Stanley Workmaster and Professional screwdrivers

[Lesserstore]

Just found a 1987 copyright variant set. Its not complete but up on ebay.

Stanley NOS Workmaster Style Screwdrivers with Box - Made in USA | eBay

Six screwdrivers, all in excellent condition. None appear to have been used. High Strength Boron Steel Bars. Made in USA.

www.ebay.com

I've been wondering about those with only a logo and USA, because the only Workmaster I have is like that. I'll call them "1987 Transitionals" in the Stanley Plastic Handled Screwdrivers history since the Professionals were introduced in 1987, and I assume these were to get rid of older black handles.

 

[Minions]

Update with some more information. Came across this PDF. It has some model #'s for the Canadian Workmaster line. I don't have a date. Screams 80s to me though. I'm kinda digging the multi colored workmasters. Dark Green, red etc. Might be a precurser to the multi color professional line?

 

[Stuart in MN]

At the bottom of the last page there's a number 803C-080; I wonder if 080 means 1980. Canada sure had a lot of variants - besides the Robertson tips, the other ones were available with and without a bolster, which helped prevent the shaft from being driven up into the handle. Another interesting thing is the Handyman line in this catalog also had a triangular handle, similar to the Workmaster line.

We're close enough to the border that Canadian items aren't all that uncommon (for instance I often get Canadian coins in change) but I have yet to see any screwdrivers marked Stanley Canada in person.

 

[Minions]

My new white whale is that green and red workmaster. If anyone happens to see one.... lmk to my eye the green is a square bit, and the red is ??? maybe a flat head cabinet end. I reached out to a guy I've bought other Canada workmaster screwdrivers from. I asked him to keep an eye out incase one comes by. I'm as far from Canada as could be so my chances here are pretty much <0.

Edit-
Another cool thing to note, is in Canada the Workmaster are labeled professional as well. And as you can see the handles are colored on yellow bodies. Seems to be the precursor to the newer (1995) yellow with colored sides that I posted last month.

 

[Luke123656]

Wow, quite a few new to me variants in the last few posts. And here I thought I had most of them already collected. I need to post some new pictures of what I have so far, I've picked up quite a few duplicates in some styles and sizes.

Here seems to be another variant of the Workmaster , found in the UK compared to the american counter part which seems to not have the ball detent (although i did have to replace the black collar and ball bearing myself as it was missing )

 

[Mpulsinelli]

Hi all, I’m new here. I found Garage Journal a few months ago as part of a pursuit to match an old screwdriver that I’ve always liked but never knew where it came from. Someone on Reddit commented on a post I made telling me it’s a Stanley Professional (predecessor to the Workmaster) and now I’m obsessed.

I frequent a local flea market in search of old treasures and over the last couple months I’ve found about 35 Workmasters. Here are a couple pictures of ones I’ve not seen posted here often.

The first picture just shows an overview of the few I thought were interesting. Second picture is two JCPenney branded drivers. Third, two square shank flat blade but one is all black and slightly larger than the one with the yellow stripe. And the last picture is an #2 Phillips but the handle is smaller than the usual size.

Enjoy!

 

[d42jeep]

Nice collection. Thanks for posting. Welcome to the Garage Journal!
-Don

 

[Mpulsinelli]

Nice collection. Thanks for posting. Welcome to the Garage Journal!
-Don

Thank you, Don! Happy to be here. Here’s a few more of what I’ve been able to find from digging in boxes at the flea market. I have about a dozen more that I keep in my tool bag or on my bench.

 

[Minions]

Is this a modified Screwdriver? Pretty interesting looking. I can't imagine that red came retail that way.

 

[piehammer]

Is this a modified Screwdriver? Pretty interesting looking. I can't imagine that red came retail that way.

Looks like red electrical tape to me.

 

[mritchie77]

After seeing this thread I keep picking these up at estate/garage sales and selling on eBay. So far, someone in Las Vegas has bought almost all I have put up on fleabay.

 

[d42jeep]

This thread has caused me to pick them up as well. Here is the Phillips I found yesterday. It was painty and rusty but looks a little better now.
-Don

 

[mritchie77]

This thread has caused me to pick them up as well. Here is the Phillips I found yesterday. It was painty and rusty but looks a little better now.
-Don

Not bad, all of the ones I've picked up have pretty much lost all of the Stanley / part # markings.

 

[mritchie77]

These were in a box of tools I got today. Clearly Stanley drivers made for JCPennys.

 

[d42jeep]

I found one of the Penny’s drivers recently as well. I’ll never understand the need to use pliers on the plastic handle of a square shank screwdriver. Duh!
-Don

 

[Stuart in MN]

I haven't seen those JC Penny versions before, very cool.

 

[d42jeep]

Do these Craftsman screwdrivers have anything to do with the Stanley screwdrivers posted in this thread? I guess they weren’t sourced from Stanley since they are marked WF for Western Forge but the shape of the handles seems very similar.
-Don

 

[Minions]

I looked at them as well at one point. They have a professional series with the same handle as above. There are quite a few differences with the stanley handle though. The base is wider and doesn't flare down as much. The Stanley's is rounded on the back. There are also no cut outs on the circular neck for your thumb/finger to grip on. Similar design, but different.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks for your response. Probably just different enough to minimize any patent infringement issues.
-Don

 

[Zeus36]

Do these Craftsman screwdrivers have anything to do with the Stanley screwdrivers posted in this thread? I guess they weren’t sourced from Stanley since they are marked WF for Western Forge but the shape of the handles seems very similar.
-Don

I thought the Craftsman were the same design as the Stanley, until I started collecting both of them, but there is a big difference.

The Stanley handle cross section is triangular with three lands and three flutes. The Craftsman handle has six lands and six flutes.

As Minions stated, the Stanley tapers more than the Craftsman towards the rounded end of the handle. The Craftsman tapers less towards a squared off handle end. The lands and flutes on the Stanley are wider, but the Craftsman handles seem a bit beefier to me as you get towards the larger tip sizes.

Scroll up and down the pictures on this page and compare the Craftsman pictures against the Stanleys.

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Now you guys got me wanting to get some of these!
-Tommy

 

[Mpulsinelli]

Hi, I found this magnetic tip Workmaster that is somewhat different than the others I've seen. It has a shiny chromed shaft that is the same diameter as the tip (unlike the others where the tip bulges out). The handle is somewhat blue/purple looking. Model number is 66-816 (instead of 66-801) so that is also strange. I haven't seen much about it online.

 

[d42jeep]

I found a Stanley and a handle lookalike at a yard sale this morning. It turns out that the lookalike is Taiwanese, unfortunately.
I cleaned up the Stanley
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Double post.

 

[Stuart in MN]

It's been a long time since I revisited this discussion, but I got a couple more today to add to my collection.
My brother gave me a couple Robertson drivers, a #1 and a #2. He found them in his toolbox and didn't remember he had them. They're hardly used and look like new, he apparently got them for one project and then put them away. There was a #3 Robertson as well (seen in a picture earlier in this discussion) that I'll have to find somewhere.

 

[yx2so7w7t]

I have more variants to the Workmaster screwdrivers than I see listed here, particularly in the Robertson tipped drivers.
Workmaster 66-911 black opaque 8in Stanley Canada

---------------- red transparent 8in -----no markings---------------
Workmaster 66-907 red transparent 4in Stanley Canada
66-906 red transparent 1-1/2in --------------------
----------------
Workmaster 66-905 green transparent 8in Stanley Canada
Workmaster 66-904 green transparent 4in Stanley Canada
66-903 green transparent 1-1/2in --------------------
65-214 yellow with opaque flutes 4in Stanley USA
----------------
Workmaster 65-456 transparent smoky gray & yellow with yellow box outline on handle end,

Notes:
- The Canadian 4in drivers have handles slightly longer than that of their US-made cousin.
- As well, the fluting differs between them, and the US-made driver has the keystone marking.
- The red-handles are slightly longer than those of the green with the same length shaft.
- The red handles are 4-1/4 & 4-3/8in and the green are 4in.
- The red & green 'stubbies' are 1-7/8 & 1-13/16in respectively.
DS

 

[RTM]

I have more variants to the Workmaster screwdrivers than I see listed here, particularly in the Robertson tipped drivers.
Workmaster 66-911 black opaque 8in Stanley Canada

---------------- red transparent 8in -----no markings---------------
Workmaster 66-907 red transparent 4in Stanley Canada
66-906 red transparent 1-1/2in --------------------
----------------
Workmaster 66-905 green transparent 8in Stanley Canada
Workmaster 66-904 green transparent 4in Stanley Canada
66-903 green transparent 1-1/2in --------------------
65-214 yellow with opaque flutes 4in Stanley USA
----------------
Workmaster 65-456 transparent smoky gray & yellow with yellow box outline on handle end,

Notes:
- The Canadian 4in drivers have handles slightly longer than that of their US-made cousin.
- As well, the fluting differs between them, and the US-made driver has the keystone marking.
- The red-handles are slightly longer than those of the green with the same length shaft.
- The red handles are 4-1/4 & 4-3/8in and the green are 4in.
- The red & green 'stubbies' are 1-7/8 & 1-13/16in respectively.
DS

Do you know when you acquired these, and did you acquire them new? Helps with the timeline.

 

[yx2so7w7t]

These were all purchased uncarded, primarily in the late 70s & early 80s. The hardware store where I bought them didn't carry any more, and I couldn't find others elsewhere. i've never seen any at garage or estate sales.

 

[john.k]

I must have bought a half a dozen of the carry boxes of Stanley screwdrivers over time ......when the plastic box went kaput ,that was it ,time for new .........i didnt like them that much ,if you applied any force to the handle the shaft would turn in the plastic......and I was always regrinding the blades .

 

[outofbounds]

I saw this thread come by and thought I'd add these Powr-Kraft variants to the mix. Found them several months ago and yet to see any others like them. Not sure if the original Stanley's feature a "Boron Steel" stamp on them. Otherwise dimensions seem entirely the same.

 

[piehammer]

I saw this thread come by and thought I'd add these Powr-Kraft variants to the mix. Found them several months ago and yet to see any others like them. Not sure if the original Stanley's feature a "Boron Steel" stamp on them. Otherwise dimensions seem entirely the same.

I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for these - thanks!

 

[oldpliers1]

Some from my collection ( two types of handle profiles pre 82 and after 82 ) the pre 82 profile was a turner Australian design, Stanley bought turner in 1970.

 

[esben57]

Looks like these were made over here also.

 

[john.k]

When I buy a new box,I toss the old screwdrivers in a bucket ,and when I need a hard steel pin or axle,its there ready for its new use...........Most recent screwdrivers are Kinchrome ,much better than Stanleys for sure ..............however ,no way I can keep the soft handles from becoming filthy ............dirt doesnt wash off with petrol.

 

[esben57]

10inch Chrome Molybdenum shaft 5/16" tip. Never used it, got Steadfast C.K. and Facom engineers drivers.
Been sat in various toolboxes from I'd say early 1970's.

 

[MShaw]

This is what I have. Purchased in 1973.

 

[PontederaPatio]

I got my hands on a couple Stanley Tools catalogs, one from 1977 and one from 1989. The 1977 catalog has a list of Workmaster screwdrivers, the 1989 catalog has a list of Professional screwdrivers.

I've been looking for this mid-to-late 80s catalog listing of the Stanley Professional series for years. Now I know which ones to remain on the hunt for. Attaching a spreadsheet listing of these two screenshot pages - auto generated by ChatGPT.

 

[PontederaPatio]

I've been looking for this mid-to-late 80s catalog listing of the Stanley Professional series for years. Now I know which ones to remain on the hunt for. Attaching a spreadsheet listing of these two screenshot pages - auto generated by ChatGPT.

 

[oldpliers1]

It is interesting that Stanley made a different range for each major market country The USA range the UK range and Australian ranges are all very different in Handle patterns/ profiles and insulation options. The only American Stanley screwdrivers sold were Yankees all the rest were local production and dominated the market until the mid 80,s with the German Whitte range taking a market share. In the USA who were the best selling screwdrivers? Crescent, Vaco, Fuller ,IDEAL or Stanley? ( UK and Aus Stanley had the market share for a long time ) Greetings from Australia

 

[d42jeep]

I found this #3 Phillips on Saturday.
-Don