very old ratcheting screwdriver

[nz44tool]

Hello, gentlemen - this is my first post here. I'm trying to learn more about an old ratcheting screwdriver that I found a few weeks ago.
There's no brand mark on it that I can find, but it has what looks like a patent date stamped into the wooden cap.
It's hard to read, and some crucial letters/numbers are indistinct, but it may be Jan 19 1858. This coincides with a patent (19,162) to G.H. Talbot for a "ratchet movement for screwdrivers".
I'm posting this to see if anyone out there has seen one like this, or knows more about it.
BTW, the ratcheting mechanism still works! It reverses by turning the handle while the ferrule is pulled out toward the tip. The cap has a cast(?) insert with the letters "PAZT".
Does anyone have any input?
Many thanks!

 

[nz44tool]

Oops - I hope the women in the audience will forgive my thoughtless introduction - "Hello, gentlemen".
Please let me amend that to "Hello, folks"!

 

[J.A.F.E.]

Can't offer any information but what a cool score. That is awesome.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Does anyone have any input?

Nice find. And probably a fairly rare one. The DATAMP page for that patent is linked here. The "Not known to have been produced" you see next to Manufacturer is a common default entry when DATAMP has a patent but no examples as evidence. The nice thing to do would be to contact the steward linked on the bottom right. He is going to want some photos and, eventually, those photos will be available as a link just above the patent diagram, and the Manufacturer will say "Unknown" (until that is evidenced). If you use the left and right toggle button << | >> at the top, you'll see other ratcheting screwdriver pages and get a better feel for what a page with a little more info looks like. But contacting them will help the next guy who finds one.

 

[nz44tool]

Private Lugnutz - thanks for the tip on using the DATAMP site. That's where I got the patent info, but I didn't think to contact the steward.
Good idea - I'll try it.

 

[nz44tool]

Well, I had it wrong - with a better magnifier and better lighting, the stamp on the cap reads PATMAY1583, which corresponds to patent 277,561, issued to I.M Furbish. The drawing on DATAMP's site looks very much like the tool I have, though the ferrule in the drawing is somewhat larger. Apparently these were manufactured by the Furbish and Hamlen Company of Augusta, Maine.
Thanks to DATAMP for keeping this history alive.

 

[Mintgrun]

link --

US Patent: 277,561 - Screwdriver

US patent 277,561 Screwdriver was issued to Isaiah M. Furbish of Augusta, ME. It was granted on 05/15/1883. Known examples are seen with no markings or FURBISH & HAMLEN, AUGUSTA, ME. / M'F'R'S OF THE MAINE SCREWDRIVER {br} The Furbish name marked on this to

www.datamp.org

 

[nz44tool]

Yep - it took a while to identify this one!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

All's well that ends well!

 

[RTM]

Yep - it took a while to identify this one!

Heck that was quick. Read the thread about Chesterman rules. Couple of years.

 

[four.cycle]

@nz44tool -
you will want to keep this URL handy
and this one as well

 

[nz44tool]

Thanks, four.cycle!

 

[Old Radar]

Given that patent picture #4 shows faint names and info on the metal band around the handle, you might find the remnants of those stamps on yours if you take a slow tour around it with a 10X magnifier and a light held just above perpendicular to your search area. DATAMP says some were unmarked and we all know what 140 years can do to tools, but you never know until you look hard!
Good luck!

 

[nz44tool]

Took your advice and looked at the metal band again - pretty sure there are no stampings.
Sometimes they used very small fonts, and like you say, all those years can make it hard to see them, but...nope.
Thanks for the suggestion, Old Radar - always good advice to take one more look.