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Author Topic: Perfect Handle Rubber Grip  (Read 8067 times)

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Offline johnsironsanctuary

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Perfect Handle Rubber Grip
« on: September 27, 2012, 06:20:18 PM »
I periodically cruise through St. Vinnies in Port Washington. Today, it was a worthwhile trip. If I remember, which is a risky statement, HD Smith was bought out in 1928 by Trimont Corp.  Trimont used the Perfect Handle name for a few years after that. This is marked 'THE HD SMITH & CO RUBBER COVERED'. This is a 7 1/2 inch screwdriver and is obviously a normal perfect handle under the rubber. Being marked HD SMITH, it was made before the sale. It is in very good condition and the rubber is still good after all these years.



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Offline 1930

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Re: Perfect Handle Rubber Grip
« Reply #1 on: September 27, 2012, 06:27:32 PM »
Thats neat
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Offline Brophy

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Re: Perfect Handle Rubber Grip
« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2012, 07:12:09 PM »
I've never seen one of those...hell, I've never even -heard- of rubber coated PH driver!

This is too cool.

...Rob...green with envy!
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Offline Papaw

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Re: Perfect Handle Rubber Grip
« Reply #3 on: September 27, 2012, 08:57:36 PM »
I have been looking for one of those for a long time.
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Offline scottg

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Re: Perfect Handle Rubber Grip
« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2012, 09:10:38 PM »
Jump Back!! I never knew they existed! I lov eit when "new to me" stuff comes to light
 What a score!
 yours Scott
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Offline jimwrench

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Re: Perfect Handle Rubber Grip
« Reply #5 on: September 27, 2012, 10:06:05 PM »
 New to me also. Nice find and its looks to be in good shape.
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Offline johnsironsanctuary

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Re: Perfect Handle Rubber Grip
« Reply #6 on: September 27, 2012, 10:38:15 PM »
Yes, it is in very good condition. There are a few spots where it got hot with another screwdriver lying across it, but virtually no wear. The tip appears to be unused. I guess it was worth the 50 cents that I paid for it. I guess that the tool gods new that I was upset about this weeks giveaway.

 Papaw, what year is the catalog page?
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Offline anglesmith

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Re: Perfect Handle Rubber Grip
« Reply #7 on: September 27, 2012, 10:54:39 PM »
Nice screw driver, I like the "unqualifiedly guaranteed" so many warrentees have small print these days!
Graeme
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Offline Branson

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Re: Perfect Handle Rubber Grip
« Reply #8 on: September 28, 2012, 09:42:43 AM »
Quote from: Brophy on September 27, 2012, 07:12:09 PM
I've never seen one of those...hell, I've never even -heard- of rubber coated PH driver!

This is too cool.

...Rob...green with envy!

Jumpin' Jehosiphat!   Seems only Papaw knew these were ever made!   Fifty cents?  I smell suckage here!  Great score.  Congrats!
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Offline Papaw

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Re: Perfect Handle Rubber Grip
« Reply #9 on: September 28, 2012, 09:46:50 AM »
That is page 11 of the 1920 catalog tiltled No. 25. What I have is a reprint that is often available on Ebay, and has been scanned by me in Scribd, though some have said they are unable to reproduce it from there without paying.
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Offline rusty

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Re: Perfect Handle Rubber Grip
« Reply #10 on: September 28, 2012, 08:36:05 PM »

Smith made a number of things besides the classic Perfect handle screwdrivers and wrenches, including Linemans climbers (strap them to your boots and climb a pole), Buttons type cutting pliers, farriers tools, tongs , army barbed wire cutters, and perhaps the strangest thing of all, die setup wedges for drop forging machines...(why this is in the tool catalog I have not the slightest clue, the average joe tool buyer hasn't the slightest need for such a thing....)

I have seen the Smith rubber handled screwdriver mentioned in one of the electrical trade magazines, but this is the first actual one I have seen, very nice :)
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Offline Neals

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Re: Perfect Handle Rubber Grip
« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2012, 10:01:28 PM »
More stuff to watch for. The only things I have seen are the monkey wrenches and they are rare here.
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Offline bunger

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Re: Perfect Handle Rubber Grip
« Reply #12 on: September 29, 2012, 05:36:19 AM »
Quote from: johnsironsanctuary on September 27, 2012, 06:20:18 PM
This is a 7 1/2 inch screwdriver and is obviously a normal perfect handle under the rubber.

Not exactly.
One of my friends showed me one that he found without the rubber molding.
The rubber is molded into the perfect handle shape over basically a straight shank with a flat spot towards the end. You can see the shoulder where the rubber starts.
I have one of these in my HD Smith collection. Part of the rubber is missing, showing the shank.

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Offline lbgradwell

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Re: Perfect Handle Rubber Grip
« Reply #13 on: September 29, 2012, 09:17:40 AM »
Quote from: Papaw on September 28, 2012, 09:46:50 AM
What I have is a reprint that is often available on Ebay, and has been scanned by me in Scribd, though some have said they are unable to reproduce it from there without paying.

As Scribd now seems to be charging for downloads, I have taken the liberty of uploading this catalogue to mediafire also. I've managed to reduce the file size from 49MB to 18MB too, so it seems to be a win...

It should be here:

http://www.mediafire.com/view/?sb4doilhb93l8gf
« Last Edit: September 29, 2012, 01:46:20 PM by lbgradwell »
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Offline bunger

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Re: Perfect Handle Rubber Grip
« Reply #14 on: September 29, 2012, 09:45:10 AM »
Quote from: rusty on September 28, 2012, 08:36:05 PM

...the strangest thing of all, die setup wedges for drop forging machines...(why this is in the tool catalog I have not the slightest clue, the average joe tool buyer hasn't the slightest need for such a thing....)


HD Smith was located in the Plantsville section of Southington CT.
Southington one once home to a large number of drop forging companies and tool companies such as PEXTO, Stanley Tools, SOHACO and Clark Brothers Bolt, all of which did drop forging also.
HD Smith probably manufactured them for it's local customers then decided to offer them in it's catalog.
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