here on GJ (woody must be slacking…, or I just couldn't find it!) :) I'm not going to repeat publically available information. Alloy Artifacts has a short summary, and some...

www.garagejournal.com

HD Smith Perfect Handle, the originators.

 

[d42jeep]

I picked up quite a few screwdrivers at an estate sale on Sat. After getting home with my haul I noticed the set of Bridgestone phillips drivers No 4 (large) thru No 1 (small). All marked Lic 7 on the shaft. A Stanley marked with "Lic " but no number after that but two patent #s different than the Bridgestone patent. Below the Stanley phillips is a Reed-Prince phillips. Above the phillips drivers is a 23" flat screwdriver which looks old to me but is unmarked. In pic 2, a perfect handle screwdriver which is stamped on the shaft but at an angle. It is difficult to read but appears to be 3-line banner with "The H______ Co" followed by "Pat______". The 2nd banner underneath the 1st has "Perfect Handle ___" and I cannot read what is stamped in the 3rd banner. I'm sure someone here recognizes that description. Yes? If so please share the maker. Below the PH driver is a Stanley, followed by 4 unmarked as far as maker goes and finishing up with my first wooden Proto driver, a phillips.

I posted pictures of the Smith Perfect Handle screwdriver I found in November in post 238.
-Don

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Thanks RTM & Don! HD Smith Co. I'd like to know how they rolled that stamp on to the shaft at an angle.

 

[d42jeep]

I just can’t resist these wartime NOS ink marked Irwin screwdrivers when I see them on eBay. Here is another one. This one will no doubt end up in my GMTK.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

These Reed & Prince cross-recess screwdrivers just keep following me home. I posted one previously (Page 6, Post #232) last October. Unlike that one, you can barely make out any of the inked 'hardware' markings on the flutes. The logo on the shank (see Pic 2) and the branding on the ferrule (see Pic 3) is the same. But this one is longer with a larger shank and tip, which is in excellent condition (see Pic 4). Group shot in Pic 5.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

I have found two Reed & Prince in the last couple of months. Nice old drivers!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

They are very well made.

 

[Old Radar]

Interesting coincidence that you should post this R&P driver just now, Lugz. I passed one up yesterday that had it's Phillips tip buggered up. It did have clear inked markings, though.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I passed one up yesterday that had its Phillips tip buggered up.

*&^%$#&*@! That's what files are for!

It did have clear inked markings, though.

Cracks me up, actually. Just in case the user forgot what it's for, I guess.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found this North Brothers (pre-Stanley) "#1 POINT" Phillips at the flea this morning. It's wartime. LIC#3, which Stanley acquired when they acquired North Bros, and 1936 patent number on the ferrule. The flute above the tip size flute has the "YANKEE" model number, but it's illegible.

 

[Ton ton]

Sweet find, private lugnutz.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thank you, sir. I have a number of vintage #2 and #3 tip Phillips drivers, but I don't see too many #1's. Did you notice the COO marking? "MADE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". Not too many mfgrs did that. The only other mfgr I can think of off the top of my head was early K-D.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

That's a really nice old screwdriver Lugz! Now, I've gotta go back over to the GS thread with a short message.

 

[MisterEd]

A Wood Handle Stubby; 2046838 & 2048840

 

[Ton ton]

Beautiful, Mr Ed.

 

[MisterEd]

Beautiful, Mr Ed.

Thanks, it is. SigO found it, as usual. She has an eye for such things.

 

[d42jeep]

My wife is great at spotting desirable vintage tools at estate sales as well. At this point, we are a well oiled team.
Here are some recent pictures of perfect handle screwdrivers I took while going through my tools.
First up are some wartime ink marked Irwins.

Next is a screwdriver with an early government “taxi” marking on the shaft.
A couple of Smith & Company screwdrivers, They were the original manufacturers of perfect handle screwdrivers.
An otherwise unmarked screwdriver with a faint US stamped on the shaft
Early Irwins with decals
Tobrin screwdrivers
Shorter unmarked screwdrivers, likely Irwins.

 

[d42jeep]

Finally a highly polished shaft marked postwar Irwin I received as a gift.
-Don

 

[MisterEd]

My wife is great at spotting desirable vintage tools at estate sales as well.

It's a good thing when the person in charge embraces old, rusty and crusty . . . like us.

 

[Mintgrun]

I picked out a few screwdrivers yesterday and when I got to the counter, he said "screwdrivers are all $.25 today." so I decided to dump the big bin into another one, to see what was at the bottom and wound up buying seven more.

The little Bridgeport Matchless is the nicest one of the bunch, but the little ribbed handled one is cute too. I think that one may have come with a tap/die set originally. The same may be true for the other little black handled example I already owned.





I also found another Androck screwdriver, which brings the total to threee.



Tangent -- Here's an Androck Bakelite Bullet-handled spoon that I found yesterday as well. It has a similar flare where the shank meets the handle.





I grabbed another MAC screwdriver and noticed in has one more row of notches. I'm going to guess it is slightly newer.



Plus, another PLVMB example.



Here's the group shot, including an unmarked one that needs a lot of cleanup.



I coulda shoulda maybe bought a few more for that price, but I'm trying to be selective.

Tom

 

[DanB_NY]

not sure if it's been done but I've been wanting to learn more about my little collection of vintage wood handled screwdrivers.

post up yours, or add comments if you can identify some of the odd features.

i'll go first and post individually.

I also have an affection for 'woodies.' Based on geography and history, I tend to gravitate towards Ct-made tools (raised in Ct, where my grandfather ran a small-town hardware store). The pictures below show:

Phillips #4: unk., #3: Stanley, #2: marked Lic. #1, Bridgeport(?), #1 Bridgeport, Stanley, Stubbys: Stanley 2712, Western Auto 1375 (#1), #0 - (2) homemade

Flat
Backrow - 2 Stanley Hurwoods, a Bridgeport Yellow Crown, square-shank Vlchek, but the Tobrin near the end is the clear favorite

Front: the tiny red-top is (I believe) a Harpco, made the stubby from a hex bit, the blond-wood shorty is a 'Whale' while the Hurwoods on the end flank a Stanley Yankee 4595 1" blade

Perfect-Handles: a German-made, a Garret Wade (Chinese) with new handles, an Irwin followed by a 'United'(?), a Lenox #3, a JJ Ryan and a tiny German one

The Lenox and Ryan (and Tobrin) all have direct connection to Plantsville, Ct, it appearing that when Smith was dissolved, the tooling and employees went independent

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Finally a highly polished shaft marked postwar Irwin I received as a gift.
-Don

Don Am I understanding you right that these came polished like this new during the war? Interesting.

 

[d42jeep]

No, it is a postwar polished screwdriver with Irwin stamped on the shaft. The wartime Irwin perfect handle screwdrivers were ink stamped on the handles and the finishes on the shafts were not particularly smooth.
-Don

 

[txlonghorn1989]

It's right there in your comment "postwar" AND in my reply!!! Oh, the joys of getting old. But still better than the alternative.

 

[d42jeep]

I found this rusty unmarked handle at an estate sale yesterday. I carefully dipped the metal portion in the evaporust overnight while keeping the wooden handle above the surface. After the cleanup, I pulled a few Yankee screwdriver bits out of their drawer and they were a perfect fit.
-Don
.

 

[WilsonLR]

The tip of this North Brothers Yankee #90 has not seen screwdriver duty for a long time. How would you bring the tip back to shape?

 

[kwigly]

The tip of this North Brothers Yankee #90 has not seen screwdriver duty for a long time. How would you bring the tip back to shape?

I just use my 6" bench grinder, coarse wheel; grind the tip square, then grind the faces to get the desired tip thickness. You don't want to overheat the steel and lose its temper, so I have a cup of water handy and frequently dip the tip to keep it cool. [same basic procedure to prepare old chisels and plane blades ready for final sharpening]

 

[RTM]

The tip of this North Brothers Yankee #90 has not seen screwdriver duty for a long time.

Looks like on my dad used to use for weeding.

I would do as kwigly said, but go real slow, cuz I tend to burn tips real easy.

You could go custom and make a parallel grind on the tip. In 30 years people will go bat$hit trying to find that in a catalog.

 

[Leviton]

The tip of this North Brothers Yankee #90 has not seen screwdriver duty for a long time. How would you bring the tip back to shape?

I just use my 6" bench grinder, coarse wheel; grind the tip square, then grind the faces to get the desired tip thickness. You don't want to overheat the steel and lose its temper, so I have a cup of water handy and frequently dip the tip to keep it cool. [same basic procedure to prepare old chisels and plane blades ready for final sharpening]

I agree with kwigly. Although I like to use a hand crank grinder so I can grind at a slower speed.

Also, if you care about this screwdriver, and haven't done this before, I'd suggest practicing on a crappy screwdriver that you don't care about first.

 

[Leviton]

You could go custom and make a parallel grind on the tip. In 30 years people will go bat$hit trying to find that in a catalog.

You're just mean.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I would go at it with a file, having learned that lesson the hard way previously.

Don that screwdriver handle in post #271 looks like it could possibly be Walden?

 

[d42jeep]

Don that screwdriver handle in post #271 looks like it could possibly be Walden?

It kind of does, doesn’t it? I have a Walden one. The ferrule looks a bit different but the handle shape looks the same. Here are a few comparison pictures.
-Don

 

[WilsonLR]

Looks like on my dad used to use for weeding.

I would do as kwigly said, but go real slow, cuz I tend to burn tips real easy.

You could go custom and make a parallel grind on the tip. In 30 years people will go bat$hit trying to find that in a catalog.

Thanks all. This driver was in a bunch of tools I bought from grandfather back in the 80's. But back then I suffered from a severe case of young and stupid-itis so it was relegated to paint can and wife-needs-a-screwdriver duty. As per the video below and 40 years of wising up, I now appreciate the thing. I don't have a grinder but a Worksharp 2000. I'll go real slow.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Don, I think that unit is Walden. I have a set of those "interchangeable" screwdriver bits and driver in a Walden package (vinyl roll-up kit), but I think mine is newer than yours. The end of the bits - where they insert into the handle - look VERY familiar.
My set's out in the garage somewhere in the mess.