Thread: Yankee Superstars

G'day

I have a couple of "Yankee" drivers that I bought back in th 70's, these were packed away after I bought a cordless drill, but I have recently brought them back into service. One thing I don't like about them is the plastic handle as they are not at all comfortable, do you know if it is possible to change these to a wooden handle ?

Regards

Dad had a Yankee screwdriver of the type shown when I was a kid. Never liked it. I think our timbers were too hard to drive the screws in.

The bit brace was good.Wish I knew where it got to.

I bought a 130A in 1973 during the first year of my apprenticeship. Like Basilg I put mine away when I bought a cordless drill. But in the last couple of years I've acquired a few more (initially in bulk buys of tools on Trademe).

I've now got four 130As and two 131As - all Stanley. I've got multiples of each because they've all got faults. My original has a ratchet tooth broken, another has the screw that holds the collar (sleeve) broken off, and a third has a slightly bent shaft. One day I'll take them all to bits and make 2 or 3 good ones out of them.

I bought square drive bits for both sizes (from Lee Valley) and now use them for driving screws just as often as the cordless.

Artme, I always drill pilot holes, whether I'm screwing with the cordless or the Yankee.

Thanks for the great website SGB

edit: I've just had a look at www.stanleytools.com They list wooden handles for both the 130A and the 131A @ $US2.60 each.

Cheers, Vann.

SG

I have all those tools you feature, and use every one.

Nice to see the original adverts.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by SGBarnes

Please check out my page at: Woodworking Hand Tools - "Yankee" Superstars

All comments and suggestions welcome.

Thank you.

YOU BEAUTY!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Mate.
Had a look at your "YANKEE" SUPERSTARS page and half way down was a picture and description of "YANKEE" ratchet Brest and hand drill, the same as the one I have hanging on my shop wall. It was given to me by my late father, and even when I was a little kid I loved using it, drilling holes in any lump of scrap I could find. It was a tool I really loved, with many happy memories about it. It was great fun to play with all the settings, (thats when I was old enough to actually move them). It's really great to see something written about it for the first time. Thanks again, Brent.
PS. I'm really in a spin over this, I might just go into my shop and drill a few holes in something!

Originally Posted by Basilg

G'day

I have a couple of "Yankee" drivers that I bought back in th 70's, these were packed away after I bought a cordless drill, but I have recently brought them back into service. One thing I don't like about them is the plastic handle as they are not at all comfortable, do you know if it is possible to change these to a wooden handle ?

Regards

Thanks for the input. I never owned (or saw) any with plastic handles, but there is a response concerning them below.

James

Originally Posted by artme

Dad had a Yankee screwdriver of the type shown when I was a kid. Never liked it. I think our timbers were too hard to drive the screws in.

The bit brace was good.Wish I knew where it got to.

Thanks for the input. What model were you using? We used to drive #12 screws into oak (crossbeams) and Australian Jarrah (flat bed truck floorboards) using the "YANKEE" No. 131A heavy pattern. We did drill pilot holes and grease the screws though.

James

Originally Posted by Vann

I bought a 130A in 1973 during the first year of my apprenticeship. Like Basilg I put mine away when I bought a cordless drill. But in the last couple of years I've acquired a few more (initially in bulk buys of tools on Trademe).

I bought square drive bits for both sizes (from Lee Valley) and now use them for driving screws just as often as the cordless.

Artme, I always drill pilot holes, whether I'm screwing with the cordless or the Yankee.

Thanks for the great website SGB

edit: I've just had a look at www.stanleytools.com They list wooden handles for both the 130A and the 131A @ .60 each.

Cheers, Vann.

Thanks for the kind words and great information, Vann. Sorry to hear about your bad luck with the "YANKEES". I have been lucky -- have owned dozens over more years than I can remember and nary one problem.

James

Originally Posted by derekcohen

SG

I have all those tools you feature, and use every one.

Nice to see the original adverts.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Thanks for the input, Derek.

James

Originally Posted by devils wood

YOU BEAUTY!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Mate.
Had a look at your "YANKEE" SUPERSTARS page and half way down was a picture and description of "YANKEE" ratchet Brest and hand drill, the same as the one I have hanging on my shop wall. It was given to me by my late father, and even when I was a little kid I loved using it, drilling holes in any lump of scrap I could find. It was a tool I really loved, with many happy memories about it. It was great fun to play with all the settings, (thats when I was old enough to actually move them). It's really great to see something written about it for the first time. Thanks again, Brent.
PS. I'm really in a spin over this, I might just go into my shop and drill a few holes in something!

Thanks for the very kind words, Brent. My grand-kids will be amazed that someone thinks "I Rock"! A great story -- and I understand your enthusiasm for I am a sentimentalist -- and an incurable hand tool junkie! Ai'nt it great?!

James

A few images.

Yankee screwdrivers ...



Yankee 1530A at the front ..



Yankee Bell Systems ...



Fun and function.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Derek

Assuming it's just the front hand drill we're looking at?

Cheers
Andrew

Hi Andrew

Yes - the thread is about Stanley Yankees. The rear two are Miller's Falls, one a #2 and the other a #5. For reference, the Miller's Falls drills are two of the best around. If you see one, grab it.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by derekcohen

For reference, the Miller's Falls drills are two of the best around. If you see one, grab it.

Picked one up last week actually so was wondering why they were in shot - I read the caption below instead of above and got myself confused sorry!

Were the other tools as good as the screwdrivers? I've got a few now, just need to pick up some extra bits for them. I have fond memories of using Dad's old plastic handled spiral screwdriver when I was a kid, it's floating around the toolbox somewhere so must dig it out too.