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Pre- Leatherman tool?

Outlawmws

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Joined
Aug 9, 2011
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39,327
Location
The Badlands
I picked up this odd little multi-blade ratcheting screwdriver A couple of weeks ago, (And missed including its pic in the "Loot" photos..)

It's only markings are "Ratchet Versatool" and the PAt. No.

I just looked it up on line, and found it's patent, which was for the multi blades, (and not the Ratcheting part at all I was surprised to see).

the assignees were Shelton Plane & Tool Manufacturing Co. - Shelton, CT, and it was listed as "Not known to have been produced"! :wtf: Gee what do I have in my hand? a Prototype?


http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?pn=2662568&id=40330


it was Applied (for): Jul. 15, 1949 and Granted: Dec. 15, 1953 so that sort of dates it, but not really...

I did find an Eprey listing for them and one had the original box from Shelton, so it was manufactured.

I wasn't too impressed with the ratcheting mechanism, until I got a couple of drops of WD-40 inside to loosen the probably 50 year old gunk inside up. now it works clean and crisp, and I even discovered you can put it in the center position to lock it up.

The blade selector slides out, you swing the one you want out, and slide it back inside, sheathing the unused blades (Or all of them).

All in all an interesting little gizmo. Anyone else have one? and maybe know what time span they made them?


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SCscoutguy

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Feb 23, 2010
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2,229
Location
South Carolina
Yea a bunch of people here have them and you see them in the classifieds from time to time. They were used a good bit back in the day as promotional giveaways and they would have a companies name printed on them. I have one that says Ford Mo Co. on it and another that has AAA on it. I see them all the time at yard sales and flea markets.
 
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DrunkSmurf

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Joined
Mar 12, 2011
Messages
181
Location
NorCal
I had one maybe 35yrs ago as a teen that I kept in a dirt bike kit bag, but I don't remember any markings or where I even acquired it.
It was most likely something my Dad had laying around gathering dust. I remember it working decent enough though, and now you have me wondering what ever happened to it...lol
 

xwarp

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Joined
Oct 15, 2011
Messages
165
i picked up one of those from a local junk shop for a quarter a couple of weeks ago.

latest patent for that design is from '72.
 
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