I am looking for a very good quality, smooth action "Yankee" style
spiral push screwdriver. I want it to be about 9 to 11 inches long
fully extended and able to store the bits in the handle. I have seen
several examples, but without better descriptions and trying them out
personally, I can't decide. Does anyone have thoughts on what I found
below or have other sources?
This will be a present for my son who at 31 is reliving his childhood
and recalls me using one for years.
Garrett Wade has two
69P01.01 that is all metal and stores bits in the handle, but I don't
see the length and I don't know how smooth the action is.
19S17.01 is the "original" Yankee, is the right length, but I don't
think you can store bits in the handle.
Lee Valley
28K02.01 has bit storage in the handle and is 9 7/16 inch long
extended. This looks perfect, but I don't know how smooth the action
is and the end cap is plastic. My old ratcheting screwdriver had a
metal cap that I could use to pound a plastic fastener into the wall
which was very convenient.
on 11/10/2007 8:58 AM eganders said the following:
> I am looking for a very good quality, smooth action "Yankee" style
> spiral push screwdriver. I want it to be about 9 to 11 inches long
> fully extended and able to store the bits in the handle. I have seen
> several examples, but without better descriptions and trying them out
> personally, I can't decide. Does anyone have thoughts on what I found
> below or have other sources?
>
> This will be a present for my son who at 31 is reliving his childhood
> and recalls me using one for years.
>
> Garrett Wade has two
> 69P01.01 that is all metal and stores bits in the handle, but I don't
> see the length and I don't know how smooth the action is.
> 19S17.01 is the "original" Yankee, is the right length, but I don't
> think you can store bits in the handle.
>
> Lee Valley
> 28K02.01 has bit storage in the handle and is 9 7/16 inch long
> extended. This looks perfect, but I don't know how smooth the action
> is and the end cap is plastic. My old ratcheting screwdriver had a
> metal cap that I could use to pound a plastic fastener into the wall
> which was very convenient.
Stanley bought the Yankee screwdriver some time ago and Stanley will no
longer make them as of October 2007.
I have a Stanley and some other unmarked brand, but they are only 9"
long and the bit storing handles are all plastic.
Are you sure the original Yankee had bit storage in the handle? I
remember them as having a solid wood handle.
--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @
Sat, Nov 10, 2007, 5:58am (EST-3) [email protected] (eganders) doth
sayeth:
I am looking for a very good quality, smooth action "Yankee" style
spiral push screwdriver. <snip>
There's originals out there, at reasonable prices. Got mine awhile
back, not 100% sure where, it' was made some time after the turn of the
century, after 1900 that is. Don't recall the brand. My slide nail
puller was made around 1910, if I recall right. Don't recall that brand
either. Or you could buy new ones. I like like having originals, and
using them. I paid something around $30, or less, for both, shipping
included. I am a tool collector only in the sense that I use the tools
I collect. Hmm, there's a gun show coming up, last one I went to,
someone had two old planes for sale. By old, I mean like about 1940s
old, in excellent condition, for $25 each. Maybe he'll come back, I
could use a plane or two.
JOAT
Viet Nam. Divorce. Cancer. Been there, done that, got over it. Now
where the Hell are my T-shirts?
- JOAT
"willshak" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> on 11/10/2007 8:58 AM eganders said the following:
>> I am looking for a very good quality, smooth action "Yankee" style
>> spiral push screwdriver. I want it to be about 9 to 11 inches long
>> fully extended and able to store the bits in the handle. I have seen
>> several examples, but without better descriptions and trying them out
>> personally, I can't decide. Does anyone have thoughts on what I found
>> below or have other sources?
>>
>> This will be a present for my son who at 31 is reliving his childhood
>> and recalls me using one for years.
>>
>> Garrett Wade has two
>> 69P01.01 that is all metal and stores bits in the handle, but I don't
>> see the length and I don't know how smooth the action is.
>> 19S17.01 is the "original" Yankee, is the right length, but I don't
>> think you can store bits in the handle.
>>
>> Lee Valley
>> 28K02.01 has bit storage in the handle and is 9 7/16 inch long
>> extended. This looks perfect, but I don't know how smooth the action
>> is and the end cap is plastic. My old ratcheting screwdriver had a
>> metal cap that I could use to pound a plastic fastener into the wall
>> which was very convenient.
>
> Stanley bought the Yankee screwdriver some time ago and Stanley will no
> longer make them as of October 2007.
> I have a Stanley and some other unmarked brand, but they are only 9" long
> and the bit storing handles are all plastic.
> Are you sure the original Yankee had bit storage in the handle? I remember
> them as having a solid wood handle.
I'm looking at my Stanley Yankee 133H "MADE IN U.S.A" as I write
this note. It's about 9 1/2" long, has a gray wooden handle with
a metal screwed top (about 1/2" diameter) that retains the spring.
There's a red-painted band below the handle, maybe 1/2" long.
There is no provision to store bits in the handle.
This is a hand-me-down that may date to the 1930's. I RARELY
use it, finding portable electrics much more useful.
Jim Stuyck
willshak said something like:
...[rip]...
> Stanley bought the Yankee screwdriver some time ago and Stanley will no
> longer make them as of October 2007.
> I have a Stanley and some other unmarked brand, but they are only 9"
> long and the bit storing handles are all plastic.
> Are you sure the original Yankee had bit storage in the handle? I
> remember them as having a solid wood handle.
Perhaps?
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-YANKEE-NO-30-PUSH-SCREWDRIVER_W0QQitemZ270184923495QQihZ017QQcategoryZ4123QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
--
Unix users who vehemently argue that the "ln" command has its
arguments reversed do not understand much about the design of
the utilities. "ln arg1 arg2" sets the arguments in the same
order as "mv arg1 arg2". Existing file argument to non-existing
argument. And in fact, mv itself is implemented as a link
followed by an unlink.
"Jim Stuyck" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
snip> There is no provision to store bits in the handle.
>
> This is a hand-me-down that may date to the 1930's. I RARELY
> use it, finding portable electrics much more useful.
>
> Jim Stuyck
>
I use mine.
"eganders" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I am looking for a very good quality, smooth action "Yankee" style
> spiral push screwdriver. I want it to be about 9 to 11 inches long
> fully extended and able to store the bits in the handle. I have seen
> several examples, but without better descriptions and trying them out
> personally, I can't decide. Does anyone have thoughts on what I found
> below or have other sources?
>
> This will be a present for my son who at 31 is reliving his childhood
> and recalls me using one for years.
>
> Garrett Wade has two
> 69P01.01 that is all metal and stores bits in the handle, but I don't
> see the length and I don't know how smooth the action is.
> 19S17.01 is the "original" Yankee, is the right length, but I don't
> think you can store bits in the handle.
>
> Lee Valley
> 28K02.01 has bit storage in the handle and is 9 7/16 inch long
> extended. This looks perfect, but I don't know how smooth the action
> is and the end cap is plastic. My old ratcheting screwdriver had a
> metal cap that I could use to pound a plastic fastener into the wall
> which was very convenient.
>
I have the big Yankee, now with a set of square drives and such from Lee
Valley, and bought my son their Japanese model equivalent. Works well in
either direction or locked. Handle is plastic, but the Yankee is wood, so I
use a hammer as a hammer.
The bits live in an old pill container.
"Ron Magen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:d_qZi.107$OJ.88@trndny06...
> Lee Valley, and the like . . . their Pricing is usually right UP THERE,
too.
> You are correct about McFeeley's now having an 'up-dated' version. I get
> almost all my screws from them {Square Drive Stainless Steel, Marine
Bronze,
> 'No-Co-Rode' }and other 'goodies'.
Well, I bought the 9-7/16" one and it resides in my tool pouch. It works
just as well as my father's Yankee screwdriver that we had forty years ago
although this one is somewhat shorter. I use it mostly for removing and
redriving machine screws.
John,
I've had BOTH the 'Push Driver' and the 'Push Drill' for years. {I remember
using the 'drill' when we would visit some cousins. I was maybe 6 or 7 at
the time. Put me in the basement with some 'real tools', some chunks of
scrap wood - and don't forget me when you leave !!}
Anyhow, rather then get the 'power drill' {corded OR battery}, and the bits
for those 'little' jobs - I just grab the 'Yankee' drill {bits in the
red-topped handle}. It's in a 'peg-board' holder above the bench, with the
bigger 'Yankee' driver next to it.
While I can't comment on the 'Quality' of the offerings from Garrett Wade,
Lee Valley, and the like . . . their Pricing is usually right UP THERE, too.
You are correct about McFeeley's now having an 'up-dated' version. I get
almost all my screws from them {Square Drive Stainless Steel, Marine Bronze,
'No-Co-Rode' }and other 'goodies'. A couple of them link the 'old' Yankee to
today's materials. A 'Square Drive' bit with the 'Yankee' shaft, and a 'bit
holder' with the 'shaft'.
IF you are a 'Collector', getting an 'original' is one thing. If you are a
'User' . . . I'd go with the 'modern' one.
Regards,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop
> eganders wrote:
> > I am looking for a very good quality, smooth action "Yankee" style
> > spiral push screwdriver. {snip}
> Garrett Wade has two {snip}, bit storage in the handle was from Sears
{snip},> Lee Valley {snip},> Schroeders {snip}
> FWIW, McFeely also has one--30 bucks and takes 1/4 inch bits, but they
don't say where it's imported from. Still, McFeely also tends to have good
stuff.
eganders wrote:
> I am looking for a very good quality, smooth action "Yankee" style
> spiral push screwdriver. I want it to be about 9 to 11 inches long
> fully extended and able to store the bits in the handle. I have
> seen
> several examples, but without better descriptions and trying them
> out
> personally, I can't decide. Does anyone have thoughts on what I
> found
> below or have other sources?
>
> This will be a present for my son who at 31 is reliving his
> childhood
> and recalls me using one for years.
>
> Garrett Wade has two
> 69P01.01 that is all metal and stores bits in the handle, but I
> don't
> see the length and I don't know how smooth the action is.
That's a push drill, not a screwdriver. Only turns one direction and
no ratchet.
> 19S17.01 is the "original" Yankee, is the right length, but I don't
> think you can store bits in the handle.
The only one I've ever seen with bit storage in the handle was from
Sears http://reviews.sears.com/2328/00947138000/reviews.htm.
> Lee Valley
> 28K02.01 has bit storage in the handle and is 9 7/16 inch long
> extended. This looks perfect, but I don't know how smooth the
> action
> is and the end cap is plastic. My old ratcheting screwdriver had a
> metal cap that I could use to pound a plastic fastener into the wall
> which was very convenient.
You might also want to look at the Schroeders that you can get from
http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/index.asp?PageAction=PRODSEARCH&txtSearch=schroder&Page=2
and from http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/default.php/cPath/355.
I understand that they have been in production nearly as long as the
Yankee and used to be sold in the US as "Millers Falls".
The Lee Valleys are reasonably priced and between being Japanese and
being Lee Valley I suspect that they're pretty good--the Japanese are
pretty picky about what they export and Lee Valley is pretty picky
about what they sell, so between the two it's likely to be decent,
while Stanley QC has been going downhill for years.
FWIW, McFeely also has one--30 bucks and takes 1/4 inch bits, but they
don't say where it's imported from. Still, McFeely also tends to have
good stuff.
--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
On Sat, 10 Nov 2007 10:31:13 -0500, willshak wrote:
> Are you sure the original Yankee had bit storage in the handle? I
> remember them as having a solid wood handle.
The push drills had bits in the handles. I don't think the screwdrivers
did, but I'm sure I haven't seen all models.
I'd suggest that the OP look up a dealer in old tools instead of trying to
find a new one. I'm partial to the ones made by Goodell-Pratt, but that's
just my opinion.