A little Yankee screwdriver I picked a few weeks ago....

Kind of hard to get a good picture of this thing.  This side has "Stanley" in a clipped cornered box. Model Number is No. 3400.  On the other side..

It says "YANKEE"   There is a selector lever.   As this is a ratcheting sort of thing.  Made to turn slotted screws.   There IS a Patent number, as well..

#2058855.....The screwdriver is only about 3-3/4" long, and is nickel plated.   It is held together by two rivets.   The ball on the end is flaking a bit, feels a bit rough. 

Haven't found out much about it, yet.  Only cost me...a quarter, I think....

Have you tried a patent search?

Just got back from one.....1936 era,  North Brothers made.      Might have been picked up when Stanley bought them out...

Cool!

53 minutes ago, steven newman said:

It says "YANKEE"   There is a selector lever.   As this is a ratcheting sort of thing.  Made to turn slotted screws.   There IS a Patent number, as well..

#2058855.....The screwdriver is only about 3-3/4" long, and is nickel plated.   It is held together by two rivets.   The ball on the end is flaking a bit, feels a bit rough. 

Haven't found out much about it, yet.  Only cost me...a quarter, I think....

Steven, Type in Stanley Yankee 3400 into Google...several hits come up with some 4-Sale on eBay...looks like you did OK

This looks to be close to yours....Yankee 3400

I have a very similar one made by General Tools I bought new in the mid 1970's. Main difference is straight bits on both sides.

Nifty little gadget I say.

Ok, found out that Stanley bought out North Brothers about 1946.    Stanley also used the Yankee name until they sold it at couple years ago.   Soo, I guess this little slotted screw driver was made some time after WWII?  

 

The smaller tip on mine is also for slotted screws.   Ratchet mech. works very nicely.    May have to try it out on a few hinge screws later. 

1 minute ago, steven newman said:

Ok, found out that Stanley bought out North Brothers about 1946.    Stanley also used the Yankee name until they sold it at couple years ago.   Soo, I guess this little slotted screw driver was made some time after WWII?  

 

The smaller tip on mine is also for slotted screws.   Ratchet mech. works very nicely.    May have to try it out on a few hinge screws later. 

Sure you already have cleaned the ratchet portion with some WD-40 and blown dry with compressed air...next step I'd do is let soak over night in some ATF then let run off and wipe dry. Years ago, that's what my Mac Tool rep always did for ratchets...I have some 45+ y/o S-K, Cornwell and Snap-on ratchets still on original gears, shift pawls and springs. Still lube the same way today.

Actually, haven't done a thing to it.    Used a black sharpie today, to better show the markings.   Seems to be in very good shape.