Hi Peter & All,

A few days ago, I suggested that turnscrew was the name for flat bladed
tools and screwdriver the name for round shank ones. Since then, there
have been three denials registered which claim that the names turnscrew
and screwdriver have no such distinction and screwdriver is just a
latter day term that has come into use as a substitute for turnscrew.
Interestingly, two of those denials came from England and one from
Australia. I'm wondering if there's some UK vs. US semantics at work
here?

It's certainly true that the name turnscrew was used for some time
before starting to be replaced by the name screwdriver. It's also true
that flat bladed tools were in use for some time before starting to be
replaced by the round shank ones. I've developed the impression that
many US dealers and collectors have tended to combine those two truths
into the usage I cited. But that might well be just something that I've
come to think based on only a few exposures.

So, does anybody else in the US share my thinking that there is such a
distinction in common US usage of the two terms?

Best Wishes,
Bob