Vintage Xcelite or other Nut Driver Sets

[southalabama]

Dad had the set posted by akalain. I think the plastic case and a number of them are missing but some of the pieces are still floating around.

 

[6PTsocket]

Those Mac drivers definitely look like Xcelite, and the Corsair look to be Vaco rebrands.

Corsair was a brand of Great Neck Tool. I have a wood plane that has a Corsair gum label on it that also says Great Neck, with the giraffe logo, so I doubt they made that either. Maybe Stanley?

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[Ole Slewfoot]

I was meaning to post this VACO all in one set awhile back.
It has a 12 tooth ratcheting section roll pinned to the automatic nut driver section. I have seen examples of either feature separately, but not together like this. Kind of clunky, but prebably handy in the right spot. The directional switch looks like the cheesy Harbor freight type, but is metal, and locks unless you press it in before shifting. Nice stuff.
Stamped UL VACO S/B 70711

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm not sure why I'm even keeping this little critter. It's 1/8" hex and I can't imagine what I'll need it for. I'm trying to imagine someone who needed it so often it was in his breast pocket. Electronics, I guess.

 

[PFSard]

I'm not sure why I'm even keeping this little critter. It's 1/8" hex and I can't imagine what I'll need it for.

Makes me feel better that I'm not the only one.

 

[Jolomite]

I'm not sure why I'm even keeping this little critter. It's 1/8" hex and I can't imagine what I'll need it for. I'm trying to imagine someone who needed it so often it was in his breast pocket. Electronics, I guess.

Outstanding work, Lugnutz! Did you remove the pocket clip in order to polish/ buff the handle? There isn't even a trace of buffing rouge in the stamped lettering. I have a new standard to aspire to.

I found a kit of Proto mini-nut drivers awhile back. I'd say the sizes get down below one 1/8", but I'll have to check. Tiny electronics, indeed!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Did you remove the pocket clip in order to polish/ buff the handle? There isn't even a trace of buffing rouge in the stamped lettering. I have a new standard to aspire to.

Believe it or not, that spent 20 minutes in a bath of Metal Rescue, clip included, then I wiped it down with a pad of 0000 steel wool, hit it with some WD-40, wiped it off with a rag, and voila.

 

[Macduf]

Cool set , got it for cheap because of the smell.

 

[Gerry Clarke]

My Toga (Buck & Hickman) BA nut runners, with one interloper.

Gerry

 

[Macduf]

Only one they had but looked old. Any idea on age?

 

[6PTsocket]

Those Mac drivers definitely look like Xcelite, and the Corsair look to be Vaco rebrands.

Corsair is a brand of Great Neck. I have a plane that might be Stanley but it has a gum label that has the Great Neck and Corsair names on it.

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[d42jeep]

Only one they had but looked old. Any idea on age?

Likely ‘40s. Definitely before 2/52 when the company name was changed to Xcelite.
-Don

 

[Stuart in MN]

Stopped at the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore today to paw through the tool bins. Pickings were pretty slim but I did find a few small Xcelite nut drivers for $1.50. I have a screwdriver set I got for Christmas probably 50 years ago, I'll add these to it.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Stopped at the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore today to paw through the tool bins. Pickings were pretty slim but I did find a few small Xcelite nut drivers for $1.50. I have a screwdriver set I got for Christmas probably 50 years ago, I'll add these to it.

I just purchased two of these new they Home Depot... I have an old Craftsman set my uncle had... probably made my them..,


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[four.cycle]

Vaco SAE Nutdriver Set by four.cycle, on Flickr

somewhere around here are complete sets of Proamerica and Craftsman. not a clue where they're at. all SAE - no metric.

 

[d42jeep]

Those look nice, BK. Here is the Xcelite set in my Daughter and Son in Law’s toolbox. They don’t seem to be getting much use.
-Don

 

[woody 73]

Funny this post should come this day as I just got back from buying a large pail of nut drivers and the lion's share were Xcelite...I am thinking when I get back I need to put them on sale on the GJ.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I posted this in the Garage Sale thread, a find from yesterday's flea market, but I didn't get any replies. Not sure where else to put it. I never collect things like this, which looks modern, but this one made me curious, and I had to admit while a bit gimmicky, I thought it was well done.

One handle, one shank, with a hex opening (1/4", and 5/16") on each end, SEE-LECT brand name, with an IBM part number. There are three notches in that shank. You push the button to release it. You can use either of the nut spinners with the handle in the middle, or you can slide the handle all the way to one side or the other for a longer reach.

I'm guessing it came in other size combinations in a set, but no other examples of "SEE-LECT" tools turn up anywhere on the net. I'm assuming that IBM had a service force with their own tools akin to Bell System, but that's just intuition. Anyone know anything about that or this tool?

 

[woody 73]

Were the made just for the IBM company workers ?

 

[four.cycle]

Not a clue why I cobbled together that VACO set, other than thinking they were pretty.
I would have focused on putting together a set of Indestro, but (unless I'm mistaken) Indestro outsourced them from VACO, so I went with the original.
I don't really think they ever saw much use.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Were the made just for the IBM company workers ?

I don't know, woody. That's what I meant when I drew the analogy to Bell System. That would be my guess. For repairmen to maintenance various machines. But I am not aware of anything like that. I am speculating.

 

[four.cycle]

See - Lect Industrial Equipment Co Inc
174 Brady Ave
Hawthorne, NY 10532
(914) 769-9113

^ that's as much headway as I can make.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, 4.c. That is plenty! Confirms 3rd party production and gives me something to search on.

 

[d42jeep]

As first posted on the Garage sale thread, I found this complete looking Xcelite set at the Tahoe flea this morning.
-Don

 

[torqueman2002]

I have my dad's original set. He probably got them in the late 50's or early 60's (?). I use them all the time.

I like the hollow shanks, he used them for radio/TV repair where they fit over control shafts.

I found this set with the holder.

I guess they are growing on me, here are my other sets: Craftsman and Wiha.

 

[gungatim]

As first posted on the Garage sale thread, I found this complete looking Xcelite set at the Tahoe flea this morning.
-Don

nice, I remember that blue roll, probably circa '70's. before that they were red IIRC.

 

[bonneyman]

Nice vintage set, torqueman!

 

[torqueman2002]

Nice vintage set, torqueman!

Thanks. I like using my dad's tools. Not many left, but the one's that I have are good quality.


I know the Xcelite are known for a peculiar smell, but on the rack where the air circulates they're fine.

 

[jgromada]

I have a bunch of these, all with the stinky handles. Boy those things are hard to clean up

 

[d42jeep]

I found these two Xcelite mini sets at a garage sale this morning. I expected them to be stinkdrivers considering that they were in closed up boxes, but the customary Xcelite smell was rather minimal.
-Don

 

[jeffmoss26]

nice!!

 

[406Rich]

I have a full set of Excelites, not as nice as the above ones. But still use them..

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: I know I have a bunch of these because I can smell them every now and again. I'll have to read the thread from the beginning to see if there is a way to remove the smell or if someone knows how please do tell.

I remember wondering why my wife's new plastic toolbox I gave her with a few tools in it to put under the kitchen stink always smelled like puke so i'm sure I have a set of small Xcelite drivers in it.

 

[d42jeep]

I found some of the earliest Xcelite nutdrivers I’ve seen at an estate sale yesterday.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

since dahigdon and d42jeep are bringing this thread back to life...

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Already posted on the Dunlap thread but I'll throw them on here. 53 Dunlap set.

 

[d42jeep]

I found this little pouch with two nutdriver bits in it last Friday. It turned out to be a perfect fit for the short nutdriver handle I found on January 3rd.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I found a fairly complete set of very early Xcelite nutdrivers at a Napa estate sale today. The first picture is as found and the next after a bit of cleanup.
-Don

 

[Leviton]

I found a fairly complete set of very early Xcelite nutdrivers at a Napa estate sale today. The first picture is as found and the next after a bit of cleanup.
-Don

Wow, you really scored. Those are some oldies. In my searching, the "Patent Applied" For versions are quite rare. Nice.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks. I like the early ones. We revisited a sale on Sunday that we had gone to Friday. They had brought out this Xcelite set with holder and since it was half price day I had to have them. They cleaned up pretty well.
-Don