Interesting, brought back a lot of recollections of the one I got to use way back when.
Found an article on repair and maintenance of Yankee Screwdrivers here: https://www.instructables.com/id/Yankee-Screwdriver-Maintenance/
Here's some historic info about it from Wikipedia.
The trade name "Yankee" screwdriver was first marketed by North Brothers Manufacturing Company in 1899, with the No. 30 spiral ratchet screwdriver. Yankee soon became and still is a well-known name in automatic spiral ratchet screwdrivers, with several other models, and model improvements patented by North Bros. over a 40-year period[1].
The term "Yankee screwdriver" is often used to describe push/pull type screwdriver other than one manufactured by North Brothers Mfg. Co. or Stanley Tools, who purchased the rights to the well-known Yankee brand or trade name in the 1940s from North Brothers[2]. North Brothers always marked the tools they manufactured with the Yankee name, and in most cases the North Bros. name and location as well[1].
All spiral ratchet screwdriver models made by Stanley did have the Yankee trade name on them, or at least until the 1960s when the Handyman trade name became as well known as the Yankee trade name, so Stanley Tools marked certain models with both the Handyman and Yankee brand name on them, and usually the Stanley name was on them as well. The Handyman trade name was not limited to a line of screwdriver models, as the same name was marked on a complete line of planes, drills and other tools specifically marketed to the home user.
Sizes
There were 3 different size spring chucks, and therefore 3 different shank size tips or sometimes called points, to fit various models. Generally all tips made by North Brothers or Stanley were stamped with the corresponding number of the model screwdriver they would fit, but the stamped numbers are often difficult to see, so it's a good idea to know the size you need before you set out to find tips for your screwdriver.
The smallest size was the number 35, so any of the model numbers with 35 in the number, like No. 135A is the smallest tip shank diameter, measuring 7/32" diameter shank. (Note that all the handyman models with 33 in their model number also have the No. 35 size chucks, the smallest size tips).
The middle size is the No. 30 size, and all numbers with the 30 in them have a chuck shank size of 9/32" diameter.
The biggest size is the No. 31, and all numbers with 31 in them have a chuck diameter of 5/16" diameter.
By around 2005 Stanley in the USA had discontinued production of all Yankee tools in previous years. Production did continue in the UK until 2007, when tooling for components of screwdrivers were sent to Japan and have now been scrapped. Over the years other manufacturing companies used similar design chucks, that held Yankee brand screwdriver and drill point tips with the flat and notch on the shank.
Accessories and bits
North Brothers offered several different accessories to fit the various type chucks on the Yankee spiral ratchet screwdrivers. Normally, 3 different slot type tips were include with each screwdriver when it was new[3]. Other tips included:
Nut drivers in various sizes, both hex and square head
Drill points for the smallest 133/135 size screwdriver
adapters to adapt push drill size drill point sets to the three sizes of screwdriver chuck size
countersinks
screwdriver tips holding with screw holding feature
Phillips screwdriver tips in various sizes
slot screwdriver tips with the centring sleeve feature, and
extra-long screwdriver tips for special applications.
Want more, here's the link. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_screwdriver
Found an article on repair and maintenance of Yankee Screwdrivers here: https://www.instructables.com/id/Yankee-Screwdriver-Maintenance/
Here's some historic info about it from Wikipedia.
The trade name "Yankee" screwdriver was first marketed by North Brothers Manufacturing Company in 1899, with the No. 30 spiral ratchet screwdriver. Yankee soon became and still is a well-known name in automatic spiral ratchet screwdrivers, with several other models, and model improvements patented by North Bros. over a 40-year period[1].
The term "Yankee screwdriver" is often used to describe push/pull type screwdriver other than one manufactured by North Brothers Mfg. Co. or Stanley Tools, who purchased the rights to the well-known Yankee brand or trade name in the 1940s from North Brothers[2]. North Brothers always marked the tools they manufactured with the Yankee name, and in most cases the North Bros. name and location as well[1].
All spiral ratchet screwdriver models made by Stanley did have the Yankee trade name on them, or at least until the 1960s when the Handyman trade name became as well known as the Yankee trade name, so Stanley Tools marked certain models with both the Handyman and Yankee brand name on them, and usually the Stanley name was on them as well. The Handyman trade name was not limited to a line of screwdriver models, as the same name was marked on a complete line of planes, drills and other tools specifically marketed to the home user.
Sizes
There were 3 different size spring chucks, and therefore 3 different shank size tips or sometimes called points, to fit various models. Generally all tips made by North Brothers or Stanley were stamped with the corresponding number of the model screwdriver they would fit, but the stamped numbers are often difficult to see, so it's a good idea to know the size you need before you set out to find tips for your screwdriver.
The smallest size was the number 35, so any of the model numbers with 35 in the number, like No. 135A is the smallest tip shank diameter, measuring 7/32" diameter shank. (Note that all the handyman models with 33 in their model number also have the No. 35 size chucks, the smallest size tips).
The middle size is the No. 30 size, and all numbers with the 30 in them have a chuck shank size of 9/32" diameter.
The biggest size is the No. 31, and all numbers with 31 in them have a chuck diameter of 5/16" diameter.
By around 2005 Stanley in the USA had discontinued production of all Yankee tools in previous years. Production did continue in the UK until 2007, when tooling for components of screwdrivers were sent to Japan and have now been scrapped. Over the years other manufacturing companies used similar design chucks, that held Yankee brand screwdriver and drill point tips with the flat and notch on the shank.
Accessories and bits
North Brothers offered several different accessories to fit the various type chucks on the Yankee spiral ratchet screwdrivers. Normally, 3 different slot type tips were include with each screwdriver when it was new[3]. Other tips included:
Nut drivers in various sizes, both hex and square head
Drill points for the smallest 133/135 size screwdriver
adapters to adapt push drill size drill point sets to the three sizes of screwdriver chuck size
countersinks
screwdriver tips holding with screw holding feature
Phillips screwdriver tips in various sizes
slot screwdriver tips with the centring sleeve feature, and
extra-long screwdriver tips for special applications.
Want more, here's the link. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_screwdriver
