Spiral Ratchet Screwdrivers

[kwigly]

My oldest, and newest to me, spiral screwdriver, picked up last weekend.
Made by Goodell Bros, marked “Patented July 22 1890, Nov 17 1891” (patents #432729, #463506). Body is 9” closed, 15” open (without driver). There is no spring and the one-way spiral can only drive screws in, but if the spiral is fully retracted and the lugs in the housing engaged to lock the drive it acts like a regular fixed screwdriver.
I like it

 

[RTM]

My oldest, and newest to me, spiral screwdriver, picked up last weekend.
Made by Goodell Bros, marked “Patented July 22 1890, Nov 17 1891” (patents #432729, #463506). Body is 9” closed, 15” open (without driver). There is no spring and the one-way spiral can only drive screws in, but if the spiral is fully retracted and the lugs in the housing engaged to lock the drive it acts like a regular fixed screwdriver.
I like it

The one downer of GP screwdrivers is their bits have the cruciform on the bottom, so theirs are not interchangeable with Yankee / Stanley style bits.

Great tool otherwise. I grab all I find, and pass them on to one friend, who is our Goodell Pratt reservoir

 

[kwigly]

My Yankee No. 30 driver is a proud puppy, with SEVEN patent dates inscribed !

 

[daddyopoppy]

Picked this North Bros. 33H up at an estate sale this week for $3.50 don’t think it’s ever been used. Pretty sticky but with a very lite squirt of wd40 works smooth as silk.

 

[RTM]

Now that it's working, wipe off the WD40, and give it a few drops of 3 in One oil, work it in, will prevent it from getting sticky again.

 

[ManWithoutPlan]

Hi everyone, first post here! Have been passively searching for a Yankee screwdriver for a while and recently decided to actually look for one. Recently, I found a Stanley Yankee push drill in great shape with all of its bits which made me want a screwdriver even more. The other day I found a great 130A! It's got 5 patents on it with the oldest being 1923. Works perfectly and came with one extra bit. Bought a pretty cool old L. Coes monkey wrench at the same time. I have a feeling this may become a new thing to collect...

I wanted to ask: Is there any way to narrow the date of the screwdriver or is it just latest patent stamp + before Stanley bought North Bros?

 

[RTM]

Yup, pretty much what you said. Obviously post the earliest patent, and in theory no more than 17 years past that date.

The one site I know doesn't get much finer details.

Yankee Tools Checklist - M-WTCA

Yankee Tools Checklist David Erickson February 21, 1997 This is a compilation of all known Yankee tools, extracted from a half-dozen catalogs and advertisements spanning the period from 1895 to 1946, the year North Brothers was purchased by Stanley. There are even some post-1946 items in the...

mwtca.org

There are a few keys on the REALLY old ones, like the ring to lock the bit in place unscrews vs pulls down, but that is well before your 1923 patent.

 

[ManWithoutPlan]

Yup, pretty much what you said. Obviously post the earliest patent, and in theory no more than 17 years past that date.

The one site I know doesn't get much finer details.

Yankee Tools Checklist - M-WTCA

Yankee Tools Checklist David Erickson February 21, 1997 This is a compilation of all known Yankee tools, extracted from a half-dozen catalogs and advertisements spanning the period from 1895 to 1946, the year North Brothers was purchased by Stanley. There are even some post-1946 items in the...

mwtca.org

There are a few keys on the REALLY old ones, like the ring to lock the bit in place unscrews vs pulls down, but that is well before your 1923 patent.

That's awesome. Thank you for the info! I'm going to keep looking for these suckers.

 

[d42jeep]

I have a drawer in my Kennedy box that I put these tools in when I find them at sales. I figured it was time to get them out and organize them a little. Here are a few pictures.
Left to right - Two North Brothers, two Stanleys and a Millers Falls.
These are mostly Stanley Handyman except for one made in Germany.
Two Stanleys and a more worn North Bros. The box is waiting for me to find the appropriate tool to put in it. It’s temporarily holding some blades.
Here are the North Bros items together.
Back in the drawer.
-Don

 

[mvcorse]

Facom had been producing these until the late 1990s. (or early 2000s ?)

 

[Zeus36]

I don't use the screwdriver tips, just the drill bits for pilot holes in wood and drywall. No batteries, no electricity needed. Carry one in my truck toolbox.

 

[d42jeep]

Shiftless stopped by yesterday with some treasures which was much appreciated. Today I spent some time on this very cool but frozen up Goodell Pratt spiral screwdriver. A little cleaning and lubrication made it start changing directions again but I had to use the vise with the wood jaws to loosen the nut holding the bit in place. I don’t have any spare bits in this design so it can only be used on slotted screws. It looks great in the drawer with the others.
-Don

 

[RTM]

. I don’t have any spare bits in this design so it can only be used on slotted screws..
-Don

I know the GP drill bits are different from Yankee. What does the **** end of your GP look like, and diameter. I have boxes of each size bit, and the Lee Valley hex bit adapters, so may be able to help.

 

[d42jeep]

Here you go. According to my precision plastic caliper it’s approximately .271”.
-Don

 

[RTM]

So a 7mm should fit, would need to file off the other side. Convert the Yankee D to an I.

 

[d42jeep]

I found a Yankee Handyman spiral screwdriver at an estate sale today. No mention of Stanley on this one. A little WD40 and it’s working like new.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Yesterday I found a box holding some files at a Carson City garage sale. I thought that the handwriting on the side of the box was interesting. I need to check to see if I have a screwdriver that matches the box.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice find, Don. I'd be inclined to store any Yankee that fit in it.

 

[RTM]

. I need to check to see if I have a screwdriver that matches the box.

If not ping me.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks! I’ll be able to check mid October.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I arrived in the Bay Area yesterday and was able to add a North Brothers 30A to the box that I recently found. I added some slotted bits that should have been included.
-Don

 

[toolmiser]

My oldest, and newest to me, spiral screwdriver, picked up last weekend.
Made by Goodell Bros, marked “Patented July 22 1890, Nov 17 1891” (patents #432729, #463506). Body is 9” closed, 15” open (without driver). There is no spring and the one-way spiral can only drive screws in, but if the spiral is fully retracted and the lugs in the housing engaged to lock the drive it acts like a regular fixed screwdriver.
I like it

Sometimes these are called a "coffin drill" For that application you don't need to remove screws.

 

[Toold_up]

I have a Yankee screwdriver and push drill. I recently used the push drill to drill a small hole in an AR-15 receiver...


Drill bits are still available (only place I know still producing them):

Packs of Replacement Bits for Yankee Push Drill

Grab a Pack of Replacement Bits for the Garrett Wade Yankee Push Drill to keep your tools operational. Store your bits in the top of the handle. Order now.

garrettwade.com

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Sometimes these are called a "coffin drill"

And sometimes a coffin drill actually is a coffin drill!

Spiral Ratchet Screwdrivers

Anyone collect these? I’m curious about their functionality. I stumble across these often and find myself impressed by the quality and craftsmanship

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Macduf]

Stanley 35, second day sale for a dollar.

 

[Macduf]

Sorry it's a North, not stanley

 

[Nutria]

Minty, maybe unused.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Minty, maybe unused.

Just wow.

 

[Lesserstore]

I was looking for Yankee bits on ebay, since I only have one that came on a Craftsman West German made drive I bought several years ago, and I found this NOS Vermont American set for $10. It's an adapter for 7/32 Yankee to 1/4 hex bits, and considering that custom made adapters are about $30 I thought it was a good deal. Plus it came with 5 bits and a 1/4 socket adapter.
The trademark "Multi-Bit" was first used by VA in 1980 and registered in 1986, this only has TM on it, so it was probably made sometime between then.

 

[d42jeep]

If you need some Yankee bits, I have some spares. Just let me know what you need.
I found this plastic handle version Stanley Yankee at an estate sale yesterday.
-Don

 

[Marsim]

I got these two Yankees yesterday pretty cheap. I didn't realize how old they are until I got them home.

 

[d42jeep]

I found an early North Bros push drill this morning. It seems to be significantly older than my other North Bros example. The handle is not knurled and the chuck tightens up by screwing in rather than one that slides forward to release the bit. Works like a charm. Patented Nov 2, 1897.
-Don

 

[RTM]

I found an early North Bros push drill this morning. It seems to be significantly older than my other North Bros example. The handle is not knurled and the chuck tightens up by screwing in rather than one that slides forward to release the bit. Works like a charm. Patented Nov 2, 1897.
-Don

My oldest Yankee push drill has the screw in bit retainer also. My chrome on the front may be slightly better than yours, but not much. My favorite user of that bunch.

 

[d42jeep]

I’ve had this empty box in my push drill and spiral screwdriver drawer for quite some time. Today I found a push drill with bits to go in the box at an estate sale.
Here is the new Stanley Yankee to go in the box.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a Yankee Handyman with a plastic handle that I found at this morning’s estate sale. Made by North Bros. It came with three spare bits.
-Don

 

[Shiftless]

Nice find!
I’ve never seen a plastic handle like that on a domestic Stanley. I see it’s marked Philadelphia and made in USA

I‘ve seen some Stanley spiral screwdrivers made in England but they had the usual wooden handle.

 

[RTM]

Nice find!
I’ve never seen a plastic handle like that on a domestic Stanley. I see it’s marked Philadelphia and made in USA

I‘ve seen some Stanley spiral screwdrivers made in England but they had the usual wooden handle.

Try here

Stanley Tools Catalog No. 34 : 1953 Edition : Stanley Tools Division : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

218 p., illus., 17.4 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[Shiftless]

Try here

Stanley Tools Catalog No. 34 : 1953 Edition : Stanley Tools Division : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

218 p., illus., 17.4 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Cool!
The depth of knowledge here on GJ never ceases to amaze me.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I’ve never seen a plastic handle like that on a domestic Stanley. I see it’s marked Philadelphia and made in USA

That's not a Stanley "YANKEE", Shifty. That's a North Brothers "YANKEE." Stanley acquired the brand name when they acquired North Brothers.

 

[RTM]

That's not a Stanley "YANKEE", Shifty. That's a North Brothers "YANKEE." Stanley acquired the brand name when they acquired North Brothers.

Stanley bought Yankee in 1946.

I think this is the first appearance of the transparent handle.

How Yankee and Yankee Handyman Tools Make Good Mechanics Better : No. Y 41 : North Brothers Manufacturing Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

32 p., illus., 17.9 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

1936 catalog didn’t have the Handyman line. Thinking collision between the two brought on that handle. (Not to be confused w collusion)