Author Topic: Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos  (Read 1986 times)

Online Ron Scott

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Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos
« on: June 11, 2020, 05:03:44 PM »
I am searching for any photos or engravings of Eighteenth century Turnscrew's , primarily from Continental Europe.

Offline James Rogers

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Re: Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2020, 09:18:29 PM »
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.

Offline Canute Rex

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Re: Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos
« Reply #2 on: June 16, 2020, 06:01:46 AM »
Here's a photo I found of an American turnscrew.




Offline smallpatch

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Re: Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos
« Reply #3 on: June 16, 2020, 06:17:26 AM »
Hey Ron,
These are a set from Colonial Williamsburg, by Eric vonAschwege.
Not originals, but hopefully researched.
Also one illustration of originals.





In His grip,

Dane

Offline Marcruger

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Re: Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos
« Reply #4 on: June 16, 2020, 11:02:42 PM »
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

Offline Mike from OK

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Re: Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2020, 03:25:46 AM »
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

Offline Ky-Flinter

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Re: Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos
« Reply #6 on: June 17, 2020, 04:45:11 AM »
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
Ron Winfield

Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun. -Nate McKenzie

Offline Elnathan

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Re: Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos
« Reply #7 on: June 17, 2020, 05:09:05 PM »
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.
A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition -  Rudyard Kipling

Offline alyce-james

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Re: Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos
« Reply #8 on: June 21, 2020, 08:56:57 PM »
The 1776 turn screw, without holding it in my hand, I believe it to be a two bladed turn screw. Have great day. AJ.
"Candy is Dandy but Liquor is Quicker". by Poet Ogden Nash 1931.