Vintage Screwdriver ID

[Slinger646]

Normally I’d search the forums but I don’t know where to start; this came in a box lot and I know it’s old, there’s markings but I can’t make them out.

Any info or help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

H.D.Smith & Co

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7175222

 

[Slinger646]

Damn, y’all are fast.

Thanks!!

 

[Zrxrunner]

Similar to this one I have, just round instead of square. Think the newer ones were Irwin.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That is an extra heavy duty machinists' screwdriver. H.D. Smith put their patented and trademarked "Perfect Handle" design on many variations of screwdrivers, and also on all kinds of tools, including monkey wrenches. IRWIN is probably the most recognizable name associated with the manufacturing of a screwdriver with integral, riveted wooden scales known by the slang name derived from the original TM'ed name, but it was "Xeroxed" by many other manufacturers, including several in Europe.

 

[Slinger646]

Thanks, Lugz! Do you happen to have a clearer picture of the marking?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Those "barber pole" style markings (Tobrin did the same thing) are hard to photograph! And I'm not sure if it's the same marking as the more routine markings you can find on other tools. If you're having trouble reading it, I know it includes the location, which is Plantsville, Connecticut. I've got a few projects ahead of you, but I will see if I can find some tools with better markings. Others may chime in first, and you may find one on-line by Googling.

BTW, just to clarify, yours is a heavy duty screwdriver. My reply about the EHD Machinists variant (much squatter, more robust, and square-shanked for turning with a wrench if need be) was aimed at Zrxrunner.

 

[four.cycle]

Good historical overview of the company:
http://www.richmondantiquetools.com/newsletters/THETOOLTABLEApril2009color.pdf

Crerar Adams & Co. Hardware catalog 1914 excerpt:
https://archive.org/details/HDSmithPerfectHandleTools1914

H.D. Smith & Co. catalog No. 25 - 1920
$8.50 + $5.00 shipping:
https://www.finetoolj.com/books/73-h-d-smith-co-catalogue-no-25-1920

Bird's eye view of factory from 1893 catalog (* date shown on this same illustration on "Wikipedia" is erroneously shown as being 1883 *)



(* unfortunately the 1893 catalog shows no listing for wrenches or screwdrivers - only the various hardware the company first started making for the wagon repair industry *)

 

[Slinger646]

Thanks for the info, guys!!!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here are two very early H.D. Smith "Perfect Handle" tools with two different markings, Slinger. These don't include the location, and I can't find an example here with the "barber pole" marking, but I am pretty sure it includes the "H.D. Smith" name, "Perfect Handle" and "Plantsville." Try chalking it!

 

[Username already in use]

Slightly different stamping, but here's the brand mark on mine.