Old flat screwdriver

[Edkat3]

Found this really nice old driver today. Nice condition for its age. Measures 15" total length. Anyone have any idea appox. how old this thing may be? There are no maker markings of any kind, handle has been repaired. Thanks.

[lbgradwell]

All I can say is that it's known as a "London-pattern Turnscrew"...

[john k]

I have been told this style is at least 100 years old, as the 20th century came along so did round and square shank screwdrivers.  Have a few of these myself.

[anglesmith]

If it hasn't got any markings at all, my guess would be that it has been made from a old file. I have some that have been forged and filed, leaving no evidence that it started life as a file.  On taking the handle off you may find the file maker's mark and if not you could touch the tang on a grinder. The spark pattern for high carbon file steel is very distinctive from ordinary tool steel!
Graeme

[scottg]

 I guess pre-1900 as well
 I would tend to think it might be custom/homemade.
  The blade is distinctive, and more work to make it than a factory usually allows.
  The handle is a round turning. Many drivers of this age were at least slightly oval in shape.
 Is it boxwood? The light color and possible English origin makes boxwood a possibility.
 Beech wood would be my second guess.
     yours Scott 

[Helleri]

Rofl...a slotted drive to turn the screw and a file to cut a new grove when you cam it out?

[Billman49]

The flat London pattern turnscrew continued to be made well into the 20th century - the military were still using them when I was working as a civilian in an army repair shop in 2002 - stores still had them in stock, but many were stamped 1940's.

Piano makers used them for frame screws - large wood screws that secured the cast iron frame to the wooden body...

For some more info see: http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/oval-handled-flat-london-pattern.html

[Branson]

The flat London pattern turnscrew continued to be made well into the 20th century - the military were still using them when I was working as a civilian in an army repair shop in 2002 - stores still had them in stock, but many were stamped 1940's.

For some more info see: http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/oval-handled-flat-london-pattern.html

I had no idea they were in production so long, although I have one stamped Stanley.   However, these were the standard for the 19th Century.   Billman, what would you think to be the date of inception?  Probably lost in the mists of time, along with the origin of the screw itself.  I know I've seen 18th Century examples.

Edkat3,  I suspect, like Anglesmith, that yours has been made from an old file.  The pattern of the edges of the blade are quite unusual.  There were a couple on eBay not long ago, definitely made from old files, with an equally uncommon, but different pattern.  With one off examples, dating is the next best thing to impossible. 

[Branson]

Rofl...a slotted drive to turn the screw and a file to cut a new grove when you cam it out?

Ya gotta do something with the file when it wears out -- can't have that good steel go to waste. 

[Billman49]

Ya gotta do something with the file when it wears out -- can't have that good steel go to waste.

Make it into a billhook!!!!

Ref the flat screwdriver - most Sheffield firms made them - but many were unmarked - also makers often made tools for other firms, so even though a tool may have one stamp, it could be made by another one...

see: http://billhooks.co.uk/maker-or-dealer/