>
http://www.mwtca.org/the-gristmill/sample-articles/77-yankee-tools-
checklist">http://www.mwtca.org/the-gristmill/sample-articles/77-yankee-tools-
checklist
.html
>
> This list is a help, thanks David.  But doesn't tell dates, does mention
spring return that Ed 
>
> mentioned.
>
> I usually look at the wood handle, and the Presence of Stanley.  Stanley
makes it 
> later,(1946?),  crappy wood or plasticky makes it later.
>
> Kirk in HMB, not sure where the real dates are for Yankees in Sheffield.

Thanks Kirk.  I wrote that list back in the 90's.  It's amazing that it is
still on the MWTCA website.  Since that was written, Joe Ward published the
book, North Brothers Manufacturing Company Product Guide, which is the bible
for Yankee collectors.  Joe sold his remaining copies to me, so I have them
for sale at $20, a good price for a color-illustrated hardbound book that is
232 pages full of information.  The book focusses on the tools made by North
Brothers in Philadelphia, so it covers the period from 1897 to about 1957
(from 1945 to 1957 tools were marked North Brothers a Division of Stanley,
or similar).  It does not cover the later tools that do not say North
Brothers, which include the Sheffield-made tools.

There is an article by David Truesdale that was published in the EAIA
Gristmill publication, that gives the types for Yankee screwdrivers, and
which is useful for collectors who wish to date Yankee tools.  The types
depend on patent dates, presence of screws, type of ferrule, beaded handle,
etc.  However, the types don't extend to Sheffield produced screwdrivers or
any non-North Brothers labeled tools).  There are also many varieties of
Yankee screwdrivers that were produced during WWII, with different metals or
plating or bluing. 

I have seen both 130A and 130B (and 135A, 131A) Yankee screwdrivers made in
Sheffield.  All that I have seen say Stanley, not North Brothers, so that
would imply they were made after 1957.  I know that they get a premium
price, compared to common variety 130A made by Stanley.  There were also
Yankee screwdrivers made in Germany in the early 50's, which seem to be much
less common but don't command the higher price, probably because collectors
generally are not aware of them.

Dave