Above, a rotary sanding pad for use in an electric drill. Below, a Yankee-style automatic screwdriver made by the same firm.
And another screwdriver sent in by a reader, Royal Navy issue- about 50 years ago.
Below, a Spiralux Model 1800 brad driver:
"Spiralux" was originally a trademark of the tool-making firm of Hollands & Blair, with addresses in Croydon and Thornton Heath in the Greater London area. It also manufactured bathroom scales and both actual typewriters (trademarked as "Krypton" and "Lilliput") and toy typewriters.
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| 1960 (Source: Grace's Guide) |
The Hollands & Blair company was still around under that name in Thornton Heath in Surrey in 1973 when their Spiralux saw grinding jig, drill grinding jig and doweling jigs were featured in Woodworker magazine. As far as I can determine, sometime in the late 1970's the company name was changed to Spiralux Limited, with locations in Gillingham and Edenbridge in Kent. The company listed the following hand tools amongst its offerings: "Screwdrivers, Riveters, Nut Spinners, Trimming Knives, Hacksaws, Glass Cutter, Windowpane Scraper, Knife Blades for the Trimming Knives, Brad Driver, Nail Drivers, Drill Grinding Attachments, and a Home Care Kit Containing Hacksaw, Hacksaw Blade, Trimming Knife, Ratchet Screwdriver, and Extra Screwdriver Blades in a Plastic Tray, Screwdriver Blades, and Drill Bits, and Spares and Parts for the Aforesaid Tools." At some point, they were absorbed by Neill Tools, now Spear & Jackson, which continues to use the Spiralux name as part of its "Eclipse" brand of riveting tools. As for Hollands & Blair, its name lives on the British football club that started out as its factory team.
Hi. Do you happen to know if the Spiralux name was ever used for steel 'bones', ie the supports made for corsets and collars in womens dress in the Victorian and Edwardian eras?
ReplyDeleteI am a costume curator and have come across the name in print, but can find nothing out about this brand as concerns womens clothing.
I am on facebook as Stephanie Richards if you have any info for me.
Thanks in advance.
ReplyDeleteLilliput toys were made in an old cinema that used to be on Sheerness sea front in Kent, components were made in some of HM Prisons. My late father, mother & myself used to work for Spiralux & Lilliput
Hello Simon
DeleteDo you know when Lilliput was wound up? Trying to date an old junior typewriter
I worked in the toolroom until Jan 1975 and it was busy then
ReplyDeleteWe serviced the bathroom scale and typewriter tools also the hand riveter plier many types of screwdriver and a type of Stanley knife
Was a good company to work for
I just found a spiralux Utility knife in Australia in a box of tools and found your comment
DeleteThanks for the history!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this. I saw a post on Facebook of a screwdriver that looked like the one my dad was issued when in the GPO, possibly in the 1960's . I dug out the screwdriver and it has Sprialux on it, and says Holland & Blair Ltd, Made in England
ReplyDelete