Weird little screwdrivers

[Heavymetal]

Anybody have any odd little screwdrivers?? This is legit, for the rigorous world of flute maintenance.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

It must be rigorous, looks like the tip is twisted

 

[driftpin]

It looks like a cheesy near-potmetal screwdriver, the type that used some crappy plastic for the handle, where any appreciable amount of torque would cause the plastic handle to split-apart, and the shaft/tip to quickly deform. I bet any musical instrument technician would refuse to use such a crappy tool on something about-which they cared, or something which they were being paid to fix.

Here are some screwdrivers in the toolbox. The two smaller ones, I call 'em 'novelty screwdrivers,' are from my wife's 41 year career as an electrical engineer for the company which is the world's largest producer of solar and wind-power generation, besides the traditional natural gas and nuclear power-generation methods. As you can see, they are combination slotted and phillips, and the white one has a magnetic insert on the handle end. The Xcelite slotted screwdriver is very-handy for working on small brass jets in motorcycle carburetors.

I have a couple screwdrivers which came with phonograph turntable cartridge/stylus kits, not pictured, from Shure. They are very-small and appear to be made with some precision, to fit the small machine screws which secure the cartridge body in the tonearm shell, on a quality turntable.

 

[3baygarage]

Artley, neat. That tiny screwdriver can cause big problems for wind instruments if screws get played around with.

 

[woody 73]

Yes indeed flute maintenance...

Donald Artley said "Boys we need a special screwdriver to fix are flutes" so this is what happened.

The next thing you know some gorilla took that screwdriver and beat the **** out of his flute...


https://ourpastimes.com/the-history-of-artley-flutes-12185661.html

Never heard of that screwdriver but I liked the story very much.

 

[1982fxr]

It looks like a cheesy near-potmetal screwdriver, the type that used some crappy plastic for the handle, where any appreciable amount of torque would cause the plastic handle to split-apart, and the shaft/tip to quickly deform. I bet any musical instrument technician would refuse to use such a crappy tool on something about-which they cared, or something which they were being paid to fix.

Here are some screwdrivers in the toolbox. The two smaller ones, I call 'em 'novelty screwdrivers,' are from my wife's 41 year career as an electrical engineer for the company which is the world's largest producer of solar and wind-power generation, besides the traditional natural gas and nuclear power-generation methods. As you can see, they are combination slotted and phillips, and the white one has a magnetic insert on the handle end. The Xcelite slotted screwdriver is very-handy for working on small brass jets in motorcycle carburetors.

I have a couple screwdrivers which came with phonograph turntable cartridge/stylus kits, not pictured, from Shure. They are very-small and appear to be made with some precision, to fit the small machine screws which secure the cartridge body in the tonearm shell, on a quality turntable.

Do they still make those novelty ones? Can't remember ever seeing them for sale but in the 80's and 90's it seemed like all the old guys had em.

 

[Cleave]

I once used a 3 foot long pry bar to bend a flute key for my wife.... My reasoning, the human hand can only make so small of a movement, so a longer lever will make the displacement of the key much smaller, giving me more accuracy. It worked great.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Artley flutes tend to be low end, student grade instruments so it's no surprise the screwdriver is low end as well.

Here are some screwdrivers in the toolbox. The two smaller ones, I call 'em 'novelty screwdrivers,' are from my wife's 41 year career as an electrical engineer

I'm an electrical engineer as well. I have a box full of those kinds of screwdrivers, picked up at various trade shows and conventions over the last 40 years.

 

[bonneyman]

I have a weakness for tiny drivers. Use them for thermostat and electronic work.

Don't visit this link because then you might hate me! lol

https://www.micromark.com/mini-hand-tools/screwdrivers-nut-drivers

 

[Rick B.]

It's always cool when you can tie a tool to a particular company or purpose. My little yellow one has been floating around amongst my tools for God knows how long. Don't know where it came from but it was made in the USA! Not many cheap tools can say that these days. I've had several of the all metal screw drivers since the early 70's. It's a sight adjustment tool and one used to come with every new Smith&Wesson revolver.

 

[driftpin]

Do they still make those novelty ones? Can't remember ever seeing them for sale but in the 80's and 90's it seemed like all the old guys had em.

She said they were gifts when she went to seminars for her job as an E.E., where the various suppliers would give-away the screwdrivers, mechanical pencils, pocket protectors, and other such-stuff, with their names on them. My current coffee cup I prefer to drink-from is from Schweitzer Engineering Labs (SEL). SEL invents, designs, and builds digital products and systems that protect power grids around the world. They also give-away a big coffee cup.

I recall as a kid, when we had to take our TV (b & w, of-course) to be repaired, the guy would always be wearing a shirt with a pocket protector, it was filled with screwdrivers, pencils, and whatever-else he needed close at-hand.

 

[y'sguy]

Wait a sec! You mean there is not a thread on this site specifically about advertising novelty screwdrivers? Hard to believe, but I've never searched it.

I have several, mostly from Snap-on sales and service reps from years past. Complete with the clip of course.

 

[3baygarage]

I once used a 3 foot long pry bar to bend a flute key for my wife.... My reasoning, the human hand can only make so small of a movement, so a longer lever will make the displacement of the key much smaller, giving me more accuracy. It worked great.

Interesting.

 

[bonneyman]

Do they still make those novelty ones? Can't remember ever seeing them for sale but in the 80's and 90's it seemed like all the old guys had em.

Yeah, I remember all the dealers would pass out those promotional screwdrivers like candy at trade shows and such. I'd go to those shows just to get a years worth of pens and drivers! lol

Now everyone has stopped doing that to cut costs - you have to go to the big suppliers to get 'em. Here's a few:

https://www.garrettspecialties.com/screwdrivers-c-69_977.html

https://www.pens.com/auto-and-home/tools/screwdrivers

https://www.promotionchoice.com/categories/Home/Tools

 

[y'sguy]

Yeah, I remember all the dealers would pass out those promotional screwdrivers like candy at trade shows and such. I'd go to those shows just to get a years worth of pens and drivers! lol

Now everyone has stopped doing that to cut costs - you have to go to the big suppliers to get 'em. Here's a few:

https://www.garrettspecialties.com/screwdrivers-c-69_977.html

https://www.pens.com/auto-and-home/tools/screwdrivers

https://www.promotionchoice.com/categories/Home/Tools

Also probably not that well thought of to carry back home on the plane these days.