Got me a "new" screwdriver.

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Long story short, my mom found a bag of my grandpas old tools. He used to be a shoe repair man and would be around 120years old now. My mom said I could keep a tool in the bag so I took a screwdriver because it's cool. Just going to sit in the toolbox and hold onto it because it was in my family and I never got to meet him. Anyone have any idea how old this is?Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:I remember Stanley used to make one like that, 60's & 70's. I never cared for them so kinda lost track that they even existed. Don't know how far back they started."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleLong story short, my mom found a bag of my grandpas old tools. He used to be a shoe repair man and would be around 120years old now. My mom said I could keep a tool in the bag so I took a screwdriver because it's cool. Just going to sit in the toolbox and hold onto it because it was in my family and I never got to meet him. Anyone have any idea how old this is?
Reply:Not sure if it's official, but they were commonly called a Yankee Screwdriver.Last edited by denrep; 04-05-2012 at 12:46 AM.
Reply:I have two, I dont know how old mine are but old as far as I can tell. One is a german Hoppe brand w/ spring( looks like yours but longer) and the other is a Millers Falls #61a no spring. They have a left and right hand action(drive in and out) with a neutral position it wont move.  Also they have a collar witch will lock in (or out) the driver rod, to use as a shorter or longer screwdriver.That looks like potentially a Stanley Handyman Yankee Screwdriver Tool no. 133Hhttp://www.etsy.com/listing/77588067...andyman-yankeeA couple of links on these. http://www.jonzimmersantiquetools.co...s/bitstock.htmhttp://www.oldtoolsnstuff.com/yankeescrewdriverpage.htm
Reply:Yankee Screwdrivers, I first saw one in '54 as a freshman in high school. They have been all but replaced by the cordless screwdriver.  They are still around, but I am told Yankees are no longer made in the USA.  One of the tool catalogs says they are still made in England.  I read they are popular with those who, for religous reasons, choose not to use power tools.  Two years back, I was in a hardware store having some locks rekeyed, the young gal doing the work picked up a Yankee to disassemble the lock and I said; "you have to be 40 years old to know how to use one of those"  The store owner said "she qualifies", and the gal said"just barely".I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:considering my folks weren't even born when nado was in high school, I have used one of those, with a wood handle, that used to be my grandfathers. I have no idea where it is now, perhaps my dad has it somewhere? Anyways, loved playing with it as a kid. Didn't know the design had been around so long, but it never malfunctioned. Personally, cordless screwdrivers suck. This is so much easier/quicker in my opinion. If I don't use a drill, I do it by hand.Hobart EZ-Tig newbie.
Reply:My grandpa had a small collection of those things, I never did see him use them as he had a cordless by the time I was old enough to be in the shop with him. My guess is that one is probably from somewhere between the 50's and 70's
Reply:I got one somewhere around my house.  Used to play with it when I was a kid in my dad's wood shop.BTW in blue's brothers Jake uses one in the elevator to remove screws from the floor button panel to disable the elevator.Lincoln 300 Vantage 2008300 Commander 1999SA250 1999SA200 1968Miller Syncrowave 200XMT350MPA/S-52E/xr-15Xtreme 12vs Millermatic 251 w/30A  Millermatic 251 Dialarc 250 Hypertherm 1250 GEKA & Bantom Ironwokers
Reply:My Dad is a carpenter and still carries a long version yankee screwdriver in his toolbox, although it doesn't come out much. He also has a drill that works on the same principle. It has a bunch of very small drills that stow in the handle. He uses it frequently. It fits in his tool belt and on small holes is as fast as a cordless drill without the weight.
Reply:We used to have a drill like that when I was growing up. Can't remember if the Yankee screwdriver we had used those bits or if I'm remembering 2 separate tools. I'll have to remember to look in dad's shop next time I get over to his place..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I have a 18" version I think you could get a longer one than that as well. Bought it in the mid 80's even after I had Battery drivers I still preferred it as it was quicker and didn't run out, but as time wore on I used it less and less. Stamped on the sleeve;STANLEY"Yankee" No131BMade by StanleyENGLAND Attached Images
Reply:You can get a reproduction of the Stanley push drill from Garrett Wade, Stanley stopped making them in 2004.http://www.garrettwade.com/product.asp?pn=69P01.01Or you can buy a vintage one off ebay:http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...rill&_osacat=0
Reply:Originally Posted by forhireYou can get a reproduction of the Stanley push drill from Garrett Wade, Stanley stopped making them in 2004