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249565 Thomas Conroy <booktoolcutter@y...> 2014‑07‑27 "YANKEE" screwdriver questions
O Galoots:

Yard sale four blocks from my house today. I got a MF ratcheting screwdriver and
a North Bros. 30A.

The 30A is supposed to be non-quick-return, but my new one does have a spring
and the screw pops out when you release the latch. However, its a weak screw,
whether from metal fatigue or because it was made that way. So what goes? Did
the non-quick-return "Yankees" ever have a spring, just a weak one? Or is this
some kind of user modification or aftermarket upgrade?

FWIW, this 30A has a brass frame with the remains of a black paint job on it. On
the other hand, it has a 1923 patent date as part of the mark. Do these details
together help to date it?

Tom Conroy
Berkeley
249566 JAMES THOMPSON <oldmillrat@m...> 2014‑07‑27 Re: "YANKEE" screwdriver questions
Remove the spring and stretch it about 10% longer without tension. That should
restore the action. If not, stretch it again.

On Jul 27, 2014, at 4:02 PM, Thomas Conroy  wrote:

> O Galoots:
> 
> Yard sale four blocks from my house today. I got a MF ratcheting screwdriver
and a North Bros. 30A.
> 
> The 30A is supposed to be non-quick-return, but my new one does have a spring
and the screw pops out when you release the latch. However, its a weak screw,
whether from metal fatigue or because it was made that way. So what goes? Did
the non-quick-return "Yankees" ever have a spring, just a weak one? Or is this
some kind of user modification or aftermarket upgrade?
> 
> FWIW, this 30A has a brass frame with the remains of a black paint job on it.
On the other hand, it has a 1923 patent date as part of the mark. Do these
details together help to date it?
> 
> Tom Conroy
> Berkeley
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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249568 Thomas Conroy <booktoolcutter@y...> 2014‑07‑27 Re: "YANKEE" screwdriver questions
Thanks, Jim. I'm glad to learn what to do to restore the action. But I'm still
puzzled by a 30A having a spring at all, since its the non-quick-return type. I
have a MF non-quick-return spiral ratcheting screwdriver, and it has no spring
at all, not a lazy one.

Tom Conroy



Jim Thompson wrote:
> Remove the spring and stretch it about 10% longer without tension. That should
> restore the action. If not, stretch it again.
249569 Thomas Conroy <booktoolcutter@y...> 2014‑07‑27 Re: "YANKEE" screwdriver questions
Thanks, Jim. I'm glad to learn what to do to restore the action. But I'm still
puzzled by a 30A having a spring at all, since its the non-quick-return type. I
have a MF non-quick-return spiral ratcheting screwdriver, and it has no spring
at all, not a lazy one.

Tom Conroy



Jim Thompson wrote:
> Remove the spring and stretch it about 10% longer without tension. That should
> restore the action. If not, stretch it again.
249573 Kirk Eppler <eppler.kirk@g...> 2014‑07‑28 Re: "YANKEE" screwdriver questions
On Sun, Jul 27, 2014 at 4:02 PM, Thomas Conroy 
wrote:

>
> The 30A is supposed to be non-quick-return, but my new one does have a
> spring and the screw pops out when you release the latch. However, its a
> weak screw, whether from metal fatigue or because it was made that way. So
> what goes? Did the non-quick-return "Yankees" ever have a spring, just a
> weak one? Or is this some kind of user modification or aftermarket upgrade?
>

The parts list for the 30A and 130A are identical, except the 130A includes
a #24 Spring in Handle, and  #8 Spring Plug (collared at the far end, then
cylindrical, then a tapered tip toward where the spring goes). This sits in
the tail end of the handle, and keeps the spring in line?

I just took my 130A apart (Div of Stanley Works), and the spring is about
7" long. The plug about 1" overall.  8" rule in the picture.

http://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Misc-Images/6241184_Bq2Vmm#!i=34
17433896&k=TTphpfk">http://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Misc-
Images/6241184_Bq2Vmm#!i=3417433896&k=TTphpfk

Since the spring was available as a spare, maybe someone added it.  Do you
have the plug noted above?  Maybe its the right spring without the plug, or
maybe the wrong spring.



>
> FWIW, this 30A has a brass frame with the remains of a black paint job on
> it. On the other hand, it has a 1923 patent date as part of the mark. Do
> these details together help to date it?
>

The Dec 11, 1923 patent is number 1,277,337 for a spiral tool, by TJ Fegley
et al.  The book doesn't spell out specifics, but maybe you can decipher
the pertinent feature here.  Book also doesn't appear to have a timeline.

http://www.google.com/patents/
US1477337


The Book - North Brothers' Manufacturing Company Product Guide - Joe Ward.

Got my copy from David Erickson I believe

Kirk in HMB, typing slow as I slurp down home made strawberry ice cream
249574 Thomas Conroy <booktoolcutter@y...> 2014‑07‑28 Re: "YANKEE" screwdriver questions
That's it. Armored by Kirk's tacit assurance that opening the hnadle wouldn's
sent fifty million watch parts spraying all over the room, never to be recovered
or put back together again, I opened up my new 30A and looked at the spring.
Then I opened a 131A and looked at the spring of that. The new screwdriver's
spring is the right diameter, but its only about half the length it should be,
and it lacks the "spring plug." Apparently someone did the best conversion he
could with the materials at hand. It shouldn't be that hard to find a spring
that will do a better job, just as soon as I find a spring store in my
neighborhood. And that's something I will certainly do, just as soon as I get a
round tooit.

 Yep, it'll get done soon. Well, it'll get done. Someday.

Thanks, Kirk,

Tom Conroy
Berkeley


Kirk Eppler wrote:
>
>The parts list for the 30A and 130A are identical, except the 130A includes a
#24 Spring in Handle, and  #8 Spring Plug (collared at the far end, then
cylindrical, then a tapered tip toward where the spring goes). This sits in the
tail end of the handle, and keeps the spring in line?
>
>
>I just took my 130A apart (Div of Stanley Works), and the spring is about 7"
long...
>
>Since the spring was available as a spare, maybe someone added it.  Do you have
the plug noted above?  Maybe its the right spring without the plug, or maybe the
wrong spring.
249586 <ruby@m...> 2014‑07‑28 Re: "YANKEE" screwdriver questions
On Sun, 27 Jul 2014 16:02:13 -0700
  Did the non-quick-return "Yankees" ever have a
> spring, just a weak one? Or is this some kind of user
> modification or aftermarket upgrade?


tom

You could buy them either way.  I learnt from an old gut
who had of the giant ones and he used to install door
hinges.  I liked it and bought one at a flea, but he said
"Oh, I see you got one with a spring" after I buggered a
surface.

Ed Minch
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249592 Don Schwartz <dks@t...> 2014‑07‑29 Re: "YANKEE" screwdriver questions
On 7/28/2014 3:35 PM, ruby@m... wrote:
> You could buy them either way.  I learnt from an old gut
> who had of the giant ones and he used to install door
> hinges.  I liked it and bought one at a flea, but he said
> "Oh, I see you got one with a spring" after I buggered a
> surface.
>
> Ed Minch
FWIW, it seems to me this would not be a problem if you are using 
Robertson screws.

Don
249593 Kirk Eppler <eppler.kirk@g...> 2014‑07‑29 Re: "YANKEE" screwdriver questions
On Sun, Jul 27, 2014 at 7:11 PM, Kirk Eppler  wrote:

>
>
>
> On Sun, Jul 27, 2014 at 4:02 PM, Thomas Conroy 
> wrote:
>
>>
>> FWIW, this 30A has a brass frame with the remains of a black paint job on
>> it. On the other hand, it has a 1923 patent date as part of the mark. Do
>> these details together help to date it?
>>
>
> The Dec 11, 1923 patent is number 1,277,337 for a spiral tool, by TJ
> Fegley et al.  The book doesn't spell out specifics, but maybe you can
> decipher the pertinent feature here.  Book also doesn't appear to have a
> timeline.
>
> http://www.google.com/patent
s/US1477337
>
>
> The Book - North Brothers' Manufacturing Company Product Guide - Joe
> Ward.
>
>
A little more on age

The Revision A tools were made in 1923 or later, they were introduced in
Jan 1924.  Supposedly ran a half pg ad in the Saturday Evening post April
12, 1924, cant find a copy online yet.

Kirk in HMB, flipping through the book more.
249597 Steve Reynolds <s.e.reynolds@v...> 2014‑07‑29 Re: Re: "YANKEE" screwdriver questions
On 07/29/14, Don Schwartz wrote:


On 7/28/2014 3:35 PM, ruby@m... wrote:
> You could buy them either way. I learnt from an old gut
> who had of the giant ones and he used to install door
> hinges. I liked it and bought one at a flea, but he said
> "Oh, I see you got one with a spring" after I buggered a
> surface.
>
> Ed Minch
FWIW, it seems to me this would not be a problem if you are using 
Robertson screws.
249598 Phil Schempf <philschempf@g...> 2014‑07‑29 Re: Re: "YANKEE" screwdriver questions
Ya - I think the problem comes in when you depend on the spring to hold the
business end of the driver in the screw recess rather than holding it there
with your free, non-driving hand.  Not having the spring requires that you
do so, while with the spring you may be tempted to multitask with the free
hand and end up with unintended decorations in the wood around the screw
head.

Phil


On Tue, Jul 29, 2014 at 4:08 AM, Steve Reynolds 
wrote:

>  On 07/29/14, Don Schwartz wrote:
>
>
> On 7/28/2014 3:35 PM, ruby@m... wrote:
> > You could buy them either way. I learnt from an old gut
> > who had of the giant ones and he used to install door
> > hinges. I liked it and bought one at a flea, but he said
> > "Oh, I see you got one with a spring" after I buggered a
> > surface.
> >
> > Ed Minch
> FWIW, it seems to me this would not be a problem if you are using
> Robertson screws.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I can't speak for Ed, but I think he means the typical problem when you
> release the spring, the driver comes flying out at, seemingly, the speed of
> sound, the point hits something soft and fragile, and you stand there with
> one of those, "Oh, sh!t!" looks.  Nothing Mr. Robertson can do to help you.
>
> Regards,
> Steve
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
> aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
> value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
> traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.
>
> To change your subscription options:
> http://rucku
s.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
>
> To read the FAQ:
> http://swingleydev.com/archi
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>
> OldTools archive: http://swingleydev.com/archive/">http://swingleydev.com/archive/
>
> OldTools@r...
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>
249599 John Holladay <docholladay0820@g...> 2014‑07‑29 Re: Re: "YANKEE" screwdriver questions
I actually have one each of these with & without the spring. I prefer the
spring version for use with a counter sink bit or driving a drill bit. For
driving screws, I prefer the non-specific version for the reasons Phil
describes. It's just easier to keep it engaged in the screw and to control
things.

Doc
On Jul 29, 2014 8:57 AM, "Phil Schempf"  wrote:

> Ya - I think the problem comes in when you depend on the spring to hold the
> business end of the driver in the screw recess rather than holding it there
> with your free, non-driving hand.  Not having the spring requires that you
> do so, while with the spring you may be tempted to multitask with the free
> hand and end up with unintended decorations in the wood around the screw
> head.
>
> Phil
>
>
> On Tue, Jul 29, 2014 at 4:08 AM, Steve Reynolds 
> wrote:
>
> >  On 07/29/14, Don Schwartz wrote:
> >
> >
> > On 7/28/2014 3:35 PM, ruby@m... wrote:
> > > You could buy them either way. I learnt from an old gut
> > > who had of the giant ones and he used to install door
> > > hinges. I liked it and bought one at a flea, but he said
> > > "Oh, I see you got one with a spring" after I buggered a
> > > surface.
> > >
> > > Ed Minch
> > FWIW, it seems to me this would not be a problem if you are using
> > Robertson screws.
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > I can't speak for Ed, but I think he means the typical problem when you
> > release the spring, the driver comes flying out at, seemingly, the speed
> of
> > sound, the point hits something soft and fragile, and you stand there
> with
> > one of those, "Oh, sh!t!" looks.  Nothing Mr. Robertson can do to help
> you.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Steve
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
> > aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
> > value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
> > traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.
> >
> > To change your subscription options:
> > http://ruc
kus.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
> >
> > To read the FAQ:
> > http://swingleydev.com/arc
hive/faq.html
> >
> > OldTools archive: http://swingleydev.com/archive/">http://swingleydev.com/archive/
> >
> > OldTools@r...
> > http://ruc
kus.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
> >
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
> aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
> value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
> traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.
>
> To change your subscription options:
> http://rucku
s.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
>
> To read the FAQ:
> http://swingleydev.com/archi
ve/faq.html
>
> OldTools archive: http://swingleydev.com/archive/">http://swingleydev.com/archive/
>
> OldTools@r...
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