Screw starters...

[Mintgrun]

I used some of mine the other day. I was trying to pick a favorite.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I used some of mine the other day.

Nice that you have three (3) different original Kedman Quick-Wedges. Looks like Nos. 1253, 1732N, and 1734.

I posted one earlier, linked here, a No. 2354. I snagged another one this morning, a No. 1734. I am intrigued by the numbering scheme and wondering if it scales with the various tip sizes somehow. 1957 catalog page hosted on IA/ITCL linked here. (We've got a long way to go to have a full set! )

Also intrigued by the two little letter codes to the right of the model numbers. They are not the same. I haven't looked into further than the observation, though.

 

[Mintgrun]

I am intrigued by the numbering scheme and wondering if it scales with the various tip sizes somehow. 1957 catalog page hosted on IA/ITCL linked here. (We've got a long way to go to have a full set! )

Thank you for posting that catalog link. It says the last digit in the number represents the blade length. You inspired me to lay mine out for a photo and record the number/letter codes. I don't know what those little lower-case two-letter codes represent either.



I see two different styles of sliding sleeves. One with a tapered tip and the other style is straight. The littlest ones have round 'pushers' on the sleeves and most of the others are hexagonal, but the three on the right in this photo are pentagonal. I am guessing those might be earlier.



The number/letter codes on mine, starting at the top,
(blue) 2358 sn, 2358 dn, 2354 mc,
(green) 1834 vi, un-numbered, 1836 zi,
(pentagonal) 1836, 2354, the marbled one is only marked "Quick Wedge."

Most of them have US and Canadian patent numbers on the end of the pusher, but the un-numbered middle green one has "US patent # & Other Countries." The US and CA patent info is printed on the handles of the Pentagonal style and there's no patent info on the marbled one.

The little red ones from left to right are marked 1736 za, 1734 ih, 1732N id, 1732 ei, 1253 xi. Those have patent info on the ends like in your closeup photo.



Apparently, the handle color relates to the size. Big blue, middle green, small red. I used to run across a lot of these, but not lately. Seeing that catalog page makes me want MORE of them!

Tom

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thank you for posting that catalog link. It says the last digit in the number represents the blade length.

I saw that. I was thinking the first three digits may have been decimal inches, and it tracks with the 125xx = 1/8", but quickly falls apart after that.

You inspired me to lay mine out for a photo and record the number/letter codes.

Nice collection! I hardly ever see them.

I don't know what those little lower-case two-letter codes represent either.

I really don't have time for this, but my cryptographer's bone is tingling! We have one code ("mc") in common across all of our drivers and it appears on two different units: your No. 2354 and my No. 1734. Can't be handle mold/die. Date code? Those both have tapered push tubes and the same marking scheme. You didn't discuss that yet, but IF (and it remains a big question of IF, in my mind, at least) we're really going to accept a project to try to figure out their production timeline, akin to what has been done for Xcelite nut drivers, etc, the markings would have to be a category. We probably need a table just to start organizing data.

...but the three on the right in this photo are pentagonal. I am guessing those might be earlier.

There are seven (7) Quick-Wedge references on IA/ITCL, dated 1954, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1965, 1967, and 1969. It's difficult to tell on some of them, but most of them show a pentagonal pusher.

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

...the marbled one is only marked "Quick Wedge."

That's interesting, because I discovered that Kedman owned two (2) TM's, and that one - sans hyphen - was the first version.

I was a little shocked by seeing that brochure I linked dated 1957 when their patent was granted in 1965. You may be as shocked as me to find out they claim first use in 1945!

Here's their second TM, issued in 1960.



Note that it has a hyphen. Note the reference to Kedman owning a different TM. It's their first, granted in 1948, for "Quick Wedge" - no hyphen.



Same first use - 1945. And there are references as early as 1949 in trade mags on Google Books.

Hardware Age

books.google.com

 

[Mintgrun]

Thank you for diving so deep. I don't have the patience or skillset to help much in the research department, but do find it interesting. I just wish I could remember more of what I learn.

There are seven (7) Quick-Wedge references on IA/ITCL, dated 1954, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1965, 1967, and 1969. It's difficult to tell on some of them, but most of them show a pentagonal pusher.

I looked through those references and agree that it's difficult to tell when the hexagonal pushers came about. On several, they use the same screwdriver layout, but then they change the orientation of the hand holding one and when it's pointing the tip at you (at the top of the page), the pusher is hexagonal (even though it appears they're pentagonal on the others). I realize reusing older catalog images after changes have been made is common, so it isn't surprising. It just adds to my confusion.

I prefer the hexagonal pusher style. Whyle the pentagon may be less apt to roll away, the points feel like they're in the way and aren't very comfortable in-hand.

Tom

 

[Provincial]

I found an interesting Indestro 4790 screw starter for Phillips screws at the local auto swap meet Saturday. You pull a collar back and forth to expand the V-shaped teeth to grip the screw.



It even has a magnet on the back to retrieve the screw when it falls off the starter!

Patent number is 3288184.

Shown in Indestro Catalog No. 55, 1971, on page 44:
https://archive.org/details/indestro-tools-catalog-55/Indestro Tools Catalog 55/page/44/mode/2up

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Most of them have US and Canadian patent numbers on the end of the pusher,

Please post a photo of one when you can. No rush.

but the un-numbered middle green one has "US patent # & Other Countries."

Do you mean this marking? "PAT. U.S. 3224479 & OTHER COUNTRIES"

The US and CA patent info is printed on the handles of the Pentagonal style

Please post a photo when you can.

and there's no patent info on the marbled one.

This, in combination with it bearing the first TM ("QUICK WEDGE"), is a sure sign of it being very early, dating surely prior to 1960 (second TM with hyphen). All of the other examples we have between us are later than 1965.

I can only see the brand marking on the unnumbered green one ("QUICK-WEDGE" / "SALT LAKE CITY"), the green 1836 (same), the blue 2354 with the pentagonal pusher ("QUICK-WEDGE, 2354 - SALT LAKE"), and the marbled ("QUICK WEDGE"). I'm assuming all the red ones are branded like this, "QUICK-WEDGE" / "SALT LAKE CITY", but how are all the other blue and green ones branded?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I found an interesting Indestro 4790 screw starter for Phillips screws

That's a neat design.

 

[Provincial]

That's a neat design.

Thanks! I added the patent number (3288184) to my original post.

 

[RTM]

I found an interesting Indestro 4790 screw starter for Phillips screws at the local auto swap meet Saturday. You pull a collar back and forth to expand the V-shaped teeth to grip the screw.

I've got a couple of Phillips starters. I'm surprised in the era of Phillips screws being predominant, we don't see more of those running around. I must have 20+, and I think all but 2 or 3 are slotted

 

[four.cycle]

Indestro 4790 screw starter

Patent number is 3288184.

manufactured for Indestro by Aircraft Specialties / Shaw Enterprises / SE Tools (one and the same) of Lapeer, Michigan

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/ /

Aircraft/Shaw/SE and Ullmann Devices manufactured almost all of those aluminum-bodied screw starters for other companies.
Ullman also manufactured the white nylon versions as well. They don't seem to have survived as well in the second-hand market - we don't seem to see that many of them here.

Not sure if these have already been posted up-thread of if they're going to be of any help answering the pentagonal/hexagonal question, but here you go....

 

[Mintgrun]

So much for my color-based-on-size observation.

 

[Beerhippie]

I've got a couple of Phillips starters. I'm surprised in the era of Phillips screws being predominant, we don't see more of those running around. I must have 20+, and I think all but 2 or 3 are slotted

I've found at least a half-dozen starters in the wild, but none have been Phillips.

I'm tempted to buy one new, but that would be giving in. Besides, I really need one in Phillips and one (long one) in JIS.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

So much for my color-based-on-size observation.

Snerk.

I'm tempted to buy one new, but that would be giving in.

That's the spirit!

 

[WisJim]

Here are mine that I got together for a photo this morning. I have more than I realized, and I'm sure that I have a couple more someplace.
Left to right:
Stanley 65-159, Pat. Pend, extends from 11' to 18'long
Quick-Wedge No.1738 Salt Lake City
Indestro Super IN-4782
GRIP POINT Pat'd
Great Neck
Craftsman Screwholding (larger size)
Craftsman Screwholding (smaller size)
Craftsman UL 9-41341 WF
Proto 9884
Ullman Devices F-2
HOLD-E-ZEE TR-2 Upson Bros Rochester Lok-Blok Pat 1641307, 1791771, 2759734
Stanley Pat.Pend. (3 pieces in upper right corner, 3 different sizes, fit on screwdriver shafts)

 

[four.cycle]

Indestro Super IN-4782

^ that's the white-nylon-handled, Ullmann Devices manufactured unit I referred to above (post #171) -

 

[WisJim]

^ that's the white-nylon-handled, Ullmann Devices manufactured unit I referred to above (post #171) -

I'm sure I have a smaller one around somewhere, but it wasn't in the screwdriver drawer this morning. It's about the size of the metal Ullmann example if I remember right.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

@Mintgrun
I still don't know what you mean by...

Most of them have US and Canadian patent numbers on the end of the pusher,

But I think I figured out what you mean by...

The US and CA patent info is printed on the handles of the Pentagonal style

...by scanning ebay.

There's an example of a very chalky green 1732 with no letter-letter code, no address in the branding on the handle, just QUICK-WEDGE 1732, and this marking - "PAT US 2445383 - CANADA (illegible number)" on the opposite side of the handle. That informed me that Kedman had a much earlier patent (1948!) that I did not know about. Those are obviously much older than the examples with the 1965 patent number. Here are the two patents.

 

[Mintgrun]

I don’t have time to type about this but here are some pictures that might answer some questions.


That long number on the blue handle is unique. Yes, they do get chalky.

EDIT-- I do see two different US patent numbers. The one on the two "& other countries" pushers is different than the rest.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That long number on the blue handle is unique.

If you mean 5120-292-3343, that's a Federal Stock Number.

I do see two different US patent numbers.

Yes, I have those. I just posted the patents. It's the Canadian patent number that was obscured on the ebay example and I can't read it on your photo, either. When you get a chance, please just transcribe that entire marking around the pusher. Looks like PAT. U.S. 2445383 CAN _ _ _ _ _. Is it 456642? Cannot read that number. Transcribing markings is easier and usually more accurate than taking and posting photos. There's no rush. I may have missed them, but I don't see any other examples of this variant on the thread, believe it or not, or I would get it off one of those Disregard. I see it now. CAN 456642 was issued to W. Barlow George, 1949-05-17. As I said, you have some very early QW's.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...the marbled one is only marked "Quick Wedge."

Check to see if there is a "PAT APLD FOR" marking on the tube. It may be barely legible.

I saw this one on ebay, just like yours, only marked "QUICK WEDGE", no hyphen, not quite as marbled, but it's marbled and the seller described it as Bakelite, and it has a "PAT APLD FOR" marking on the tube. Kedman applied for their first patent in 1944 and it was granted in 1948. That's the same year they were granted a TM for "QUICK WEDGE", no hyphen, which they claim first use in 1945. No other markings. No model numbers.

I think your blue marbled jobbie and this blue marbled ebay jobbie are examples of the earliest QW production, almost certainly made between 1945 and 1947.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The second generation production, bearing the first US patent number and the Canadian patent number, would have to be from after May 17, 1949. I don't know which type came first though, with the "PAT. U.S. 2445383 CAN. 456642" marking circling the pusher, as you have shown on one of your blue ones above, or with the "PAT U.S. 2445383 - CANADA 456642" marking on the handle, like this one, purloined from ebay.

 

[Mintgrun]

Check to see if there is a "PAT APLD FOR" marking on the tube. It may be barely legible.

There is! It is barely legible. The cad plating is almost gone and the tube appears to be brass, but it is magnetic, so that must just be copper plating underneath the cadmium.

I don't know which type came first though, with the "PAT. U.S. 2445383 CAN. 456642" marking circling the pusher, as you have shown on one of your blue ones above, or with the "PAT U.S. 2445383 - CANADA 456642" marking on the handle

I'm guessing the style with the patents on the handle came before the ones with the patent on the pusher. The top two in this photo have the early US patent and the CA patent on the handle.



All four of these have the early US patent number and the CA patent number. The translucent ones have the numbers on the end of the hex-pusher.



These all have the late US patent number on the end. The red ones also have the CA patent and the top two say "& other countries" after the US patent.



I wasn't sure how clear my previous posts were, so I figured I'd categorize them based on patent info.

Tom

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm guessing the style with the patents on the handle came before the ones with the patent on the pusher.

I was thinking the same thing. Once they started putting the patent info on the pusher, they stayed with that approach. That's where the second patent information went.

The red ones also have the CA patent

What is the second Canadian patent number? What is the exact syntax of the marking? Please transcribe it. I don't have any of this type, there aren't any other than yours on this thread, and none on ebay.

I started an Excel file with just your data, my data, and data I grabbed from ebay and tried sorting the rows by various columns (P/N, codes, color, shape of pusher, shape of tube, patent marking on pusher, patent marking on handle, branding on handle, etc) to visualize a pattern and it soon became obvious. I was thinking of running a survey, but I am already fairly confidence about the sequence. The letter-letter codes only appear on the third generation (after 1965) production and while enough data might help find a pattern, I am not interested enough to gather enough data to figure it out.

Like the two variants of the second generation production (with the first US and CAN patent info either on the handle or pusher), there are two variants of the third gen production (with the second US and CAN patent info).

They both have the patent info on the pusher, but...

One type has Branding, Model Number hyphen and location, all one line, all the same size fonts, like this... "QUICK-WEDGE, 2354 - SALE LAKE"

Another type has "QUICK-WEDGE" on one line, a much smaller "SALT LAKE CITY" underneath on one flat of the handle. And the Model number with a letter-letter code is on the opposite flat of the handle, like this... "No. 2354 mc"

I'm thinking that's the order, because I can't see them doing a letter-letter code and then dropping that practice, and that style is overwhelmingly the most common, here, and on ebay. They hit their stride in the mid-60's with that set up and never looked back.

I am going to develop a little cheat sheet for collectors summarizing what we worked out and post it.

 

[Mintgrun]

What is the second Canadian patent number? What is the exact syntax of the marking?

I'm sorry. I mistyped. The red ones all have the late US patent # & other countries (except for the smallest, 1253 xi, as mentioned above (PAT US CA)). They do not give the CA #.

They're all marked in the following way.

Another type has "QUICK-WEDGE" on one line, a much smaller "SALT LAKE CITY" underneath on one flat of the handle. And the Model number with a letter-letter code is on the opposite flat of the handle, like this... "No. 2354 mc"

 

[d42jeep]

Blue Point, Rimac and the long one is unmarked.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I found a matching Craftsman set at yesterday’s estate sale. One is for slotted screws, the other is for Phillips.
Here are the slotted starters of this style from the toolbox drawer.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

We found a Stanley Spee-D-Grip and another Irwin 900 screw starter at NV estate sales yesterday.
-Don

 

[Mintgrun]

I found another little Qwick-Wedge NO. 1732 yesterday. It's the darker/dirtier one of the two. The other is marked 1732N and wheN taking these photos, I noticed that one has a teeny little made in USA in he hollow part below where it says PUSH. The latest one doesn't have that. It'd be over the little 4 if it did. It's a little 6 on the first one.



One other difference has to do with the patents on the end of the pusher. The first one has the US patent number & other countries, whereas the new one has the both the US and CA patent numbers.




The tips on the new one were slightly mangled, but tapping them straight with a little hammer got it working again.

 

[Mintgrun]

I also found this nifty JIFFY-TITE #6. It's the third J-T in the thread, but the others have wooden handles and larger blades.



MILLEN MFG. BOSTON, U.S.A.



PAT. & PAT. PEND.



It's dangling in the long-skinny screw-starter row.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Millen "Jiffy-Tite": patent 1699306 Jan 15 1929 E.L. Millen

 

[Mintgrun]

^ Millen "Jiffy-Tite": patent 1699306 Jan 15 1929 E.L. Millen

Thanks 4C. I clicked on Edward L. Millen and it brought up one other patent, which is the one that's PEND. on mine. It was applied for in '45 and granted in '49.



"This a improvement of 1699306, by adding hook to the back end of the screwdriver blade which keeps the screw holding portion of the blade in the recessed position. Also possibly to protect the earlier patent. Sample marked Jiffy-Tite #6, Pat. & Pat. Pending."

Picture and text taken from here.

US Patent: 2,472,673 - Screw holding screwdriver

US patent 2,472,673 Screw holding screwdriver was issued to Edward L. Millen of Brookline, MA. It was granted on 06/07/1949. This a improvement of {1699306}, by adding hook to the back end of the screwdriver blade which keeps the screw holding portion of the blade in the rec

datamp.org

 

[Private Lugnutz]

We found a Stanley Spee-D-Grip...

Wait. What?!

First on the thread and all of GJ (where it was spelled out, anyway) according to the Search function. You actually found one back in 2020 (see post #13) but named it merely as a "Stanley".

What's interesting to me is that it looks and appears to function exactly like a HOLD-E-ZEE (Upson Brothers 1791771 / 1927 and 1841307 / 1929). Even the syntax of the branding (all caps, hyphenated three-part term) is similar: HOLD-E-ZEE and SPEE-D-GRIP.

Without doing a lick of research yet, I am wondering if the SPEE-D-GRIP was...
(a) Stanley's branding of a licensed use of the Upson Bros product
(b) Upson Bros production for Stanley
(c) a blatant rip-off, or
(d) did Stanley buy them out?

I hate to be the pessimistic cynic, but I am eliminating (d), because I am pretty sure Upson Bros continued with their cash cow right through the 60's if not longer and Stanley almost assuredly would've just kept the extremely successful HOLD-E-ZEE name, no?, hoping for (a) or (b), yet thinking (c)!

Is there a patent or any other info on it?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I also found this nifty JIFFY-TITE #6. It's the third J-T in the thread, but the others have wooden handles and larger blades.

...and the first patent number marked on the ferrule. Very cool!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Not that I just noticed for the first time, but here is the name branding on this thread, in alphabetical order...

GRASP-IT
GRIP POINT
HOLD-E-ZEE
HOLD-FAST
JIFFY-TITE
QUICK-WEDGE
SPEE-D-GRIP
SUREGRIP
SURE-HOLD

 

[Private Lugnutz]

And back to the subject of SPEE-D-GRIP...

A Google Books search revealed ads in trade mags as early as 1953 (such as this Pop Sci issue linked here), and as late as 1963, with that one and all of the examples in between being snippet-only views due to copyright.

It also revealed that they were granted a TM for the term in 1954, claiming first use in 1951. Although I have not found a patent, I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't one, and they just ripped off the second HOLD-E-ZEE patent design, which had expired in 1946.

 

[Mintgrun]

here is the name branding on this thread

I suppose you could add Upson Bros Lok-Blok to the-list. It's stamped on the inner green plastic of the Hold-E-Zee screwdriver that WisJim shared here.

Screw starters...

I used some of mine the other day. I was trying to pick a favorite.

www.garagejournal.com

I was tempted to share mine today, but relieved to see he'd beat me to it. They crammed a TON of small print onto that one. All six faces of that little chrome gripper-sleeve have tiny stampings.

My search of the thread did not pull up any HITCO examples, so I'll share my long skinny one. The grabber is very similar to the Upson style.

​

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I suppose you could add Upson Bros Lok-Blok to the-list. It's stamped on the inner green plastic of the Hold-E-Zee screwdriver that WisJim shared here.

Hmm. I thought the LOK-BLOK was to prevent the shank from turning or being buried further inside the handle. I don't think the HOLD-E-ZEE is dependent on it, and I don't think the LOK-BLOK is exclusive to HOLD-E-ZEE screwdrivers. I could be wrong. We could asterisk it.

 

[RTM]

Hmm. I thought the LOK-BLOK was to prevent the shank from turning or being buried further inside the handle.

I thought I looked it up, you are correct .

 

[Mintgrun]

O-K. Never-mind. : - )