Tools, Ph and other screwdrivers

[john k]

Was finally organizing somewhat, and discovered I had 3 of these PH like screwdrivers.    The top one is marked JJ Ryan Toolworks.   Wonder if those washers on the rivets are original?  The middle is a PEXTO,  the handle is round, unlike the PH oval shape.  The bottom is an HD Smith Perfect Handle, says so right on the shank on a ribbon like roll.  That is the diagonal slash one can make out an inch from the blade end.  Kind of alike, but not. 

[scottg]

hey Nice ones John!
I like the hex shoulder models!
The Pexto are a little weird to fit new scales to. I have done a couple.
  yours Scott

[rusty]

J.J. Ryan Toolworks was in Southington,Ct, apparently across the street from PEXTO.
A newspaper article mentions a fire at the Ryan plant, guards at the Pexto plant called the fire department....(Mar 1964)

Seems to be the J J Ryan Tool Co by 1970..
More recently, J J Ryan Corp, plantsville

Can't trace before that, don't know if J.J.Ryan & Co of Chicago is the same or not...

[bunger]

J.J. Ryan Toolworks was in Southington,Ct, apparently across the street from PEXTO.
A newspaper article mentions a fire at the Ryan plant, guards at the Pexto plant called the fire department....(Mar 1964)

Seems to be the J J Ryan Tool Co by 1970..
More recently, J J Ryan Corp, plantsville

Can't trace before that, don't know if J.J.Ryan & Co of Chicago is the same or not...

I live in Southington & I am a firefighter with the SFD.
I was at the final JJ Ryan fire. It was about 1975.
The building was totally destroyed.

JJ Ryan moved it's operations to another forge shop, Rex Forge in Plantsville after the fire.
Plantsville is a village within Southington.

The 2 forging companies operated side by side for a few years before consolidating and is now known as the Rex Forge Division of JJ Ryan Corp..
Rex Forge still operates around the clock. Rex Forge never had a brand of it's own. It is mainly a contract forge.

[Papaw]

Great info to have, Bunger! Thanks!

[skipskip]

Was finally organizing somewhat, and discovered I had 3 of these PH like screwdrivers.    The top one is marked JJ Ryan Toolworks.   Wonder if those washers on the rivets are original? 


I just got a JJ Ryan PH screwdriver, it has the washers too.



AUG 050 by skipskip, on Flickr

Skip

[john k]

Nice, I have two large screwdrivers with handles like the turned one in the upper right hand corner.   Is that a nut driver?  Any names visible?  One nice thing about a screwdriver collection, a lot of them don't take up a whole room, or weigh 250lbs.

[mikeswrenches]

The one on the top right looks like it is for split nuts.  The one on the bottom right is very similar to one I have but mine doesn't have any flats on the handle.  Does the ferrule have any marks on it?

Mike

[skipskip]

no writing anywhere

not sure what split nuts are but here's a pic of the end


AUG 093 by skipskip, on Flickr