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Today in the mail, I received two (2) new tools for typewriter work. (See photo, below.)
Tool on the left is a newly-made segment-pick.
Tool on the right is a "holding screwdriver" for small slotted screws in the 2-52 and 4-40 and 6-32 size range.
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Segment Pick...
Paul Lundy of the Bremerton Typewriter Company shop had a batch of newly -made segment picks crafted from a vintage pick Paul had. Think he use da local metal-fab shop for the work.
Paul sells these on his web site.
I donated a nice Princess-Matic to Paul's shop, as I had two of them and this one needed a new draw-band installed and main wound up. Problems with my hands prevented me from doing this repair myself.
Paul was kind enough to send me the new segment-pick as a thank-you.
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Minature holding screw-driver for slotted screws.
This is a vintage screw-driver I finally found on eBay. I had one years ago when I was working as an electrician. It is the pocket-model with a pocket-clip attached.
They were (and are) made by the Quick-Wedge Company. They have a web site and sell new versions of these holding screw-drivers...but no longer offer the pocket-clip model. My model is the No. 1253E. The "E" is protected and used for electrical work. A part of the shaft is covered with plastic to prevent shorting-out some electrical that might be "hot". A model No. 1253 would work just fine on typewriters.
I used it today working on my 2nd. Diana Administrator manual typewriter and it worked so well on small screws of the 5-52, 4-40, and 6-32 size. I did not drop a screw all day.
You use this holding-driver to get a small screws started without dropping a screw on the floor or carpet...never to be found again. You just engage 2-3 threads and then use a regular slotted screw-driver to torque it in place.
I have been looking for this vintage screw-driver for over 4-5 years now.
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When I was an apprentice, I made my own segment pick by grinding down a typebar from a scrap machine and glue-ing the end into a wooden type-brush handle with epoxy resin. I still use it. Since the vast majority of screws in a typewriter are made from steel, simply magnetise your long screwdrivers. It can work better than a split driver, especially if the screw slot is worn.
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Hi Tom,
I did try magnetizing my screw-drivers but I got mixed-results with that. The screw would stay on but would wobble side-ways on the tip while I was trying to engage its threads into the tapped hole.
Maybe I was not using a strong enough magnetizing tool. Mine fits on a key-ring...so is pretty small. Made by Klein Tools...as are most of my screw-drivers.
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My new holding screw-driver worked really well...even on the small 2-52 sized screws I ran into on the Diana machines.
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