Vintage Xcelite or other Nut Driver Sets
- Thread starter d42jeep
- Start date
IMCA38
Well-known member
four.cycle
Well-known member
d42jeep said:
I am CERTAIN that Indestro and Duro-Chrome were outsourcing their nutdrivers and reversible screwdrivers (#4694 and #4695 Indestro) from VACO.
Absolutely NO question in my mind about that.
This is my Vaco set. I also have Craftsman and Proamerica sets, but I do not believe those were made by Vaco.
Unfortunately, Klein bought Vaco, and by the time I called Klein on the phone to pick somebody's brain about Vaco, all the old Vaco people had either retired or passed away.
I found 4 Klein nutdrivers at a garage sale on Saturday and added them to their relatives in the Klein box. The lowest level of the box holds plenty of lineman’s pliers (not shown). They are probably a little modern for this forum, but what the heck, it’s my thread.
-Don
-Don
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cowades206
Well-known member
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- May 7, 2016
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- 83
I sort of inherited this kit several years ago.
Quite a few more tools than just nut drivers and a pretty good field service kit. The unique things in this kit are the spline drivers. I remember repairing some electronics equipment held together with these and being a bit bamboozled at how I could get it disassembled. I suppose they were trying to reduce screw head size to help with miniaturization, but that is just a guess. The one time I needed a spline driver I didn't have one though. Fortunately they didn't catch on.
I've always been disappointed at how poorly the Xcelite Phillips drivers fit screw heads. I'd thought it might be a JIS, Reed Prince or Posi-Drive issue but they don't seem to fit any Phillips head screws well. Nut drivers work good though and I use them often.
Quite a few more tools than just nut drivers and a pretty good field service kit. The unique things in this kit are the spline drivers. I remember repairing some electronics equipment held together with these and being a bit bamboozled at how I could get it disassembled. I suppose they were trying to reduce screw head size to help with miniaturization, but that is just a guess. The one time I needed a spline driver I didn't have one though. Fortunately they didn't catch on.
I've always been disappointed at how poorly the Xcelite Phillips drivers fit screw heads. I'd thought it might be a JIS, Reed Prince or Posi-Drive issue but they don't seem to fit any Phillips head screws well. Nut drivers work good though and I use them often.
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I picked this set up at a swap meet last weekend. It is going to be my user set. Does anyone know the approximate age? A lot of xeclites seem to have the UL logo, which I see was discussed a while back, but is there a timeline of when that started showing up on these?
Very cool set. Those are the first Xcelite Bristol drivers I’ve seen. Bristol has been around for a long time.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8522229&postcount=5
-Don
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I picked this set up at a swap meet last weekend. It is going to be my user set. Does anyone know the approximate age? A lot of xeclites seem to have the UL logo, which I see was discussed a while back, but is there a timeline of when that started showing up on these?
Xcelite tools are really hard to pin down. It looks like that logo was being used on the racks by 1953.
-Don
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Xcelite put the Bristol blades in that set, the 99-PS60 set, and of course, you could buy them individually. One unique thing, I don't believe Xcelite ever made a regular, fixed-handle Bristol screwdriver. I think they only offered them in the 99 blades.
I could be wrong, lol. I've been wrong about Xcelite stuff before, but in all my years of collecting and slobbering over catalogs, I've never seen a non-99 Bristol offering from them.
I ran across a brand of nutdrivers that I had never found before. A couple were in the roll and the rest were loose in the box. I was happy to see that the set was complete when I arrived home. I’m sure they will look better after some cleaning and de-rusting.
-Don
-Don
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bmwrd0
Well-known member
Don, I picked up a 1/4" yesterday, I'll add it to your pile.
Might be a dumb question, but it seems most colored handle nutdrivers follow a standard scheme. Certain colors are certain sizes.
The VACO's and Xcelites I have seem to follow it, and some others have the endcap that same color if their handle is say clear yellow. When did that become standardized, or is it just how it came out?
The VACO's and Xcelites I have seem to follow it, and some others have the endcap that same color if their handle is say clear yellow. When did that become standardized, or is it just how it came out?
Xcelite seems to have done it early on and most other manufacturers followed their color scheme, with a few variations. The color coding only makes sense because it’s much easier just to grab the proper color then to check the sizes. My metric Xcelite set has all black handles.
I spent some time today cleaning up the JC Penny’s set.
-Don
I spent some time today cleaning up the JC Penny’s set.
-Don
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WOOHOO! I finally, FINALLY found the super illusive large metric Xcelite nut drivers! As you all probably know, the regular metric set that Xcelite sells, the 413MM, comes with 4mm through 13mm (skipping 9mm and 12mm). 9mm and 12mm aren't that hard to find. But what some people don't know, is that there are 14mm through 17mm too. And they are VERY hard to find. I have been collecting for years and only ever saw a beat up set once. It killed me to pass on it, but I knew I'd still be looking since they were in such bad shape, so why not just keep looking... Anyway- now I finally scored a NOS set of 14-17mm! I am happy to ever even find ONE of my unicorns at a time. And to find all 4 in one shot? I'm over the moon, lol.
And that completes my metric set (notice the P3mm and P3.5mm compact drivers, gotta have those in the lineup too, lol)
And that completes my metric set (notice the P3mm and P3.5mm compact drivers, gotta have those in the lineup too, lol)
When I can't find any good Xcelite stuff I don't have, I still keep my eyes peeled for unique Vaco tools too. Not so much regular screwdrivers and nut drivers, just weird stuff that Xcelite didn't make. I found this cool handle-storage, hex-drive, USA Vaco 70135 nut driver. It's not in super-great shape, but it's not too bad considering its age. I have never seen one before made by Vaco, so I had to get it:
It takes a little creative nesting/stacking to get all 5 sockets to fit in the handle, but they'll fit:
It takes a little creative nesting/stacking to get all 5 sockets to fit in the handle, but they'll fit:
Provincial
Well-known member
I found what I believe is an Xcelite-made driver that is quite unusual. The handle is identical to my Xcelite 1/4" flat blade screwdriver, but there is no marking on the tool anywhere, and the handle is pristine except for the rough spots that they get as they age. No "mold" or white powder, just the roughness in some areas, while most of the handle is still shiny and smooth.
The shank does not have the two "blades" that a common screwdriver uses to keep from twisting in the handle. This one is knurled. The shank has a rough grayish color/texture, and could be cadmium or zinc coated.
The working end is kind of a tube with two prongs. The "tube" is 3/8" Outside Diameter, 1/4" Inside Diameter, and the hole is 3/8" deep.
I think this was made for "round slotted spanner" nuts, meaning a nut that has a round outside diameter and has a slot cut across the exposed end. These are often recessed in a surface. The hole in the driver is to allow it to engage the slots while avoiding contact with the screw threads.
I understand that this sort of fastener was used in electronic work, but I haven't been able to find any good references on the Internet.
Does anyone know anything about this tool?
The shank does not have the two "blades" that a common screwdriver uses to keep from twisting in the handle. This one is knurled. The shank has a rough grayish color/texture, and could be cadmium or zinc coated.
The working end is kind of a tube with two prongs. The "tube" is 3/8" Outside Diameter, 1/4" Inside Diameter, and the hole is 3/8" deep.
I think this was made for "round slotted spanner" nuts, meaning a nut that has a round outside diameter and has a slot cut across the exposed end. These are often recessed in a surface. The hole in the driver is to allow it to engage the slots while avoiding contact with the screw threads.
I understand that this sort of fastener was used in electronic work, but I haven't been able to find any good references on the Internet.
Does anyone know anything about this tool?
Neat! I have never seen a full-size driver like that. I have a smaller one, the TW-140, meaning "terminal wrench":
They are used for removing the round nuts around microphone/headphone jacks.
There is another size that I don't have, TW-32, I saw this on ebay but missed it:
They are used for removing the round nuts around microphone/headphone jacks.
There is another size that I don't have, TW-32, I saw this on ebay but missed it:
Provincial
Well-known member
CoogarXR, how do the dimensions of mine compare to yours?
Are the markings on yours paint in molded or stamped recesses in the plastic handle? Mine may have been slik-screened onto the smooth finish of the handle groove, and the paint just fell off.
Are the markings on yours paint in molded or stamped recesses in the plastic handle? Mine may have been slik-screened onto the smooth finish of the handle groove, and the paint just fell off.
I think mine is smaller than yours. Here are the measurements and description from an Xcelite catalog that I have here:
As far as the marking, the midget-style drivers are almost always just surface-painted. You can pick it off if you aren't careful. The larger handles like yours can be surface painted, recess/stamp painted, or recess-stamped with no paint. It's strange to see no evidence of any markings at all, usually there's some remnants, especially when the handle is in such good shape.
switchman
Member
i like them also,they are very handy.
Provincial
Well-known member
Thanks Coogar! I think mine was made for a customer, rather than retail sale, because of the non-color-coded handle and lack of markings. Perhaps for a manufacturer, who used them for a particular purpose. They would know that a Terminal Tool was that size and for that purpose without other indicators.
Mine is also one size larger than the listed ones!
Mine is also one size larger than the listed ones!
It's possible that it's a custom piece. I wrote a post about a custom piece I found a while back:
www.garagejournal.com
It could also just be some type of spanner driver that the paint wore off. I saw this one on ebay a while back, but I missed getting to bid on it. It's a spanner that I had never seen (or course it has a recessed/painted stamp):
And yes, I save pics of Xcelite tools I miss out on, just to remind myself of the ones I still don't have yet, lol.
Strange Custom Xcelite Tool - What Was It Used For?
I got this tool in a lot of vintage Xcelite stuff. At first I thought it was a home-made job, since it has a standard Xcelite 99 handle part number. But upon closer inspection, the craftsmanship is too good for home made. Granted it's kinda beat up. But I wonder what it was used for? The center...
www.garagejournal.com
It could also just be some type of spanner driver that the paint wore off. I saw this one on ebay a while back, but I missed getting to bid on it. It's a spanner that I had never seen (or course it has a recessed/painted stamp):
And yes, I save pics of Xcelite tools I miss out on, just to remind myself of the ones I still don't have yet, lol.
bmwrd0
Well-known member
I picked this set up yesterday at a garage sale
A bit cleaned up
These might take the place of my Proto set out in the garage, which might replace my Spintite set in the machinist's roller. I love wood-handled screwdrivers, but color-coded handles on nutdrivers are so handy. In any case, here are the Spintites, from 1/8" to 3/4", only missing the 11/16"
A bit cleaned up
These might take the place of my Proto set out in the garage, which might replace my Spintite set in the machinist's roller. I love wood-handled screwdrivers, but color-coded handles on nutdrivers are so handy. In any case, here are the Spintites, from 1/8" to 3/4", only missing the 11/16"
IMCA38
Well-known member
GreyOwl
Well-known member
I picked this set up yesterday at a garage sale
A bit cleaned up
These might take the place of my Proto set out in the garage, which might replace my Spintite set in the machinist's roller. I love wood-handled screwdrivers, but color-coded handles on nutdrivers are so handy. In any case, here are the Spintites, from 1/8" to 3/4", only missing the 11/16"
I have a similar Vaco set I've had for 50+ years but it has a handle with multiple interchangeable bits to fit. I will try to grab a pic when I get a chanceI picked this set up yesterday at a garage sale
A bit cleaned up
These might take the place of my Proto set out in the garage, which might replace my Spintite set in the machinist's roller. I love wood-handled screwdrivers, but color-coded handles on nutdrivers are so handy. In any case, here are the Spintites, from 1/8" to 3/4", only missing the 11/16"
Raineman
Well-known member
I recently got this batch in a bulk auction site purchase as an extra. I don’t collect nut drivers, but I might start to put a set together. I pass Xcelite drivers all the time. I go to one flea and I think I can put a set together in a couple hours, there is always a bunch there. That said, if anyone needs any of the other stuff shown to fill a set, pm me your address.
Vaco on top (3), Amalite below them (4), Xcelite (keeping for now), another Amalite below that, Ivy Tools and Bridgeport below that, and 2 Pro America at the bottom (not sure about those 2 yet, does anyone know if they are Proto made?)
Vaco on top (3), Amalite below them (4), Xcelite (keeping for now), another Amalite below that, Ivy Tools and Bridgeport below that, and 2 Pro America at the bottom (not sure about those 2 yet, does anyone know if they are Proto made?)
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four.cycle
Well-known member
Raineman said:
Proamerica Tools, Baldwin Park, CA / 221 E 2nd St Emporium, PA 15834 / https://proamericatools.com/
Proamerica is a contract supplier. The bulk of their production is done for military/government, or private-label contracts.
I would think it more likely that Proamerica made them for Proto (as is the case with their pliers.)
Raineman
Well-known member
Thanks four.cycle for the info.
GreyOwl
Well-known member
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Arne,
Would you transcribe the marking on that pouch, please? Hard to read.
Would you transcribe the marking on that pouch, please? Hard to read.