Tool ID?

[SCscoutguy]

This is probably some sort of common tool but I have never seen one before. I picked this up in a tool box of random tools I got at the flea market yesterday. It is 14" long and has a spring at the bottom that when you pull down on the chrome piece at the top of the handle releases a clasp that goes over what appears to be a 5/16" permanent socket on the end. It is obviously for holding some sort of fastener in place but what application would this have been used for? There are no markings of any kind anywhere on it. It is pretty well made and was in a box of tools from the 50's and 60's so I am guessing it is USA made.
Edit: Can someone move this to General Tool Discussion I accidentally posted it in Garage instead.

 

[bgarrett]

go to http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php

 

[AlexNGreen]

Easy, its for holding screws like this. Into hard to reach spots. The picture is of a 10-24 screw, which also has a 5/16" hex head.

 

[SCscoutguy]

Easy, its for holding screws like this. Into hard to reach spots. The picture is of a 10-24 screw, which also has a 5/16" hex head.

That is what I surmised from looking at it but I wonder what its specific application was for?

 

[AlexNGreen]

That is what I surmised from looking at it but I wonder what its specific application was for?

Probably no specific application just hard to reach places. For example, in a control enclosure the panel mounted components can be pretty deep and tightly spaced making the screws hard to get at if you have to replace a VFD or contractor, or anything else.

 

[SCscoutguy]

Probably no specific application just hard to reach places. For example, in a control enclosure the panel mounted components can be pretty deep and tightly spaced making the screws hard to get at if you have to replace a VFD or contractor, or anything else.

I guess you could be right but it just seems to me that they would not make a tool this specific just for no specific application.

 

[AlexNGreen]

It's just a screw holding screwdriver. They make Philips and straight versions also. I like your tool because I usually have to daisy chain two combination screwdrivers together to get to the mounting screws of large drives and then it's a balancing act to get the screw back there and in the hole. If you haven't needed it, it's hard to see such a simple use.