Colonial screwdriver head holder?? 1800s mechanics wrench set??

[NJ Marty]

These were in with the haul I got this weekend. I have been around tools a long time and have never seen these. I like the way the heads slide in on the set and don't know what these were called, maybe a mechanics set. And the primitive hand made item with the Screwdriver heads? The heads have threads on them and all looks hand forged. Anyone ever seen these?
Thanks.

 

[nhbenz]

Hmm, the open end wrenches are similar to a crows foot style (without the benefit of being able to drive them at an offset angle), with a couple of alligator style, but I haven't seen them in this configuration either. I'll have to look around online, as they're pretty cool.
Although I skin my knuckles enough with a solid handle!

 

[1shotwade]

Is there anything to indicate that it is any thing more than a hole gauge?

Wade

 

[Fullstock]

The first two pictures show an early tap and die set that could have been used by many different mechanics, but they were commonly used by gunsmiths to make screws and thread screw holes. The set could date from the 18th century into the 19th century. Nice item.

 

[NJ Marty]

The first two pictures show an early tap and die set that could have been used by many different mechanics, but they were commonly used by gunsmiths to make screws and thread screw holes. The set could date from the 18th century into the 19th century. Nice item.

Wow, good ID. I would never have gotten the ID without your help. This was in one on my buckets I filled up at an estate sale,everything in bucket was 50 cents to a $2 each.

 

[Fullstock]

These are very collectible, you did well!

 

[NJ Marty]

These are very collectible, you did well!

If you come across a picture or a listing somewhere can you post it as I cant find one. Thanks so much

 

[gunsil]

Wow, good ID. I would never have gotten the ID without your help. This was in one on my buckets I filled up at an estate sale,everything in bucket was 50 cents to a $2 each.

Fullstock is correct about the screwplate, but off on the dates since jewelers still use them today and they are still available. It could easily have been made in the 20th century. It also looks like it was for a standardized screw size and there were no real standardized screw sizes in the 18th century. It is a nice tool find NJ Marty but I think they are all early 20th century items.

 

[Fullstock]

I didn't realize that they are still in use by jewelers Gunsil, but this doesn't look like a modern set to me. But then again my wife tells me that I'm wrong more times than I care to admit.

 

[NJ Marty]

I didn't realize that they are still in use by jewelers Gunsil, but this doesn't look like a modern set to me. But then again my wife tells me that I'm wrong more times than I care to admit.

I also didn't realize they were still used today and I also think these are older than the early 1900s. They look hand forged long long ago.

 

[gunsil]

The modern screw plates are made in Europe and third world countries, and have been made in Europe for a long time. The European made ones will look the same for the last hundred years. It is the wrench set that has me thinking early 1900s for all the tools as the development of interchangeable heads for wrenches was popular in the early 1900s. Before the advent of the automobile there weren't many machines made that had a lot of different size nuts and bolts on them and little need for a wrench set with a lot of different size ends. The auto also made the desire for a compact, easily transported set of wrenches. The invention and eventual popularity of the automobile drove the tool invention and manufacturing business in the early 1900s. I could be wrong also guys, but I have used many tools all my life and have studied the origins of many of them.

 

[clovis97]

The tang, or the end of each of those taps or thread reamers/chasers appears to be made for use in a hand operated brace. The use of a brace fell out of fashion before WWII, but bits and braces were being made up until a few years ago.

If I had to guess...and again, this is a guess, someone took regular taps and converted them into a four sided tang, so they could be used in a brace. My guess is that they were tapping longer thread holes, or reaming or chasing threads.

They could date before 1900, but honestly, I don't think that they do. 1920's to 1930's is my guess.

Are there any markings on the taps? Any at all?

 

[clovis97]

Also, on the interchangeable wrench set:

I see that some of them are marked with the size. When you use a tape measure to measure the opening, does the 1 1/4" opening really measure 1 1/4"?

If not, you have a set that predates ASE standards. I think that ASE standards became the norm in industry in the late 1920's or early 1930's, but you would have to research that a bit.