Posted 5 years ago
AnythingOb…
(1778 items)
I'm not sure if the way the foldable handle on this old screwdriver is made is intended to allow more 'torque' to be twisted onto a screw head, or simply to also serve as a sorta 'tack hammer' in addition to being a screwdriver...seems like it would be pretty effective at either task. :-)
It is 7-1/2" long when the handle is 'closed', 6-1/4" when 'open'. The entire thing is very sturdily made of plated steel, with a mechanism (of some sort involving a spring) within its knurled handle that (probably much like a folding pocketknife) lets the handle sorta securely 'click' into either position.
On one side of its shank (seen with the handle open) it is stamped "CRESCENT TOOL CO. JAMESTOWN N.Y." (with a logo) and "PATENT PENDING" on the other.
Good idea. Wonder why we don't see that today ?
I found two listening on etsy.com showing it as a hammer/ screwdriver.
THANKS Watchsearcher, fortapache, blunderbuss2, hunterqlee, Broochman, Horseradishman1, yougottahavestuff, & Brunswick for your comments and <love it>s!
BB2, I actually do have a couple more screwdrivers with similar pivoting-T handles around here somewhere, both probably newer than this one. One is aluminum and was made by an aircraft company, another actually has a plastic/resin/? handle. I need to dig those up and get pics too, I suppose...?? :-)
Hunter, despite etsy (or ebay) descriptions, I'm still not convinced it was intended to also be used as a hammer -- despite the fact that it certainly could be to some degree anyway. Its blunt end isn't really made any thicker/heavier than the rest of the handle, and doesn't really show much of any noticeable scarring/etc that its ever been used that way.
Crescent Tool catalog circa 1915 describes the T handle as an aid for torque and a light duty hammer.