Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos

[Ron Scott]

I am searching for any photos or engravings of Eighteenth century Turnscrew's , primarily from Continental Europe.

[James Rogers]

Ron,
I tried to get that same information some years ago. Even contacted some of the Williamsburg guys about it turned up nothing . The earliest images I have seen were from Diderot.

[Canute Rex]

Here's a photo I found of an American turnscrew.

[smallpatch]

Hey Ron,
These are a set from Colonial Williamsburg, by Eric vonAschwege.
Not originals, but hopefully researched.
Also one illustration of originals.

[Marcruger]

Canute Rex, that is a neat little turnscrew, but I'd hazard that the date on it is totally spurious.  Like most things with "1776" on them.  I wonder what the little spur to the side was for? 

I am drooling over Eric vonAschwege's set of screwdrivers.  Those are lifetime heirlooms.  I have to guess he referenced the illustration to have them so close in configuration.  I never really thought I'd be interested in the beauty of screw drivers.....

God Bless,   Marc

[Mike from OK]

Canute Rex, that is a neat little turnscrew, but I'd hazard that the date on it is totally spurious.  Like most things with "1776" on them.  I wonder what the little spur to the side was for? 

I am drooling over Eric vonAschwege's set of screwdrivers.  Those are lifetime heirlooms.  I have to guess he referenced the illustration to have them so close in configuration.  I never really thought I'd be interested in the beauty of screw drivers.....

God Bless,   Marc

Dressing the flint perhaps?

Mike

[Ky-Flinter]

I wonder what the little spur to the side was for?

To apply some serious torque to the screw?  To either break it loose, or make it really tight.

-Ron

[Elnathan]

I wonder what the little spur to the side was for?

To apply some serious torque to the screw?  To either break it loose, or make it really tight.

-Ron

Very likely. I made myself a very small turnscrew, even smaller than that one, to go in my shooting and found that it was too small to change flints with - it was impossible to get a good enough grip to apply the necessary force. I made another one with a crosswise handle like a corkscrew, patterned after a (much larger) 18th century original, and it works very well despite only being about 1 1/2" long.

[alyce-james]

The 1776 turn screw, without holding it in my hand, I believe it to be a two bladed turn screw. Have great day. AJ.