Tool Talk

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: jimwrench on November 05, 2012, 08:41:15 PM

Title: odd screwdriver
Post by: jimwrench on November 05, 2012, 08:41:15 PM

 Got this unusual screwdriver at auction today. no marking. 16 in long;7/16 dia rod; 1 3/4 dia handle.  Handle is made of some hard composition material. Handle retained by transverse rivet. Anybody know who might have made it or know anything about it ?
 Just another oddity I coudn't resist.

Title: Re: odd screwdriver
Post by: rusty on November 05, 2012, 09:08:44 PM

I recognize the material, it is cloth solidified with phenolic, (bakelite) it was popular for making various things, like circuit boards at the end of the Vacuum tube era...

I have never seen a screwdriver handle made out of it tho...

Title: Re: odd screwdriver
Post by: Lostmind on November 05, 2012, 09:47:37 PM

I think phenolic was used as piston in disc brake calipers ,to keep from corroding.
That's an odd screw driver,I probably would have bought it also.

Title: Re: odd screwdriver
Post by: john k on November 05, 2012, 10:01:48 PM

No names?   Just looking at the shape and size, my guess it was done by a machinist, using up some scrap material.   The plastic handle tools I have seen in ads from 1940, already had a modern look to them.   He had this big chunk, and it was a wonder material in the 1940s, chucked it in the lathe, used a blade from another screwdriver, riveted it, done.   I'd have bought it also.