Vintage turnscrew

[sonnycrockett84]

Is anyone able to identify or have any information on this turn screw? I have never seen one so ornate. There's no manufacturer's marks anywhere. It's over a foot long. It appears to have been used very little.

 

[four.cycle]

At first glance, it's too perfect to be real.
I'm thinking "presentation piece", maybe?
Like an "Annual Award for Best Screw Turner" or something?
Maybe a salesman sample?
You see any sort of wear on the business end of the thing?

 

[RTM]

A toolmonger friend says those fancy ones are often home made, or user embellished, to the point that no references to the original maker are left.

Nice find.

 

[four.cycle]

Jeff speculated that it might be an instance of the previous owner testing his capabilities of engraving, OR possibly (as I speculated above) some sort of "presentation piece". (e.g, "Screw Turner of the Year Award")

 

[The Cobbler]

looks wood lathe toolish to me

 

[sonnycrockett84]

At first glance, it's too perfect to be real.
I'm thinking "presentation piece", maybe?
Like an "Annual Award for Best Screw Turner" or something?
Maybe a salesman sample?
You see any sort of wear on the business end of the thing?

Not really wear. I'd call it patina. It does look like it was "sharpened" after it was etched, but that may have just been the process of creating the flat.

 

[four.cycle]

looks wood lathe toolish to me

^ agreed. the handle doesn't look at all like "production screwdriver handle". (at least not to me.)

 

[RTM]

^ agreed. the handle doesn't look at all like "production screwdriver handle". (at least not to me.)

Looks like a lot of my bigger turn screws, not the little ones so much that may have been factory made. Pix later.

 

[bigredcornhead]

I was going to say some akin to piano tuning equipment