a- L: 29.4cm Diam: 3.4cm
b- W: 12.4cm
c- L: 32.0cm W: 4.0cm H: 4.5cm
A spiral ratchet screwdriver with its original box and instructions leaflet.
a- The screwdriver consists of a steel shaft and a varnished wood handle. The shaft is cylindrical and has the inscriptions: "MILLERS FALLS CO./GREENFIELD, MASS./MADE IN U.S.A./No.61A/PATENTED/MARCH 30 1926"; "MILLERS FALLS TOOLS/SINCE 1868" in a triangle symbol. The ratchet has a narrow cross-hatch texture. The spiral shaft has two spiral grooves running around the length. The chuck is a dark grey colour and has a narrow cross-hatch texture. There is no bit installed. The handle is rounded and has a high-gloss red varnish.
b- The instruction leaflet that accompanies the tool. It includes instructions on installing and removing bits, as well as maintenance information and warnings in black ink.
c- The screwdriver's original cardboard box. It is covered in a dark red paper coating. On one side, there is a beige label with the company logo, and directions for use. The title reads "SPIRAL RATCHET SCREW DRIVER/CHROMIUM PLATED/MILLERS FALLS COMPANY, Greenfield, Mass., U.S.A."; "No. 61A", accompanied by an illustration of the tool with two different bits. Inscriptions on the short side read "SPIRAL RATCHET/SCREW DRIVER/No. 61A"
Ratchet screwdrivers, also called automatic screwdrivers, are designed to drive screws in without turning the handle. The spiral structure makes the bit spin by applying only a downward push. The tool can be pulled straight back to reset it without removing the bit from the screw. It is the most efficient way of driving screws by hand.
