The Ford Barn

ford35lh · 10-06-2018, 12:42 PM

Most of you guys probably have one of these in you tool collection.
Tried a search with no results.
Does anyone know the heritage of this design ???

4dFord/SC · 10-06-2018, 12:49 PM

Think it was originally developed as a can opener for use by US troops in WWI

Terry,OH · 10-06-2018, 01:44 PM

They are produced today and about the only screwdriver for use with a hammer.

51 MERC-CT · 10-06-2018, 02:18 PM

As I recall some were designed and built in Germany by a few different companies.
Had a hammer of the same design and vintage (forged with handles applied)

Fordors · 10-06-2018, 02:43 PM

http://datamp.org/patents/displayPat...214&typeCode=2

Google is your friend.

rotorwrench · 10-06-2018, 03:27 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Most folks that have the HD Smith "perfect handle" tools keep them pretty close in their collections. They were around for a long time.

34PKUP · 10-06-2018, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fordors

http://datamp.org/patents/displayPat...214&typeCode=2

Google is your friend.

Interesting, but it looks like the patent fits the one with the square shank and the other three look like a different design.

ford35lh · 10-06-2018, 07:06 PM

Thanks for the name,looked them up on Alloy Artifacts.

http://alloy-artifacts.org/hd-smith-...y.html#history

Turns out I have their monkey wrench.
Anyone who has ever used one knows why they are named "Perfect Handle".

tubman · 10-06-2018, 07:20 PM

Odd, I have come across a few of these in my travels, and when I picked them up, they didn't fit my hand well, so I have ignored them since. Besides, my dad would probably come back from the dead and kick my ass if I used a hammer on any screwdriver. "That's what chisels are for".

PeteVS · 10-06-2018, 07:42 PM

My dad had one in his "collection" of tools which was pretty sparse indeed. I can't remember the last time I saw it or where it ended up.

JM 35 Sedan · 10-06-2018, 09:52 PM

I have one that I like to use for removing axle housing seals. I got this while helping a friend clean out an old machinists work shop after he had passed away. This has to be more than 100 years old. I use it for many different things, but not usually as a screwdriver.

marko39 · 10-07-2018, 09:43 AM

i bought a set of three about 40 yrs. ago (new) from a speciality catalog (brookstone?) they were called hundred year screwdrivers and work will for beating on. Mark

Don W/Norfolk · 10-07-2018, 10:33 AM

Available here as a set of four.
https://www.garrettwade.com/extra-he...er-set-gp.html
dw

RalphM · 10-07-2018, 10:49 AM

I have one of those as well, use it for adjusting dovetails on doors. Love the aged wood handles, especially in this day and age of plastic.

I almost had a second one, a kid at work had one, and I was going to ask to buy it from him. I was disheartened when I found that he had ground a deep notch in the blade for doing brake springs!

B-O-B · 10-07-2018, 11:24 AM

I still have the long large one the gov issued in 54,it has a bent shank from using it to pry & the strap on the end is a bit flattened from beating on it. I sure wish I would have taken better care of it. I would like to find the smaller version one.

JSeery · 10-07-2018, 11:29 AM

I had a lot of them at one time. My dad was a pack-rat and had lots of everything! They were all sold in garage sales when my parents sold their house. I see them around at sales often.

Bulligen · 10-07-2018, 12:39 PM

Yes They Were of German Origin. Sollingen I believe was the first of that type

RalphM · 10-07-2018, 12:58 PM

Solingen steel also makes the best knives, I have a few. So those screwdrivers were well made.

Terry,OH · 10-08-2018, 06:20 AM

The second one from the top appears like my two and both are marked "Irwin-USA" on the shank.

mhsprecher · 10-08-2018, 03:00 PM

The one on the bottom of the top photo looks like the one in the patent application.

I have seen them before, but I don't have any. This may prompt me to look for one.

Not the same, but I have a draw knife that my father had. It is quite ancient. My great grandfather was a wagon maker and I wonder whether it came from his tool set? I should look at the inventory from his estate and see what is there? It would probably just say: wagonmakers tools.

10-06-2018, 12:49 PM	#2
4dFord/SC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 1,579	Re: Heavy duty screwdriver Think it was originally developed as a can opener for use by US troops in WWI Last edited by 4dFord/SC; 10-06-2018 at 02:10 PM.

10-06-2018, 01:44 PM	#3
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,751	Re: Heavy duty screwdriver They are produced today and about the only screwdriver for use with a hammer.

10-06-2018, 02:18 PM	#4
51 MERC-CT Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: East Hartford, Ct Posts: 5,898	Re: Heavy duty screwdriver As I recall some were designed and built in Germany by a few different companies. Had a hammer of the same design and vintage (forged with handles applied) __________________ DON'T RECALL DOING SOMETHING FOR MYSELF BASED ON SOMEONE ELSE'S LIKES OR DISLIKES Last edited by 51 MERC-CT; 10-06-2018 at 06:58 PM.

10-06-2018, 02:43 PM	#5
Fordors Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Orland Park,IL Posts: 1,402	Re: Heavy duty screwdriver http://datamp.org/patents/displayPat...214&typeCode=2 Google is your friend. __________________ My school colors are black and blue, I attended the School of Hard Knocks where I received a Masters Degree in Chronic Mopery.

10-06-2018, 03:27 PM	#6
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,432	Re: Heavy duty screwdriver Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Most folks that have the HD Smith "perfect handle" tools keep them pretty close in their collections. They were around for a long time.

10-06-2018, 07:06 PM	#8
ford35lh Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Upstate; The Real New York Posts: 444	Re: Heavy duty screwdriver Thanks for the name,looked them up on Alloy Artifacts. http://alloy-artifacts.org/hd-smith-...y.html#history Turns out I have their monkey wrench. Anyone who has ever used one knows why they are named "Perfect Handle".

10-06-2018, 07:20 PM	#9
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,316	Re: Heavy duty screwdriver Odd, I have come across a few of these in my travels, and when I picked them up, they didn't fit my hand well, so I have ignored them since. Besides, my dad would probably come back from the dead and kick my ass if I used a hammer on any screwdriver. "That's what chisels are for".

10-06-2018, 07:42 PM	#10
PeteVS Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: FP, NJ Posts: 2,770	Re: Heavy duty screwdriver My dad had one in his "collection" of tools which was pretty sparse indeed. I can't remember the last time I saw it or where it ended up. __________________ Don't never get rid of nuthin!

10-07-2018, 09:43 AM	#12
marko39 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: harpursville ny Posts: 1,040	Re: Heavy duty screwdriver i bought a set of three about 40 yrs. ago (new) from a speciality catalog (brookstone?) they were called hundred year screwdrivers and work will for beating on. Mark

10-07-2018, 10:33 AM	#13
Don W/Norfolk Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 127	Re: Heavy duty screwdriver Available here as a set of four. https://www.garrettwade.com/extra-he...er-set-gp.html dw __________________ I love this country; it's the damn idiots running the government I'm afraid of.

10-07-2018, 10:49 AM	#14
RalphM Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,651	Re: Heavy duty screwdriver I have one of those as well, use it for adjusting dovetails on doors. Love the aged wood handles, especially in this day and age of plastic. I almost had a second one, a kid at work had one, and I was going to ask to buy it from him. I was disheartened when I found that he had ground a deep notch in the blade for doing brake springs!

10-07-2018, 11:24 AM	#15
B-O-B Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ft Mohave,Az Posts: 1,987	Re: Heavy duty screwdriver I still have the long large one the gov issued in 54,it has a bent shank from using it to pry & the strap on the end is a bit flattened from beating on it. I sure wish I would have taken better care of it. I would like to find the smaller version one.

10-07-2018, 11:29 AM	#16
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: Heavy duty screwdriver I had a lot of them at one time. My dad was a pack-rat and had lots of everything! They were all sold in garage sales when my parents sold their house. I see them around at sales often.

10-07-2018, 12:39 PM	#17
Bulligen Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Elgin Illinois Posts: 736	Re: Heavy duty screwdriver Yes They Were of German Origin. Sollingen I believe was the first of that type

10-07-2018, 12:58 PM	#18
RalphM Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,651	Re: Heavy duty screwdriver Solingen steel also makes the best knives, I have a few. So those screwdrivers were well made.

10-08-2018, 06:20 AM	#19
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,751	Re: Heavy duty screwdriver The second one from the top appears like my two and both are marked "Irwin-USA" on the shank.

10-08-2018, 03:00 PM	#20
mhsprecher Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Takoma Park, MD Posts: 2,817	Re: Heavy duty screwdriver The one on the bottom of the top photo looks like the one in the patent application. I have seen them before, but I don't have any. This may prompt me to look for one. Not the same, but I have a draw knife that my father had. It is quite ancient. My great grandfather was a wagon maker and I wonder whether it came from his tool set? I should look at the inventory from his estate and see what is there? It would probably just say: wagonmakers tools.