Above, an Archimedes screwdriver stamped with the name of this firm. Below, close-ups of their logo, showing a hand holding a screwdriver with the motto, "Worthy of Craftsmen."
There's not a lot of information about this firm online. Someone suggests that they operated between 1952 and 1971, but that's just a guess. They were located at 13-19 East Dulwich Road in London. Google Maps shows a large, 3-storey building there, now residential and commercial use, which may have been their head office. Their principal products seems to have been block planes (with their name cast into them) and spiral and ratcheting screwdrivers. It's not clear whether they were a manufacturer or a distributor. In any event, the screwdriver I picked up has a bent spiral shaft. I've picked up quite a few of these kinds of screwdrivers over the years, made in the U.S., Britain and England, and this is the first time I've ever found one with a bent shaft. There's no reason for this to happen with proper use of the tool so, unless someone tried to use it as a pry bar, it doesn't speak well to the quality of the company's products.
16 comments:
I worked for guys handtools about 1968 the factory entrance was in gowlett road se22 just off east dulwich road...yes they did manufacture tools anything with their name on they made they also made all kinds of brass lamps for the home..i still have a pair of molgrips and a couple of ratchet screwdrivers that were made there to this day.
I came to this site today to see if Guys Handtools were still in business. On clearing the garage today I emptied a wooden box we've had for years. Underneath is written 44a The Gardens, Peckham Rye, London SE22.
Not sure, but I think this may have been the office address?
My husband worked in Sales for Guys Handtools & I have a ratchet screwdriver still in use since the early 60's. I remember the molgrips too, bound to have one somewhere.
I believe the various lamps/lighting were sold thro' outlets such as Woolworths & thro' Green Shield Stamps catalogues - there, that ages me!
Feb 2020.
My husband just found one of their small ratchet screw drivers when tidying up his tool box. He's a joiner so its had plenty of use so much so all the original finish has worn off the handle. Still in perfect working order though.
I inherited a GUYS HANDTOOLS ratchet screwdriver PA300 from my very handy mother. It has had a lot of use and is still working. It has a clear yellow plastic handle with a screw top and the handle doubles as the holder for spare heads. I have two flat bits and three hole sinks. The diameter of the bits is approximately 5mm.
I have PA 7/10 spire ratchet screwdriver. A bit like a PA300. Is the spire meant to lock shut like a Yankee ? Does anyone know. Has a wooden handle so guess it's an early one.
I have a guys handtools slotted SL3 screwdriver with a Black moulded plastic handle. I suspect it was made in Asian and by this time Guys Handtools was just a brand. I would date it to the 1980's.
I have a small ratchet screwdriver by Guys, model MR - about 5" long including red-painted wood handle.
I have just come across my Guys 7.5" ratchet screwdriver I have had it since the 1950's. I'm pretty sure I bought it in Woolworths when I was about 12 yrs old! It was part of my "shed" - an old air-raid shelter where I painted all my tool handles with a bright red paint. Some of that was just visible. I have cleaned it up and see traces of the original maroon finish on the hard-wood handle. It still works, now even better after I dropped some fine auto transmission oil along the shaft and worked it into the fine ratchet. The shaft bearing is grey looking like alloy...? The shaft was slightly bent but I have straightened it. Kids eh! It will go into my tool-box along with some other items that I have had for a very long time. One is a 5000V grub-driver my dad gave me when I was about 4 yrs old. There's a lot more to be said about that...! He must have known the direction I was going in eh! "Saturdays child works hard for a living......." Oh yeah - so right!
I want these old specimens to outlive me and make another 70 years or so. You will be my witness. In the attached photos in addition to the above items are a depth gauge I made at school and a pair of Wilkinson side cutters. {Whoops it seems that I can't include a photo}
Rgds Berry
You can send pictures to me at Gerald @vanwyngaarden.ca
Hi, would you like to sell this screwdriver? It sounds just like one that I “borrowed” from a dear friend back in the ‘80’s and I subsequently lost. I’ve been looking for one of these for ages as my friend now has cancer.
nedpepper7@yahoo.com
Sadly the one in the pictures is long gone, hopefully someone can help you out!
Just used my Grandpa’s old wooden handled ratchet screwdriver to put up a curtain rail. Stamped with Guy’s Handtools London…
I also have one of those small ratchet screwdrivers my farther bought it in Cape Town South Africa somewhere in the sixties. It is 4.5 inches long.
Today I rescued a Guys Spokeshave No:1617 from a skip. Can't find the model on the web anywhere. Single thumb screw in the middle. "Guys Handtools Ltd" is punched rather than part of the casting. Would guess at it being a later model. TLC required.
You can send images to gerald@vanwyngaarden.ca , I'll post them.
I emailed you the pics Mister G, chcers.
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