Palm-grip ratchet replacement screwdrivers?

[Marvin Berry]

I picked up a couple palm ratchets recently, a Walden Star ratchet (what a solid, hefty piece of metal!) and a Palm-Grip ratchet with two screwdrivers, each with a 3/8" drive hole in the base of the grip.

As you will see, my flat head has seen better days. I've searched, but have come up short. Has any other company made screwdrivers with an inlet in the base for a ratchet?

 

[Lesserstore]

I found this Century Tool Co. #3 Phillips screwdriver a while back with a 3/8 female and marked 5120-00-764-8102, which is a NSN. According to the NSN stuff I found Amalite also made them with the hole for a ratchet.

 

[RTM]

Dang it, something else I didn’t know existed. Now my Palm grip is incomplete.

 

[Marvin Berry]

Dang it, something else I didn’t know existed. Now my Palm grip is incomplete.

I know, right?

I mean really, a new screwdriver socket on an extension does the same thing, but not as cool.

Rather than looking for another screwdriver (although now I've found there were also longer screwdrivers available) can screwdriver ends be reground? Seems like a flat head would be simple enough, but I don't think I could do a Philips head.

 

[RTM]

I’ve reground many a flat head. Never tried a Phillips, tho one friend has touched one up for me.

 

[four.cycle]

So.... are you the guy who out-bid me last week on that Kip-Tuf set with the two screwdrivers?

Kipton / Kipton Industries, Kipton, OH / US Patent 2620001 Patent 2672066 / Canadian Patent CA522892 CA524280 / "Kip-Tuf" Palm-Grip ratchet /

yes, there was another company that made a product somewhat similar to the "Kip-Tuf" (where the screwdrivers are concerned):

Ratcher / ITC / Innovative Tool Corp., Houston, TX / patent 4212336 / (screwdriver) /
aka
Innovative / Innovative Tool Corp., Houston, TX / screwdriver / (see Ratcher) /

You'll notice that the "Ratcher" patent drawings show it being used with what appears to be a conventional 3/8" male square drive ratchet, which fits into the bolster end of the screwdriver.
I've only seen one of these - it was a set listed on Ebay a couple years ago. Unfortunately it appears I did not keep a screen shot.
The kit was enclosed in a black plastic blow-mold case, and contained the ratchet and a few of the "Ratcher" screwdrivers. The datamp.org page on the patent shows both a snip from the patent documents as well as a specimen. The complete kit (which was in cherry condition) sold for only about $30 bucks.

 

[four.cycle]

As an aside:
Walden Worcester made a 3/8" drive "spinner" handle that had a 3/8" female square drive in the bolster end, that could be modified and made into a slotted screwdriver, but it would be a waste of a perfectly good oddball Walden item.

 

[Marvin Berry]

Yup, that was me, sorry! I had received the Walden first, and almost didn't bid, but I really wanted those screwdrivers.

 

[four.cycle]

NOT a big deal. I only placed a bid on them because it was such an oddball package, and that was the first time I'd ever seen any of the screwdrivers. The "Kip-Tuf" palm ratchets (aka "Palm-Grip"), as well as that Walden Worcester model, make somewhat frequent appearances on Ebay, but the screwdriver attachments were intriguing. The seller said that they had "Kip-Tuf" stamped on the handles, as I recall.
No apologies necessary. There are a few of us here who communicate with each other about Ebay items so that we're not bidding against each other. Sorry my "max bid" caused it to cost you so much!

And that sort of thing is really far outside the focus of my "collection" (such as it is.)

And welcome to the site.

It would help both you and us if your location was in your profile there below your avatar so we know where you are.

edit:
I'm taking the liberty of posting the photo images from the original Ebay listing here for those GJ members who own one of those Kipton "Palm-Grip" ratchets who (like me) never had any idea they originally came with screwdrivers:

 

[Marvin Berry]

May not have been the same auction, my screwdrivers are only marked
PALM GRIP KR-3 (on the Phillips)
PALM GRIP 56-R (on the flathead)

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

little different style

 

[four.cycle]

May not have been the same auction, my screwdrivers are only marked PALM GRIP KR-3 (on the Phillips) PALM GRIP 56-R (on the flathead)

Same auction. I got my wires crossed there with the "Kip Tuf"/"Palm Grip" thing.

My "max bids" are generally current bid X 2.5, which is why it was so high.

 

[Marvin Berry]

I like that set up, but what I found when I compare the Walden to the Palm Grip driver, is that you can't really push down with much force without knocking the driver out of gear on the Walden. Palm Grip doesn't have that issue.

 

[Mintgrun]

Has any other company made screwdrivers with an inlet in the base for a ratchet?

I've got three other brands.

AMALITE, IVY TOOL CO U.S.A. and J&H U.S.A.


Tom

 

[RTM]

I just picked Great Neck 1/4”, but essentially a speeder with a female socket. Didn’t see the great neck tag til today.

 

[Marvin Berry]

I stumbled across an auction for one Phillips #3 screwdriver with the 3/8" opening for $8. It arrived in NOS condition. I'll probably file the point flatter on the older Phillips head in the pic.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Wow that's a lucky find!

 

[Marvin Berry]

Someone on eBay has some NOS flat head Palm Grip screwdrivers for sale, I made sure I grabbed one:

New Palm-Grip Flat Head Screwdriver 3/8"-drive 66-R Vintage NOS | eBay

Flat/slotted head, with 3/8"-drive female end to accept ratchet/breaker bar/etc.

www.ebay.com

 

[kring]

any info on this one?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

May have been a bridgeport sub brand

 

[four.cycle]

Hercules / (see Bonney) /

Hercules / (see Bridgeport Hardware) /

Hercules / (wrench see Capitol Mfg. Co.) /

Hercules / (screw plates, taps, dies see Greenfield Tap & Die) /

Hercules / (see Tuck Mfg. Co.) /

Hercules / Hercules Tool Corp., 4812 S.W. 81st St., Miami FL /

if those were all the options, I'd go with Bridgeport as the most likely culprit.

 

[four.cycle]

International Tool Catalog Library is your friend

 

[four.cycle]

December 1954 Popular Science pp 170 - Kipton Industries "Kip-Tuf" "Palm-Grip" Ratchet Screwdriver introduced in "New Tools" section

The screen shots are from an ebay listing. These are quite difference in appearance from those shown above with the yellow handles and plated-and-polished ratchet.
(After finally digging up some information about a month ago on "Century", I'd posit that "Century Tool Co." (Penndel, PA) was probably outsourcing them from Kipton.)

 

[RubiconJK]

In looking through this thread I didn't see anyone mention that Kipton also sold nut drivers with their Palm-Grip ratchets. I don't have any of the screwdrivers, but have a 1/4" ND 8, a 5/16" ND 10 and a 7/16" ND 14 nut driver in my set.

 

[bonneyman]

Many years ago I snagged a plastic palm driver (my first one) but the novelty quickly faded.

 

[four.cycle]

1954 Hardware Age Kipton Industries ad pp 84