When you think Yankee screwdrivers, the first thing that come to mind is probably the ubiquitous Yankee automatic spiral screwdrivers.
But North Bros originated all kinds of other fastening tools, including a wide variety of ratchet screwdrivers.
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Lets have a look at some I came across lately.
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Yankee No 3400 small offset ratchet slot screwdriver
Was available in a few other blade tips under similar series Numbers
No 3400 had 2 different sizes slot screwdriver tips,
No 3412 had 2 Phillips bits, No 1 and 2
No 3422 had a Phillips No 2 and a Reed & prince No 2
No 3423 had a Phillips No 2 and No 3
Never seen the other ones, but the No 3400 comes up often on various online sites and in person...
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Lets have a closer look at patent
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After Stanley took over , in 1946, they continued North Bros tools at their factory in Phila and they were stamped
NORTH BROS. MFG. CO. DIV. OF STANLEY TOOLS PHILADA
Later on they will gradually shift all production lines to New Britain Conn and shut down the original North Bros factory. From there on (30 Jun 1958) ALL North Bros/Stanley tools are now simply stamped Yankee, Stanley, such as my example.
Mine is probably a mid 50s to late 50s version since it still has the 1936 pat date on it. Patent being good for about 20 years, say possibly 1936-1956 before they removed the Pat date.
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There is a similar sized version made by General Hardware Mfg Co, I do not know if it featured the same long ago expired patent design. Instead of a series of various tools with different fixed bits, that one uses simple 1/4 inch hex bits inserts.
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The Stubby ratchet screwdriver No 2H Handyman
A small 4 inch overall long ratchet screwdriver. Like all North Bros products, it has a very smooth operating and rugged mechanism. It is a delight to use. Blade tip is 5/32 inch wide
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Besides the handy ratchet mechanism, a great advantage of these two small screwdrivers is that they both featured a proper slot screwdriver for woodworker, parallel tips.
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Great find, great tools. If you ever come across some of North Bros products, unless it had a rough ride and put away wet, you will find that they are great tools and are smooth operators.
Bob, barely scratching the surface of his new pile of tools. Rudy and I are back under adult supervision :-)
But North Bros originated all kinds of other fastening tools, including a wide variety of ratchet screwdrivers.
Lets have a look at some I came across lately.
Yankee No 3400 small offset ratchet slot screwdriver
Was available in a few other blade tips under similar series Numbers
No 3400 had 2 different sizes slot screwdriver tips,
No 3412 had 2 Phillips bits, No 1 and 2
No 3422 had a Phillips No 2 and a Reed & prince No 2
No 3423 had a Phillips No 2 and No 3
Never seen the other ones, but the No 3400 comes up often on various online sites and in person...
Yankee Stanley, that makes it post 1946
Two different blade width on it.
The larger one is 3/8, the smaller 1/4 inch wide
Lets have a closer look at patent
Patent No 2058855
DATAMP screen shot
The original patent drawing, 1936
After Stanley took over , in 1946, they continued North Bros tools at their factory in Phila and they were stamped
NORTH BROS. MFG. CO. DIV. OF STANLEY TOOLS PHILADA
Later on they will gradually shift all production lines to New Britain Conn and shut down the original North Bros factory. From there on (30 Jun 1958) ALL North Bros/Stanley tools are now simply stamped Yankee, Stanley, such as my example.
Mine is probably a mid 50s to late 50s version since it still has the 1936 pat date on it. Patent being good for about 20 years, say possibly 1936-1956 before they removed the Pat date.
Ad from Popular Mechanic magazine of Mar 1951.
Still shows Philadelphia address
There is a similar sized version made by General Hardware Mfg Co, I do not know if it featured the same long ago expired patent design. Instead of a series of various tools with different fixed bits, that one uses simple 1/4 inch hex bits inserts.
The General version.
Pic from Amazon
The Stubby ratchet screwdriver No 2H Handyman
A small 4 inch overall long ratchet screwdriver. Like all North Bros products, it has a very smooth operating and rugged mechanism. It is a delight to use. Blade tip is 5/32 inch wide
Ad in Sep 1939 Popular Science
Besides the handy ratchet mechanism, a great advantage of these two small screwdrivers is that they both featured a proper slot screwdriver for woodworker, parallel tips.
They are both roughly 4 inches long
Great find, great tools. If you ever come across some of North Bros products, unless it had a rough ride and put away wet, you will find that they are great tools and are smooth operators.
Bob, barely scratching the surface of his new pile of tools. Rudy and I are back under adult supervision :-)