American Screwdrivers

[Big A]

I seem to remember that a long time ago there used to be references to the aforesaid "American screwdriver". I was doing a job today when I could have used one to start some screws and it seemed to me that I had not heard of them for a long time.

I suppose that power drivers have negated the need for them. Does anybody else remember them?

Cheers,
Alister.

[rwbuild]

Still got mine after 40+ years in the trade. They were more commonly known as a Yankee screwdriver.

The secret was to wash the piston and barrel with kerosine regularly, let dry then apply a couple of drops of sewing machine oil before each days work if they were used regularly.

They commonly came in a small and large size, had both but someone liked the small one better than I did.

The other thing with them was the actual blades. They came in various sizes to suit the slot size in screws but you had to be vigilant and keep the bits well honed to the correct size otherwise they would ride up out of the slot and create havoc with that nicely stained / polished finish that you were working on.

Cordless technology and Phillips head screws put paid to them as well as the cost of good quality Yankee screw drivers, they weren't cheap

[hughie]

Yep I'm pretty sure I still have one packed away somewhere.

[issatree]

Hi Alister,
Yes I still have about 15, as I collect 'em.

[Rod Gilbert]

I still have 2 in my box the large and the mid size I used to also have a small one but it was obviously needed by someone else far more than I. You could also get a variety of phillips bits and some drill bits to suit. They are great to use but yes they could make a mess if you came of the screw head.(2 hands over you're head pumping screws into hard wood frame to hang overheads dam need a new back.)
Regards Rod.

[BlackbuttWA]

Yes, I still have my set of 3 Yankee Screwdrivers, & a heap of bits.

Used to work on houses with no power so they were great, this was before cordless drills were common.

I have actually been considering selling them lately as I no longer use them.
In fact I have many hand tools that I will be selling before long.

Col

[george mavridis]

What are American screwdrivers? Are they the old type that you used to push and it had a spiral tread that screwed in the screw?

[Mobyturns]

I still use my Stanley "Yankee" screwdrivers. I see you can get adaptors to fit torx bits etc.

[hughie]

I still use my Stanley "Yankee" screwdrivers. I see you can get adaptors to fit torx bits etc.

Never even crossed my mind, nice one

[Mobyturns]

http://www.garrettwade.com/improved-...rs/p/08C03.01/ maybe worth a look for any that are interested.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-4-Hex-Bi...-/370798540741

[Big A]

Aah, so there is a difference between an American screwdriver and a Yankee screwdriver. Those push to turn drivers are a marvelous bit of engineering and good to see that there are some still driving on.

I though that the American driver was a claw hammer, something that chippies of the past used to hang in their belts. A few good blows with a hammer gave a screw a good start, then maybe nip it up with the good old flat blade. Perhaps my memory cells are deficient.

I was purposely cryptic in my opening post.

Thanks for the memories.

Alister.

[powderpost]

Yep, I still have my "yankee" spiral drivers. We also did use a hammer to drive the screw in as far as the thread then used a screw driver to set the screw. The "Yankee" spiral driver was excellent for "boring" a small hole through the glass beside casement stile, when the bit slipped out of the screw slot. Philips head screws certainly helped eliminate that problem.

Jim

[Mobyturns]

Yep, I still have my "yankee" spiral drivers. We also did use a hammer to drive the screw in as far as the thread then used a screw driver to set the screw. The "Yankee" spiral driver was excellent for "boring" a small hole through the glass beside casement stile, when the bit slipped out of the screw slot. Philips head screws certainly helped eliminate that problem.

Jim

Amazing how big a ding those things could make in painted surfaces, formica/laminex, masonite, glass ...

As for American screwdrivers we used the 26oz claw version not so good on hardwoods though when one half of the screw head went awol. Then required the multi screw extractor claw .

[nine fingers]

I have a couple of the smaller yankees I purchased in early 50s , chrome plated and red handles , but my boss then had a large one brass plated and spring loaded return, never ever seen another like it. John.

[Evanism]

It would be cool to mount a drill bit in there.

It would make pre-drilling super fast.