Originally Posted by
DEAN C.
Footprint are a well known toolmaker from Sheffield but that looks to be 1940s or 50s at a guess, and as you already know is a joiners screwdriver. Great food for thought though regarding appropriate tools and accessories.
Gunmakers turnscrews are much squarer and flat in profile.
https://cdn.axminstertools.com/media.../109440_xl.jpg
Slightly off topic, I used to try and pick up any ex NCB footprint chisels at auto jumbles and boot sales whenever I saw them.
Their lovely flat chisels dont turn or roll in your hand when using.
That’s not to knock Footprint brand. A pal of mine elected to degutter a 15cwt. Thames van. It was the usual thing, a plain steel van without a headlining. Damp air condensed on the inside of the roof and ran down to the internal gutter formed by the roof adjoining the sidewall, where it rusted its way out. Angle grinders had not yet become cheap enough for the man in the street and Stuart chose to chop his way along, above and below the seam, 6” at a time welding it back as he went. His weapon of choice was a Footprint screwdriver perhaps twice the size of the one pictured. It survived the exercise. I rather think the turnscrews back in the day tended to be T handled while there was another generation between the two of them that consisted of a piece of steel from one end to the other with wooden scales each side.
With regard to Reo01312’s post a propos relative availability of antiques in our various countries. Dean C and I live in the same village where Walnut Farm is probably the oldest house ( 300 years + *) but that is modern compared with a pal’s business about 5 miles away. The sign on the gatepost declares it to be Stainforth Market, established in 1342 **.
* I love telling Kiwi and Aussie friends that it was old when Captain Cook set off.
** But I even more love telling Yanks that it was old when Christopher Columbus set off.
Oneupmanship? Me!!?
Perish the thought, Mick
When guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns .
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