NOT a Yankee screwdriver

[Branson]

A flea market find -- I thought I was looking at a Yankee, bought it, a Thorsen wrench (made in India.  I have a warped sense of humor), and a 3/8 inch punch.  First picture. 

When I opened it, only a single spiral showed up.  Fussing with the knurled knobs at the base, a second spiral, counter clockwise, appeared.  Undo both knobs, and both can be seen, as in the last pic.

It turned out to be a Goodell Brothers driver, a kind of improvement on the Archimedes drill.  While it was offered as late as 1924 by Goodell-Pratt, this one is a genuine Goodell Bros, patented in 1897.  Pratt bought them out in 1899, making this piece a good 112 years old.

It works like a charm.  The spirals are rust free and crisp. 

Three bucks bought the lot.

[Papaw]

A great deal at $3!!
Those screwdrivers are a treat to use.

[Branson]

A great deal at $3!! Those screwdrivers are a treat to use.

I'd like to find some other bits for it.  Haven't put it to actual use yet, but I will. 
There's such grace to the spiral threads that I would have bought it if I hated
tools.  Still bright and crisp after a hundred years.  And I love the ingenuity
that played with the Archimedes drill.

[lzenglish]

Excellent find, and in great looking shape for being 112 years old! Show us a picture of the bit end, and maybe I can find another one for you in my pile.

Wayne

[Branson]

Excellent find, and in great looking shape for being 112 years old! Show us a picture of the bit end, and maybe I can find another one for you in my pile.
Wayne

Thanks, Wayne.  I'll see what I can do about getting a pic.  I've become addicted to conning my step son for these (boy! Kids are the best for this sort of stuff!!)  Basically though, the bottom end of the bit has a tenon across the middle, about an eighth of an inch wide, that fits into a slot.  The bit is held in place by a knurled nut -- like on a pin vise.