Robertson Screwdrivers

[caper]

I haven't seen a genuine Robertson screwdriver for sale anywhere in quite some time.Most screwdriver manufacturers make some version of it but they never fit quite as well as the real deal.Well I was on the Snap on truck today and apparently Snap on sells the real deal now.He had complete sets of genuine Robertson screwdrivers for $22 for a set of 6 drivers.I'm not overly impressed with the cheaper handles but the tips look to be the same quality I remember from years ago.Finally,that POS Klein #2 driver can go in the trash where it belongs.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I have visions of..

Handle transplans..

 

[caper]

That may be an option Moose!I like the way you think.I'll have to dig up a set of red,green and black handles

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Why the 3 colours? Are there 3 types of tip, i thought they were all square? (Or am i missing something?)

Use your inside link for some replacement hard handles.

 

[The Muffin Man]

Why the 3 colours? Are there 3 types of tip, i thought they were all square? (Or am i missing something?)

For each size (R# 1-3)

Nice score Caper.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

For each size (R# 1-3)

Nice score Caper.

Oooooooh.. i see how it works now. 3 sizes, a big/small handle, short/long shank for each length. Thanks.

 

[caper]

#0 is yellow,#1 is green,#2 is red and #3 is black.Easy to identify the sizes in your toolbox.I beleive they designed it for electrical work.The Robertson system of coloring the handles made it easy for electricians to tell which driver to pull out of their toolbelt without having to look at the tip.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

#0 is yellow,#1 is green,#2 is red and #3 is black.Easy to identify the sizes in your toolbox.I beleive they designed it for electrical work.The Robertson system of coloring the handles made it easy for electricians to tell which driver to pull out of their toolbelt without having to look at the tip.

A wise man, ol' Robertson. Kind of a shame he declined Henry Ford's offer at the time of the Model T.

 

[StupidHippie]

Nice screwdrivers Caper!!! The real ones are much better than the knock-offs.

Just an FYI: Lee Valley Tools sells genuine Robertson bits in a set at a reasonable price.... http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=58256

NFI, but they are my favorite store.

 

[Diablo]

Idea puts those in with there starter tool kits i believe, i think ive seen them at canadian tire too.

 

[caper]

Can't remember seeing a decent screwdriver in Canadian tire in the last ten years.When they stopped selling the made in Canada hard handled screwdrivers I stopped buying screwdrivers there.I have a few broken ones I won't even take in for warranty because the ones they sell now are so bad.

 

[StupidHippie]

Caper...did the truck have a bigger set of drivers? I use the #0/Yellow driver frequently and i'm tired of hand filing #0 Craftsman drivers to fit properly.

 

[caper]

Nope this was all he had.I think I have an old #0 somewhere though.I'll have a look this weekend,I haven't used it in years.

 

[Diablo]

Can't remember seeing a decent screwdriver in Canadian tire in the last ten years.When they stopped selling the made in Canada hard handled screwdrivers I stopped buying screwdrivers there.I have a few broken ones I won't even take in for warranty because the ones they sell now are so bad.

It kinda looked like a one time thing but they were definatly the same as those,

 

[StupidHippie]

Hey Caper....did you see 'imported for' on the box? It looks like they are manufacturing in Zhejiang China. I suspect P.L. Robertson is rolling in his grave.

http://www.robertsonscrew.com/company.html

I'll try to dig up a pic of some cool early 'made in Canada' Robertson screwdrivers.

 

[StupidHippie]

Here's a few early Robertson Drivers...most marked with the 1933 patent info. The nifty multi-bit driver is inscribed: "Tool Division P L Robertson Mfg Co, Milton On Canada, Price $1.50 Refills .50 Worlds Pat Pend" The price was originally $1.00, the 5 was overstamped on the first 0.

 

[caper]

Hey Caper....did you see 'imported for' on the box? It looks like they are manufacturing in Zhejiang China. I suspect P.L. Robertson is rolling in his grave.

http://www.robertsonscrew.com/company.html

I'll try to dig up a pic of some cool early 'made in Canada' Robertson screwdrivers.

By the feel of the handles that part is china but the box also states "our made in Canada shanks".They have a factory in Quebec that makes the shanks and their china factory makes the handles.Looking at the shanks,they appear the same as ones I had 20yrs ago.

 

[StupidHippie]

By the feel of the handles that part is china but the box also states "our made in Canada shanks".They have a factory in Quebec that makes the shanks and their china factory makes the handles.Looking at the shanks,they appear the same as ones I had 20yrs ago.

That would be really cool...I'd hate to think we were selling out our 'square recess technology'

Didn't mean to slight your new tools, I was just shocked...Rob

 

[caper]

Hell I don't slight easy and at 6 screwdrivers for $24 taxes in I'm not expecting them to be Snap on quality.I'm just impressed that after all these years Robertson is still plugging away and making a somewhat decent product at a very reasonable price.I was starting to think they were long gone and forgotten.

 

[lbgradwell]

#0 is yellow,#1 is green,#2 is red and #3 is black.

#2 followed by #1 are by far the most commonly used...

 

[lbgradwell]

A wise man, ol' Robertson. Kind of a shame he declined Henry Ford's offer at the time of the Model T.

Perhaps not so wise!

 

[Tool Pants]

I have one.

 

[car99r]

OK OK, I am new to the entire tool scene. I am no mechanic just do hobby work on motorcycles and sometimes work for others.

Here lately I kind of got into collecting the older Craftsman and the older motorcycle hand tools.

Now you guys go and make this post...lol My last name is Robertson but don't think I am any relation of course but that box is cool as hell and would love to find some of the older stuff. Never knew there was such a thing as Robertson tools???

First question is for the OP, Interested in buying another set of those with that box from your Snap-On guy and shipping them for me?... Seriously interested and I don't work in a shop so never see a rep.

Second question for anyone: Where can I find more info about the older tools so I can keep an eye out for them at sales and such?

 

[caper]

Toolpants,the one in the top of your pic is the style I've used and loved for years.That grip style was sold at Canadian Tire up here with every tip imaginable,phillips,flat,torx.Made in Canada and great drivers.If you look at the shank in that style and the new ones I bought they look the same.

 

[DaMaN]

I have visions of..

Handle transplans..

Damn Moose same thoughts here!

 

[caper]

OK OK, I am new to the entire tool scene. I am no mechanic just do hobby work on motorcycles and sometimes work for others.

Here lately I kind of got into collecting the older Craftsman and the older motorcycle hand tools.

Now you guys go and make this post...lol My last name is Robertson but don't think I am any relation of course but that box is cool as hell and would love to find some of the older stuff. Never knew there was such a thing as Robertson tools???

First question is for the OP, Interested in buying another set of those with that box from your Snap-On guy and shipping them for me?... Seriously interested and I don't work in a shop so never see a rep.

Second question for anyone: Where can I find more info about the older tools so I can keep an eye out for them at sales and such?

I'd be willing to get you a set but the shipping from up here in Canada is not nice.It'd probably be as much as the drivers.

This site and alloy artifacts are two of the best resources on the web if your interested in older tools.The archives here are a great resource if you spend some time reading old posts.

 

[caper]

Wow,that bottom one is a Will isn't it?I haven't seen one of those in a long time.Great set of older drivers there.Those are the old style"Comfo grip"unbreakable handles that so many Canadian companies used for their drivers.I have them by Mastercraft,Gray and BenchMark.They were changed a bit later on and made slightly bigger and rounder.Mastercraft continued with the evoloution of that handle till sometime in the nineties.After that they went to the current soft mushy junk they have now that disintegrates after they get oily,the shafts start spinning in the handles.I have some pics somewhere of some I'll see if I can find them.

 

[caper]

Here's a group of that handle style showing the evoloution from the early seventies handle style to mid seventies update to mid eighties and early nineties.There are several different tool companies shown here but the handles are all made by the same company to my knowledge.

 

[car99r]

I'd be willing to get you a set but the shipping from up here in Canada is not nice.It'd probably be as much as the drivers.

This site and alloy artifacts are two of the best resources on the web if your interested in older tools.The archives here are a great resource if you spend some time reading old posts.

Can any of you guys who see your tool rep often get these in the states too?

If not I might be willing to pay the shipping from Canada. If you would be interestedi n finding out how much it would be for me?

 

[caper]

The Snap on part number on the box is ROBPACK6X.Perhaps you could get Chadster or MrShaun to check and see if it's a good number in their system.It doesn't work on Snapon.com.

Most shipping from up here is expensive.I sent letter expresspost this week to Ontario,about halfway across the country,and it was $14.That was for 2 day delivery on a regular envelope.Sent a small envelope to Justinmc and it went regular mail to the states for $2.85.Parcels Stateside run anywhere from around $14-30,for slowest shipping by Canada Post,depending on size and weight.We don't have the flat rate system you guys benefit from down there.

 

[car99r]

The Snap on part number on the box is ROBPACK6X.Perhaps you could get Chadster or MrShaun to check and see if it's a good number in their system.It doesn't work on Snapon.com.

Most shipping from up here is expensive.I sent letter expresspost this week to Ontario,about halfway across the country,and it was $14.That was for 2 day delivery on a regular envelope.Sent a small envelope to Justinmc and it went regular mail to the states for $2.85.Parcels Stateside run anywhere from around $14-30,for slowest shipping by Canada Post,depending on size and weight.We don't have the flat rate system you guys benefit from down there.

Thank you. I will send them a PM and see if they can get it and would be willing to ship.

 

[Da Bull]

I found these on the Home Depot site. They are mail order only. They were $10.99, plus shipping. They feel very well made.

 

[Mickey O]

Here's another one, I seem to remember this one driver fitting two sizes (maybe tapered or something), don't remember.

 

[car99r]

I found these on the Home Depot site. They are mail order only. They were $10.99, plus shipping. They feel very well made.

Thank you. Sound slike I might not have a choice but to buy a set like that. No help from any US Snap-On guys. Some don't sell out of their route and others don't show it being available. I really wanted the other set because of the vintage looking box.