Winchester and unbranded screwdrivers

[Northwoods]

Pulled a nice little Winchester screwdriver from a garage sale box the other day--of the type shown below.

It has the two-part ferrule--brass above steel with two interlock sections.  Then when I looked through a rack of old screwdrivers, I found three more with the same exact handle and the same exact ferrule--but both parts are steel, and they are not branded Winchester.

My question:  Who made them, and how does the ferrule work? Is part attached to the shank and the other to the handle? Or what?  I'm not going to destroy a nice tool to find out how it was constructed.  I never wondered about this, but I sure do now.

Check your stash, and you might find what I did.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Winchester-Screw-Driver-No-7115/333757343031?hash=item4db57ce537:g:I00AAOSw1EtfeIOf

[mikeswrenches]

Champion made a screwdriver like you describe, but I don’t know if they made them for Winchester.

Mike

[Northwoods]

Thanks, Mike.  Thirtysome views and finally got some good info.
My reproduction 1902 Sears Roebuck & Co. catalogue shows the Champion screwdriver in two finish levels and lengths from 3" to 17".  Says they were made by Tower & Lyon out of New York.
AA says they Tower & Lyon active from 1884 to 1916. 

New question:  When did Winchester start making all those tools and similar items?  I was under the impression that that all started after WWI when a glut of weapons hit the world markets and they were scampering to make anything to keep the corporate chin above water.

BTW, if you buy this Winchester garden rake for $595 and pay $50 for shipping, I have a Winchester garden hoe to go with it.  My prices are more competitive.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Winchester-Leaf-Yard-Rake/392966398051?hash=item5b7e9f6063:g:IiUAAOSwh7lfd74H

[coolford]

Why don't you offer him free shipping, that might get him to bite.

[Northwoods]

Smile.

[mikeswrenches]

Why don't you offer him free shipping, that might get him to bite.

I might be interested if it included free personal delivery along with several days of demonstrations on my property.

I found this on your question about the Winchester history.

http://thckk.org/history/winchester-hist.pdf

Mike

[amecks]

The mystery of the two piece ferrule is intriguing.  Not long ago I picked up this Yankee No. 95 long screwdriver with a two piece ferrule.  Close examination reveals no clues about how or why it is two piece.

[p_toad]

sorry if already asked - does that knurled ring turn (un-screw)?

[mikeswrenches]

Take a look at patent no. 790,590. The drawing shows how it’s assembled, and the description describes the logic behind it.

I haven’t  found the North bros. patent yet.

Mike

[amecks]

I wasn't going to apply a pair of pliers to the knurled ring because I didn't want to wreck the knurling.  But according to the patent it turns to release the blade (by an eccentric) but does not come out of the ferrule.  Different blades can then be inserted.  Seems like a great design. Now I know why, on ebay, there are examples of No.95 with different length blades.
So possibly the Winchester driver has a similar set-up?

[Northwoods]

Take a look at patent no. 790,590. The drawing shows how it’s assembled, and the description describes the logic behind it.

I haven’t  found the North bros. patent yet.

Mike

Looks like construction costs would price them right out of the market.

[mikeswrenches]

I wasn't going to apply a pair of pliers to the knurled ring because I didn't want to wreck the knurling.  But according to the patent it turns to release the blade (by an eccentric) but does not come out of the ferrule.  Different blades can then be inserted.  Seems like a great design. Now I know why, on ebay, there are examples of No.95 with different length blades.
So possibly the Winchester driver has a similar set-up?

Al, Please disregard my above reference to that patent. I wasn’t paying close enough attention to the verbage. That patent is actually for a Tool Handle rather than an attachment method as we’ve been discussing. I noticed the knurled piece on the bottom and came to an incorrect conclusion.

I’m relatively certain that the Yankee S/D’s are not made that way. Sorry for the confusion.

Mike

[d42jeep]

I only have this one but I haven’t considered taking it apart.
-Don

[geneg]

The tapered part of the ferrule could have been used on a multitude of products & the end piece was specific to the diameter of the tool.  Inventory control method?  I really don't think it is removable without damaging the tool.