Tool Talk
Classic Auto and Motorcycle Tools => Classic Auto and Motorcycle Tools => Topic started by: lauver on August 15, 2012, 01:34:46 PM
-
Gang,
I picked up a strange looking spinner handle at the dirt market this weekend. The only markings on it are "Deco" and "44B8809".
Here's a couple of photos showing it as I found it and after a good cleaning and polish:
(http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo109/lauver_photos/DecoDriver1.jpg)
(http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo109/lauver_photos/DecoDriver2.jpg)
(http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo109/lauver_photos/DecoDriver5.jpg)
The handle appears to be made of two seperate pieces that are pressed together.
Has anybody heard of or seen the Deco brand before?
Any thoughts on OEM or possible date range?
-
Great cleaning job, how did you do it?
-
Holy cow I though it was wood, we may have to change full Elroy to full Lauver. I assume those holes in the handle are to hold bits. Real neat.
-
Thats nice and a great job on making it sparkle.
-
Wow! You did a great job with the clean & shine. What's your secret? I think I have seen some Deco screwdrivers, but nothing like that. I also like your key fob. Is it silver soldered on the back?
-
Is it 1/4 ...or 9/32 ? Others I found are 9/32.....
-
Is it 1/4 ...or 9/32 ? Others I found are 9/32.....
rusty,
Damn it, it is 9/32". Good catch. Every 9/32nd tool I have was bought thinking it was 1/4". I have got to start carrying my vernier calipers in my back pocket when I go to the dirt market.
-
Holy cow I though it was wood, we may have to change full Elroy to full Lauver. I assume those holes in the handle are to hold bits. Real neat.
Fins,
You may be right, but I think the holes may just be decorative.
-
I have got to start carrying my vernier calipers in my back pocket when I go to the dirt market.
Or a 1/4" socket.
-
1930 & geneg,
Ok, here's the procedure for refurbing old plastic handles:
1) knock down any raised spots and molding seams with a fine flat file.
2) sand the entire plastic surface with 220 grit sandpaper to remove oxidation, scratches, and other blems, but stay clear of any stampings or lettering on the plastic.
3) resand the entire plastic surface with 400 grit wet sandpaper to a smooth frosty finish, but avoid any stampings or lettering on the plastic.
4) polish the entire plastic surface with automotive rubbing compound until the plastic surface begins to take on a shine.
5) polish the entire plastic surface with automotive polish until the plastic takes on a high polish.
6) spray the entire plastic surface with WD40, and take a soft tooth brush to all the crevices and lettering, then wipe it down with a paper towel. This will remove all the excess rubbing compound, polish, and clean out all the crevices, lettering, or stampings. You're done...
note-- this is time consuming, so it's best to save this procedure for your most favorite and highest valued plastic handled tools.
-
Wow! You did a great job with the clean & shine. What's your secret? I think I have seen some Deco screwdrivers, but nothing like that. I also like your key fob. Is it silver soldered on the back?
geneg,
The key fob is home made from a Korean/Viet Nam era Army Medical Corps stainless steel spoon handle. I liked the insignia on the handle and decided to make a fob with it. It's not silver soldered, just bent over.
-
1930 & geneg,
Ok, here's the procedure for refurbing old plastic handles:
1) knock down any raised spots and molding seams with a fine flat file.
2) sand the entire plastic surface with 220 grit sandpaper to remove oxidation, scratches, and other blems, but stay clear of any stampings or lettering on the plastic.
3) resand the entire plastic surface with 400 grit wet sandpaper to a smooth frosty finish, but avoid any stampings or lettering on the plastic.
4) polish the entire plastic surface with automotive rubbing compound until the plastic surface begins to take on a shine.
5) polish the entire plastic surface with automotive polish until the plastic takes on a high polish.
6) spray the entire plastic surface with WD40, and take a soft tooth brush to all the crevices and lettering, then wipe it down with a paper towel. This will remove all the excess rubbing compound, polish, and clean out all the crevices, lettering, or stampings. You're done...
note-- this is time consuming, so it's best to save this procedure for your most favorite and highest valued plastic handled tools.
Thanks, I would not have guessed that
-
Lauver, I saw your post today at work and thought, I got one of those (not shined up nicely tho!). Danged if can find it now.
But searching for info on a Plomb 4749 bought me to this post... from Tool Talk.
Interesting ratchet on his spinner, cant see if there are any holes on his.
http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=5392.0
Brian L.
-
Lauver, this is a 2 for 1 special for you!
Here is a pic of the 9/32 spinner and also an offset Walden Worcester 3/4 wrench!
Brian L.
-
Now you dont have any excuse ( well except the time factor ) to not clean up that handle :)
-
Gang,
I havent been able to find any info on the Deco brand, the OEM, or the approximate date of my spinner handle. So I've decided to just go with the general date range for 9/32" drive tools, which seems to be about 1925-1937, give or take.
-
Bill Houghton and I exchanged some messages a while back.
I liked his odd spinner handle. He needed a fairly scarce plane fixed.
So a plan was made and he sent the loot.
Well the problem with the plane was a wallowed out lever cap. This is unusual. There is almost no reason for this place to wear at all. It never moves but once every blade sharpening.
I expect somebody was using the wrong blade in this tool to make this happen at all.
Since it was really unusual and got my problem solving juices ramped up to a keen pitch, I had to dive into it right away. It works like this. Mundane problems are merely work. But the truly unusual you get to actually puzzle over???
The fix was straightforward as soon as I had a clear plan. I took the lever cap off and lined up on the drill press. Reamed the wallowed out hole round and smooth. There was still a hair of taper just at the top. I didn't want to ream that far to save material. Lever caps for these are pretty delicate.
Then I took some bronze and turned a bushing on the metal lathe. A bit of clearance to ride the mounting screw (it has to move). Then a light taper with nearly an interference fit on the outside diameter, so it would be have to be pressed into the lever cap, and stay there.
Ready for another 100 years use!
So the barter goodies?
His weird socket driver just like Gary's. I am a sucker for weird. It says Deco and a number and this is the only marking.
I thought it was 1/4" drive at first too. But it turns out to be 9/32 as well.
A much rarer size but it means I don't get to use it as much.
Attached to the end of this? Which I at first though to part of it, is actually a 9/32drive ratchet adapter!
It pops off and can go on any 9/32 tool.
Its a darling thing. I have seen hundreds of 3/4 and 1/2" ratchet adapters. 3/8" is scarcer but they do exist. This is never saw before.
It says (some unreadable numbers) then, Pat Applied For
USAF J.O Mfg Co, Sough Gate, Calif
The loose ring on top reverses direction. It has about 18 clicks per revolution.
There is no way to get it apart without breaking it. All I could do was soak it in acetone/atf and then dry and lightly oil.
yours Scott
-
I really enjoyed the whole of the post, but I had to respond to this:
>Mundane problems are merely work. But the truly unusual you get to actually puzzle over???
This is one of the best things I've read in a while. Might have to be enshrined as a Daily Quote. Yep, the mundane problems just grind you down, but the unusual problems make you grow.
-
scottg,
I thought this thread had run it's course and died a natural death. Never expected you to post on this odd driver either.
That said, do you think there might be a connection between the driver and the ratcheting adapter? Could J.O. Mfg Co. of Calif. be the OEM of both? Think about it... the adapter vastly increases the utility of the driver... could it have been a package deal? Just a thought.
Commendations on you good taste in drivers.
-
I suppose they could have come together. But I would have expected at least some cursory nod each to the other in the markings. I know I would have if I were making them.
The adapter has a standard mount, like an extension, so could fit onto any driver handle or breaker bar, etc. etc.
I sure wish somebody would find an ad for the driver handle. I keep wondering if the holes actually held other tools/bits or were merely decorative. They seem to extend though the smaller diameter part so something about 3" long would fit and still leave an unobstructed grip.
The fact that neither of ours were found with any bits at all, seems like a longer shot though.
yours Scott
-
JO mfg seems to be war era, and not much past the 50's....
They did manage to (aquire a) patent (for) an eggbeater drill
http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?pn=2310759&id=14411
There are a few other references in the patent files as reference material, not much else...
-
Wow thanks Rusty! You da man on research!!
yours Scott
-
the handle is too separate pieces,right? I bet the drive end will slip down and become a spinner with the knob stationary in your hand.why would the make it two pieces? I have some other drivers that lock or spin..check it out..Larry
-
It looks like this thing just won't die. I was browsing around ebay this morning and spotted this thing from Snap On and I'm pretty sure that is the same funny looking handle. At least in this case, it's a speeder handle. Take a look.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-SNAP-ON-9-32-Drive-M-44-SPEEDER-/290772845819?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43b36984fb
-
When I was looking around before, I found a mention that someone had found one in a box with some snapon sockets, but that is the kind of thing that is often just coincidence. odd to also see it with a snapon speeder.
Making me think more and more that it, the adaptor, and some other things were in some kind of military special tool kit .....
hmmm////
-
Gang,
I'm liking the U.S. Military connection theory. As it turns out, the flea market I bought this 9/32" spinner handle at is about 10 miles from a large Army base, and I have found a number of tools that have come from this base, many of which have tool inventory numbers inscribed on them.
-
Dang, Gary, I'm still amazed at how great your redone handles come out!
-
Dang, Gary, I'm still amazed at how great your redone handles come out!
Indeed! From now on I'm sending all my plastic handle refurbishment projects to you!
-
Dang, Gary, I'm still amazed at how great your redone handles come out!
Indeed! From now on I'm sending all my plastic handle refurbishment projects to you!
I think his lead time is up to about 4 years right now! lol
-
Bill Houghton and I exchanged some messages a while back.
I liked his odd spinner handle. He needed a fairly scarce plane fixed.
So a plan was made and he sent the loot.
Well the problem with the plane was a wallowed out lever cap. This is unusual. There is almost no reason for this place to wear at all. It never moves but once every blade sharpening.
I expect somebody was using the wrong blade in this tool to make this happen at all.
Since it was really unusual and got my problem solving juices ramped up to a keen pitch, I had to dive into it right away. It works like this. Mundane problems are merely work. But the truly unusual you get to actually puzzle over???
The fix was straightforward as soon as I had a clear plan. I took the lever cap off and lined up on the drill press. Reamed the wallowed out hole round and smooth. There was still a hair of taper just at the top. I didn't want to ream that far to save material. Lever caps for these are pretty delicate.
Then I took some bronze and turned a bushing on the metal lathe. A bit of clearance to ride the mounting screw (it has to move). Then a light taper with nearly an interference fit on the outside diameter, so it would be have to be pressed into the lever cap, and stay there.
Ready for another 100 years use!
So the barter goodies?
His weird socket driver just like Gary's. I am a sucker for weird. It says Deco and a number and this is the only marking.
I thought it was 1/4" drive at first too. But it turns out to be 9/32 as well.
A much rarer size but it means I don't get to use it as much.
Attached to the end of this? Which I at first though to part of it, is actually a 9/32drive ratchet adapter!
It pops off and can go on any 9/32 tool.
Its a darling thing. I have seen hundreds of 3/4 and 1/2" ratchet adapters. 3/8" is scarcer but they do exist. This is never saw before.
It says (some unreadable numbers) then, Pat Applied For
USAF J.O Mfg Co, Sough Gate, Calif
The loose ring on top reverses direction. It has about 18 clicks per revolution.
There is no way to get it apart without breaking it. All I could do was soak it in acetone/atf and then dry and lightly oil.
yours Scott
A new member here. Just perusing the posts and came across this one. I have an identical adapter I posted in another thread. Made by J O Mfg Co the number is spec 50482 A.It is also stamped USAF. In researching this I came across an odd shaped hand drill made by the same company with a similar spec #. It was theorized that this drill was made for working in tight quarters such as an airplane. It sounds feasible as the estate auction I bought them at was from a retired career Air Force person.
-
JO mfg seems to be war era, and not much past the 50's....
They did manage to (aquire a) patent (for) an eggbeater drill
http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?pn=2310759&id=14411
There are a few other references in the patent files as reference material, not much else...
Gotta be a military thing. I've got a JO Mfg. angled hand drill, used for drilling in really tight spaces (like inside airplane wings). It's also military says USAF on it. I think Proto made one, too.