Screw starters...

[RTM]

I recently shared this tool board find in the Bonney thread. I don't have any of their screw starters that fit the board, but decided to hang up my off-brand collection.

I have at least one Bonney in the generic shape. If that meets a need, holler.

Screw starters...

First up: 262 - SUREGRIP; BRIDGEPORT U.S.A. This is the only Philips screw starter I have...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I hate to step on this thread because I am intrigued with where he is going with his displayed boards. But I have this which I think it is a screw starter? I tried to hunt the number P 31347 down with no luck. Anyone have an idea? I do have the small Mac D-2 which I only use for the magnet. Thanks.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I am still without luck to identify this screw holder. The numbers I believe are part numbers. I found another pressed steel 3/8 nut driver with no markings. I believe they are both the same company. Anyone see anything with this design? Thanks.

 

[d42jeep]

The shafts have been inserted into universal file handles. They are unlikely to be related.
-Don

 

[RTM]

Here are a couple of new ones from a recent auction lot. First up is a new to the thread one, though of course the company is already in four cycles list of mfgrs. This is a Grip Point Pat’d marked tool, and the list puts it as made by

Stromberg / Stromberg Motoscope, 2703 Belmont, Chicago, IL / "Grip Point" screwdriver /

This one works similar to many, twisting the center of the flat bit, but works by pushing or pulling the knob on the shaft. You can see the center bit in the detailed pic, but a bear to get that in focus in the screen while trying to hold it in the gripping position.

Released about 1937, still searching for the patent, it wasnt listed under Stromberg at DATAMP. More later in this space if I find it.

What do you think about this one, kinda sounds like it, about the right age. More later.

https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/e1/32/94/0fe95211a775a9/US2013826.pdf

Okay, I think this one is it, has the same lever as shown in the magazine above.

US2161095A - Screw driver - Google Patents

patents.google.com

 

[RTM]

Here is the rest of the haul, three screwdrivers labeled Coast to Coast and Screw Holder, the big pair are 300-9362 Flat Head, 300-9388, Phillips, and the skinny one, missing the holder, is 300-9354, which doesn’t come up in a quick search.

Pretty much standard screw starters, Coast to Coast was a hardware chain .

 

[d42jeep]

Here are a couple with plastic handles, one marked Fairmount.
Some recent Quick Wedge additions. I guess I need to do a group shot of the Quick Wedge examples
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

No worthwhile sales on this rainy day so I decided to take some pictures of my plastic handled screw starters. I didn’t realize that I had collected so many.
First the Quick Wedge
Here are the Hold-E-Zee. One is missing the screw holder
I went through the Vaco drawer and pulled out the screw starters.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is one I missed because it was in with the Craftsman stuff. A Long C screw starter.
-Don

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Here is my Long C one, mine always look dark red instead of amber.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found only my second Crafty in the wild with the "2292657" (1942, Priest) patented volute spring type holder, assigned to Parker Wire Goods Co. My first had a Heritage logo, posted upthread. This one is that Geometric C alternative to the Long C during the later Long C era.

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

I have one too!

 

[thefraze_1020]

Here is the rest of the haul, three screwdrivers labeled Coast to Coast and Screw Holder, the big pair are 300-9362 Flat Head, 300-9388, Phillips, and the skinny one, missing the holder, is 300-9354, which doesn’t come up in a quick search.

Pretty much standard screw starters, Coast to Coast was a hardware chain .

Those look like rebranded Fuller screwdrivers, which is interesting because I have a "Quality" driver that looks like a Stanley, a "Thrifty" and a "Harvester" that appear to be made by Oxwall.

 

[d42jeep]

The screw starter I found at yesterday’s estate sale is a little different than my others. Other than a faint stamping of the patent number there is no indication of who manufactured it. It is quite small in diameter and plain steel rather than plated or aluminum like most others I’ve seen. I wonder if it may have been manufactured by the inventor?
-Don

 

[RTM]

I wonder if it may have been manufactured by the inventor

Or by one of the other makers, to sell to 3rd parties.

 

[four.cycle]

Aircraft Specialties in Lapeer most likely.
He made those for everybody.
Also made those "flexo" jobs you used to adjust Quadrajets with. (2820 Indestro)

Aircraft / Aircraft Specialties Inc., Lapeer, MI / originally of Philadelphia, PA, moved to Lapeer, MI 1938 by Otto Shaw, acquired by Shaw Enterprises/SE Tools 1995 / see SE Tools / patent 2124757 Jul 26 1938 William Vaughan & 2150184 Mar 14 1939 George F. Pearson & 3288184 Nov 29 1966 & 3510902 May 12 1970 & 3582123 Jun 1 1971 Smith Kyser / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/smith-kyser-pat-3-582-123.439205/ /

Became "Shaw" and then later "SE Tool"

 

[d42jeep]

The steel one looks much more like the patent drawing than my others including the Aircraft Specialties one. Some comparison pictures below.
Here is the new plain steel one again. I feel like it must have been made quite early on
And the patent drawing.
-Don

 

[RTM]

Here is something which may be new and different. Just got this in an auction lot, and it is a beast. Seriously about 12" long, and a monstrous grip size. This is a Whisler patented screw driver, March 9, 1909 patent #915003 (now in DATAMP 6/2/2024)

https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/8d/be/25/a4fbd567ec1f80/US915003.pdf

The tongue #6 that should be holding the screw slot appears to be missing, or did not make it to the final production model. Tho I can't imagine trying to turn a screw without it. Mine looks a bit different than the patent image, will need to poke around a bit. The patent shows external slots 8 to guide things, which mine does not have, so wondering if its a different critter. To the lumberyard! For further patent searches.

Edit: FOAK by name on GJ, just need to look at un named pic here. Have not found an online reference outside of USPTO references. Scary.

The PO identified it as an Automatic Screw / and or nail starter.

 

[piehammer]

.... just out of curiosity, are we keeping track of the evolution of these things?
it would appear that "common sense" model is the earliest, followed by the "grasp-it", and then the others...

one I have not seen mentioned here in this thread is the Millen Mfg. Co. of Boston and their "Jiffy-Tite" screw starter (patent 1699306)

Fresh from the swap meet - Wooden handle Millen stubby-ish screw starter. Patent from 1929, not sure how old this one is, but I'd have to assume it is pretty early.

 

[humber2]

Here is a new style to me but no maker.

Pretty much automatically twists the central wedge as the shaft is first pushed in then auto rotates to grip.

Part# is 6C9098

Pat# is 2890733

 

[four.cycle]

^ patent 2897033 Jun 16 1959 Stanley B. Valiulis

no assignee on patent, but it looks like kind of a slam-dunk on that one:

G.C. Electronics / G.C. Electronics (General Cement Mfg. Co.) / est. 1930 / patent 2897033 Jun 16 1959 Stanley B. Valiulis / https://www.rantle.com/silicon-image-inc/ / https://www.masterelectronics.com/en/suppliers/gc-electronics-253/ /

 

[grannyknot]

My American Mother in law sent me this one 30 yrs ago, slot screws haven't been such a pain ever since.

But all of these devices are compensating for a poor design, the slot, whereas the Robertson screw solved the problem in 1906.
Henry Ford wanted to buy the license from Robertson for the Model T assembly line but he also wanted to take the Robertson name off it, Robertson refused.
Now that the patents have expired they are becoming much more popular around the world but up here, for construction, only Robertson's are used.

 

[kwigly]

A different screw holder. The outer sleeve slides over the inner shaft, and a counter twist of the two knob handles grips the screw slot. (takes a bit of practice). The only marking is "S-10"

 

[Modern Garage]

So it acts like a manual version of the Ulman driver in post #3?

 

[kwigly]

So it acts like a manual version of the Ulman driver in post #3?

Yes, looks like the same action as the Ullman (post 7)

 

[humber2]

Here is a Belzeryl No9746 from Germany.

It works similar to the Ullman style.

 

[Lynden]

When I saw "screw starter" in the thread title, my first thought was my dad's Irwin #900 screw starter. Here's a video I found.

 

[RTM]

When I saw "screw starter" in the thread title, my first thought was my dad's Irwin #900 screw starter. Here's a video I found.

Several of them posted on the general side, but none him this thread till now.

Search results for query: Irwin 900

www.garagejournal.com

 

[d42jeep]

I’m up to three of the Irwin 900 screw starters. I was using one recently and the handle started spinning on the shaft. They are very useful for making pilot holes for small wood screws.
-Don

 

[humber2]

Here are a couple with plastic handles, one marked Fairmount.

-Don

I suspect the lower one is a Belzeryl decomposing to powder.

Check mine in post #106

 

[B Halverson]

Here is a couple that are laying around here that look older;

 

[four.cycle]

Here is a couple that are laying around here that look older;

^ The one on the right appears to be a "Grasp-It" model
Private Lugnutz did a full-blown write-up on his HERE.
F. Lewald Co., 200-206 W. Adams, Chicago, IL / "Grasp-It" screwdriver / patent 1212743 Jan 16 1917 John W. Cowell /

The consensus on that unit is that it is one of the earliest iterations of "screw starter".

The unit on the left is intriguing. Any marks of any sort that might identify the maker? I don't think we've seen that one before.

<edit: I just did a double-take on that one on the left. How does that unit function??>

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The consensus on that unit is that it is one of the earliest iterations of "screw starter".

I think you're forgetting and/or possibly getting the GRASP-IT conflated with the "Campbell Driver", posted on page 1 of this thread, linked here, and because it was affixed to a North Bros. "YANKEE" driver, I also posted additional photos here. It was patented in 1902.

The unit on the left is intriguing. Any marks of any sort that might identify the maker? I don't think we've seen that one before.

Yes, we have. I have a longer one with a beautiful cherry handle. It's an S.J. Cox. Long write-up with close-ups, patent diagrams, trade mag ads, etc, here.

 

[four.cycle]

^ No... I remembered there was at least one that was earlier than the "Grasp-it" - it just couldn't recall which one it was.

In the process of sorting through all of these "dump" folders, I came across this one earlier this morning. I just scrolled through all the images of this thread and I don't believe we've seen this one here yet. No idea on vintage or maker. (photos: ebay)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I just scrolled through all the images of this thread and I don't believe we've seen this one here yet. No idea on vintage or maker.

Wow. That is so complex it's bordering on contraption.

 

[four.cycle]

^ That is quite a piece of work, isn't it?
I have to assume vintage is in the same ballpark as the "Grasp-It" and other contemporaneous models.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have to assume vintage is in the same ballpark as the "Grasp-It" and other contemporaneous models.

Concur.

 

[RTM]

Hey All

Here is another Hold-E-Zee screwdriver, but hopefully I arrive bringing some new information.

This came out of the blacksmith shop cleanout back in July, where I grabbed the Duplex box, but didn't really pay attention to the contents. I was actually looking for 2 blue fork terminals for a project, and thought there might be some in here. There was, along with something else I needed. This screwdriver was unearthed while I was poking about.

Mine actually has patent numbers, or actually, one patent number, and one wrong number, kinda close to the patent number So this is an Upson Bros Hold-E-Zee TR2, little stubby thing at 4" long, 2" blade x 3/16" blade width. The sliding bit is marked with
Hold-E-Zee
Upson Bros., Inc
Rochester, N.Y.
Made in USA
Pat. 164107 (1875 era number) actually 1641307
Pat. 1791771

The patent holder is one Rudolf J Velepec, holder of 4 tool patents in DATAMP

not his, a baby carriage

US164107A - Improvement in children s carriages - Google Patents

patents.google.com

EDIT: Fourth attempt at getting the links right
4 for screwdrivers

US1641307A - Screw driver - Google Patents

patents.google.com

US1791771A - Screw driver - Google Patents

patents.google.com

US2759734A - Anchoring means for the shanks of hand tools - Google Patents

patents.google.com

US2840382A - Anchoring means for the shanks of hand tools - Google Patents

patents.google.com

Oh yeah, and some pix, or it didn't happen.

 

[d42jeep]

Found this Quick Wedge at an Oakland estate sale this morning. It needed quite a bit of cleanup.
A little cleaner

Added it to the others.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

Love that pocket starter, Don!