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Original poster

james may's screwdriver

26 replies

forforkssake · 18/01/2017 22:53

posted here for traffic (DH's b'day next month) I just watched the reassembler and JM reassembled an old record player. he used what looks like a pump action screwdriver. DH got quite excited about said tool, but i've no idea what it would be called. any ideas?
many thanks

OP posts:
wasonthelist · 18/01/2017 23:01

Haven't seen the prog but the ones we used to use at the boatyard were these

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_screwdriver

Rendered obsolete by electric ones.

SeammistressGuildsNeedle · 18/01/2017 23:04

It's a manual ratchet screwdriver. My dad has one and very useful it is, very well used. Watched the programme and thought I recognised the screwdriver.

Badcat666 · 18/01/2017 23:04

Send him a twitter message asking what screwdriver it was and where he got it from as you want to get hubby one!

He might reply as you are asking a manly nerdy question Smile

wasonthelist · 18/01/2017 23:09

Seammistress sounds more like a spiral manual ratchet than just a plain ratchet one as per my post (although confess I haven't seen the TV prog).

PossumInAPearTree · 18/01/2017 23:13

I opened this half expecting a really dirty thread!

He does respond to twitter quite a bit.

AnthonyPandy · 18/01/2017 23:14

I haven't seen the one you're talking about but in the model train episode he mentions a screwdriver (I think) that he got on ebay, and mentions what type it is and why it is special.

Minstrelsareyum · 18/01/2017 23:14

Flick screwdriver (Yankee screwdriver) says my DH.

SeammistressGuildsNeedle · 19/01/2017 00:12

@wasonthelist you are right it is a spiral rachet screwdriver.
@anthony that one was I think a copper one so it didn't demagnetise the dynamo or something along those lines.

CockacidalManiac · 19/01/2017 00:13

I saw that, and instantly wanted one. I hadn't seen one for about 30 years.

GoodyGoodyGumdrops · 19/01/2017 00:21

Oh my, this takes me back! I remember using those. We had a spiral ratchet hand drill (didn't know it was called that until I read this thread) and it fascinated me so much that I used to find things to drill Grin

I'm going to have to watch the programme, aren't I?

ExplodedCloud · 19/01/2017 00:32

DH doesn't like them. They're not really refined. I would quite like one for the ratchetty thing. My dad has some ancient burgundy handled one. But it is a gadget.
The memory has just come back to me. I'm putting in a bid for that in dad's will

*All comments about wills are light hearted in my family. We are a sentimental bunch.

childmaintenanceserviceinquiry · 19/01/2017 00:33

My 80 year old mum loves this show so much I bought her the DVD of Series 1 for Xmas. She didnt even like james may before this.So yes Goody you are going to have to watch the programme!

ExplodedCloud · 19/01/2017 00:35

Anthony yes the holdy screw screwdriver. My left hand is so useless now that actually it would be great.

ExplodedCloud · 19/01/2017 00:38

And yes. Why would you use it if you have an electric screwdriver? A diddy version would be good.

magicstar1 · 19/01/2017 00:48

They're great! I got my dad one 26 years ago and he still uses it. You'd be surprised where it can come in handy. We were renovating the house over the past year and it was really useful.

DiseasesOfTheSheep · 19/01/2017 00:48

Woah, you can get series 1 on DVD? I missed it, but was oddly transfixed by series 2. It really shouldn't be as compelling viewing as it is.

AnthonyPandy · 19/01/2017 06:55

There's a series 1? What? Where?

childmaintenanceserviceinquiry · 19/01/2017 09:42

Series 1 was last year and I bought the DVD from Amazon. There is a lawnmower and sorry cant remember what else.

www.amazon.co.uk/James-May-Reassembler-One-DVD/dp/B01KXJQWGS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484818912&sr=8-1&keywords=may+reassembler+dvd

EustaceClarenceScrubb · 19/01/2017 09:48

Mt granddad used to have one, with a burgundy handle. It made a particularly nice clicking sound. When my parents died we cleared out their house and I found it at the back of the cupboard under the stairs. It now lives in the cupboard under my stairs. Ever so often I will take it out just to hear that clicking sound, it takes me back to my childhood, following my granddad around whilst he did his 'mending' ( with a pencil behind his ear) Absolutely priceless! Sorry for being sentimental, as you were.

BarbaraofSeville · 19/01/2017 10:04

Sounds like a mini cordless screwdriver would be more useful. We have something like this and they come with a variety of bits.

Original poster
forforkssake · 19/01/2017 11:51

Mumsnet to the rescue.. thanks everyone...now i won't look like a total tool when i go into B & Q...
Explodedcloud we have much the same attitude to wills... my DH has baggsied my DH's vinyl collection and DS my trunk of preciousness and it's contents.

OP posts:
Original poster
forforkssake · 19/01/2017 12:26

DD, not DH....

OP posts:
GoodyGoodyGumdrops · 20/01/2017 00:20

I've just watched it on iplayer. How the hell can watching a gray-haired bloke puttering in his shed and burbling contentedly be so satisfying? And so very watchable! Oh god - I'm getting old, aren't I?!?!

ExplodedCloud · 20/01/2017 00:46

I'm convinced JM and DH need to be BFF. They really would be two blokes in a pub nursing an ale discussing motors. Not just combustion engines.

conorfitzpatrick2 · 07/06/2017 14:29

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