As usual, before I write about a tool on ToolboxBlog.com, I do a bit of online research to see what other’s are saying. Thanks to Ron’s Woodshop, I learned a little about the number system with this old Yankee driver. If Ron is correct, the number 1 in the model No. 133 indicates this driver has a spring. So, it is a model 33 with a spring, making it No. 133H.
I do recommend checking out Ron’s page on Yankee drivers solely for the video at the end where, neglecting to pre-drill, he struggles to drive screws into a board with two Yankee drivers. I watched the video because it says for the “bloody-minded” but I never did see him rip any skin. Oh well, I don’t really like horror movies anyway and I’ve ripped more skin in a year than the average human does in a decade. 

Description:
My Yankee Handyman No. 133H is a fine example of a working push drill. This one has the description printed on the shaft: Yankee Handyman No. 133H, North Bros Mfg Co, Div of Stanley Tools, Phila. Pa. U.S.A.

Experience:
I’ve added a few Yankee drivers from my workshop to ToolboxBlog.com already; The North Bros. 130A, and two Miller’s Falls push drills; 185A and this one. I should retract my dated statement that I don’t use these in my shop because since 2009, I’ve experimented with restoring a few pieces of antique furniture using only tools that predate my birth (antiques), including my useful Millers Falls Antique Push Drill.

Comments:
This Yankee Handyman shows a bit of age, but still operates smoothly despite the bent bit that’s in it at the time the photos were taken. It belonged to my father and I’ve since inherited it and added it to my rack of old tools. I hope you enjoyed the photos and brief description. Thanks for visiting.

My second Millers Falls Push Drill on Toolboxblog.com features a wooden handle with a complete set of bits stored beneath it’s removable wooden cap. (See the other one) I’m not precisely sure where I got this Millers Falls Co. Push Drill but it’s been in my ‘abandoned tools’ box for years.

Features:

• Wooden Handle with Screw Cap
• Bit Storage within Handle

Experience:

As I’ve mentioned, I’m far too young to know about using these tools on the job. I do occasionally drill a few holes with a Millers Falls Co. Push Drill. Mostly used for entertainment purposes. It’s easy and fun to use.

This Millers Falls Push Drill is in decent working condition. The handle is marked with a previous owners initials. I think it’s one of the first Millers Falls push drills but we’ll have to see. This one is marked Millers Falls but with no model number or patent ID that I can find.

If you know more about this tool please leave a comment.

Links:

Yankee style push drills on OldToolsnStuff.com – informative page!

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Another tool that I received as a gift in a small box of antique tools. This North Bros. Yankee Screwdriver is in great working condition though I don’t really use it. North Brothers made the original “Yankee” spiral ratchet screwdrivers with removable tips, beginning in 1899.

Features:

• Spring-type Chuck
• 9/32″ Diameter Chuck Shank
• Rapid Return
• Introduced in 1912

Experience:

Well, I certainly can’t claim to use this tool on my jobsites or even in my shop. I have a few tools that rarely see the light of day and this old North Bros antique Yankee Screwdriver is one of them. Kept in a box of other old tools, I brought this out to share with you.

This tool works great. The handle is a bit banged around from a hundred years in a tool box but the mechanics are sound… and all the bits are in the handle. Identification marks are printed on this tool.

Links:

Yankee Type Screwdrivers on OldToolsnStuff.com

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This nut wrench was owned by an upholster. His name is stamped on every tool and multiple times on each one: J. Lainc. It’s almost obsessive how many times he stamped his name on some of the handles, tool bodies and cases. Here is another turn of the century tool from his magic box.

Check out this photo showing the maker’s mark.

Experience:

Yes, I’ve used it. It’s not like I gently place this tool in some velvet case. It’s tossed in with a mess of other hand tools in my “overflow bin” – tools I haven’t hung above my workbench yet, that I use often enough to have them on the workbench shelf. It’s of a hardy breed.

Patent Marked Feb. 26 1901 this Perfect Handle Wrench must have cranked around a lot of nuts. The reverse side of this H.D. Smith Wrench is stamped 1985. Any ideas why?

I lucked out when I was given a small box of tools and found this Millers Falls Push Drill with all the bits inside. Joining my small collection of push drills this particular tool is in excellent condition and I use it from time to time.

Features:

• rotating cap type drill point storage
• screw chuck
• YANKEE style drill points

Experience:

Well, this is one of the few tools I can say I’m too young to know much about. I’ll bet there are plenty of old-timers who know how to efficiently handle this Yankee style push drill. Of the three push drills like this that I own, this is the one I use.

It’s kind of interesting, I have a drill press, cordless drills, corded drills and other bit spinning motors and still I keep this Millers Falls Push Drill within reach of my workbench. I guess the reason is… I think it’s cool.

The bits are stashed within the tool and the sizes are marked around the handle. Changing bits with the screw-type chuck seems easy enough to me even though the spring-type chuck is considered a design improvement.

I didn’t rate this tool like I do for others on this site simply because I don’t feel qualified to say this is anything other than a five star tool for quality, ease of use, convenient labeled bit storage, stroke length (efficiency). I’m not old enough to know any better.

Links:

Yankee Style Push Drills on OldToolsNStuff.com – informative page.

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This Keuffel & Esser Cloth Tape Measure is the first antique tool posted on ToolboxBlog.com and with it comes a story of Woodworker’s fate. I’m talking about two kinds of fate here; the kind which befell the original owner and the kind which landed his tools in this woodworker’s hands.

A Keuffel & Esser Tape Measure was included in the 1939 World’s Fair Time Capsule.

Condition:

My Keuffel & Esser Antique Tape Measure is missing the first inch, which is not uncommon of used cloth tapes. Come to think of it, it’s not altogether uncommon of all tape measures. How many Powerlocks have I tossed? The leather is in great condition, the cloth tape is missing the first inch and the mechanicals work fine.

Experience:

When I moved to New England my neighbor was 95 years old. Out of kindness, I would stop in and help her with simple tasks like putting in the air conditioner or fixing the TV antenna. I patched a drafty window and fixed her front door and other handyman help. One day she asked me, since I like tools would I like to have her father’s toolbox? Of course I said yes and since then some of his turn of the century tools have merged into my everyday life. Others have brought new skills and some sit on a shelf. There were so many tools in his old wooden box that I still haven’t discovered them all.

J. Laing was an Upholsterer and his toolbox contains the specialized tools of an upholsterer in the early 1900′s, including this Keuffel & Esser Tape Measure.