I recall that the black and orange Rosco was sold in auto parts stores in the late 1970's or very early 1980's. Someone told me that they were a high quality bargain. I tried one. It was comparable to hardware store brands, what I classify as common junk tools.
Interesting presentation. And then I searched for Tobrin tool Company… then at Alloy Artifacts reading about BOG Tools. I inherited a Tobrin screw driver. It’s a nice screw driver. I have two BOG Tools 7/16 hex drive socket sets that my dad purchased in the late 20’s or early 30’s.
@@ballinator In the last few years I have become somewhat of a screw driver snob. My interests changed and I needed better screw drivers to work on the toys at hand. I am not fond of slotted screws but that is what the products of Winchester, Marlin, Maynard, Spencer, Springfield and Sharps used. Set of Brownell’s magna tips have become must have tools. Not cheap but indispensable. The thin bit set is required for Winchesters and Marlins. Wrenching on cars and home improvement project is one level. Working one fine machinery(projectile throwers) is different. The fit of the blade into the slot is critical. I am not holding my breath, but may we have the more.wide spread distribution of Pozidriv Screws. Phillips drive sucks.
@@gotsloco1810 You are 100% correct, Philips screws and drivers do suck! They're genuinely made to cam out and strip screws by design, to prevent over tightening. I have since replaced all my Philips drivers with JIS. They're machined much more crisp and provide a lot more contacts for screw engagement. It's too bad Pozidriv never really caught on.
@@4by_yotaguy373 Pozidriv is alive and well in Europe. The only company I know of that has used them in the US the HP. I asked my faster supplier about availability twenty five years ago. His response was not. I later learned that to a faster manufacture all screws a specials. There is one application with 100 degree flat head NO.2 Phillips M4 screws out there. I designed those screws. DIN flat head screws are 90 degree included angle.
I have a Rosco screwdriver here and I've no idea where it came from. It could have snuck into my garage when I wasn't looking. But as far as screwdrivers go I'd say it's a good one. Now I'm doubting the USA mark on it though. You can never really tell about that sort of thing.
I had a two fister rosco had is the key word the year was 1978 I was using the big bastard to clean frozen mud out of a cat under carriage hit that big handle and pulverized it still got some roscos from the 80s they are good have red and yellow handles they were economical to buy. Nice story sir.
Were there a couple of plays off of The Ballad of Irving? "They were the largest screw driver manufacturer - CLICK - in the world." (He was the 142nd fastest gun - bang - in the west.)
I'm with you I highly doubt that they were the largest screwdriver manufacturer in the world not even close I've only seen a couple of examples of rosco screwdrivers in the wild when I'm out looking for tools which leads me to believe that they weren't very common or popular for that matter and that could be based on location but doubtful
Yeah, if they had said "largest on the east coast" it might be more believable. I'm sure it was some technicality, like they had the largest factory exclusively dedicated to screwdrivers or something. Or they just made it up for marketing purposes...
@ballinator that's a possibility but I'm leaning towards marketing strategy in hopes to become the biggest but obviously it didn't work Stanley obviously is look at how many tool companies they have owned and still own to this day
You know what, screw you *Turns your Two-Fister into a One-Fister* Yeah the "unbreakable ebonoid plastic" carries the hubris of the Titanic being unsinkable.
Interesting. If they're really made from ebonite, that's the same material Ace hair combs are made of. I wonder if it degrades over time due to the high rubber content in the plastic, or something.
I’ve got a couple two fister screwdrivers that look just like that one but they are Buffalo and made in USA. They both say two fister right on the handle.
Interesting. Vermont American owned the trademark for "two fister" so they must have made it under contract or licensed it to them. I'll have to dig some more into Buffalo tools.
In my experience Rosco screwdrivers were decent quality, not top of the line but the steel wasn't bad. The Two foster is quite a tough screwdriver and those orange & black handles are pretty durable. I would definitely call BS on them being the largest. Stanley had to be larger, and the largest yet was probably Pratt-reed. P-R was a major OEM and even owned their own subsidiary dedicated to just manufacturing screwdriver handles.
I have one of those bent handle ratcheting screwdrivers. My father had it and while I dont use it I do like the look of it. Too bad you cant add photos to these posts. Charles
I can't imagine what the advantage to the bent handle is. Does it give you more leverage somehow? Once a screw is loose it has to be horrible to twist then. Maybe it's a union thing? You know, slow the job down. But you say it is ratcheting so there goes that theory.
@1pcfred it is more ergonomic and does help you to use more power. It is easier to put more pressure against the screw for when it is very tight. Also it is a ratchet so that is very helpful.
@465maltbie @1pcfred The patent documentation says it's for getting extra torque in cramped locations. Somewhere I have an old Craftsman driver with a hinged handle, so you can bend it like that. Only used it a few times but you can def get some extra torque with it.
@@ballinator yes because applying a lot of torque to screws always works out so well. To be fair they did use different screws in the past compared to what's popular today. I'm still glad we have impact drivers now though.
@@465maltbiefor me high torque and ratchet mechanism just don't mix. But to each their own I guess. How tight can a screw be anyways? Yeah I know, pretty tight. Snap the head off tight sometimes. Ya just gotta love when that happens.
I have one of the double fister screwdrivers. It's a good screwdriver, very well made. Although idk if I've ever used it for actual screw driving.... The handles too freaking big! Lol
@@ballinator It also makes sense you said Rosco tools is more of an East Coast thing. And me being in California, prob why I'm not familiar with them. So I'm sure the one I have is rebranded/contracted out, like you say. 👍
Synthetic Organic Chemicals ... Just perfect for spraying your organic lettuce. I like that largest screwdriver poke .... yeah, it had a 4' long handle, yeah!😖
Thanks! Yeah, I thought that was odd when I stumbled across it. I suspect they got into the chemicals so they could make their own screwdriver handles.
As is the case with 99% of all "tool" videos on TH-cam, too much talk, not enough fact. What was the trademark NUMBER from 1943? What was the trademark FOR? You could have said all of that in less than HALF of the seven minutes of my time you took up.
SWEET CHEECH and CHONG reference!!! 'DAVE's NOT HERE MAN'.......
Thanks for noticing!
I missed that one.
You always have interesting videos. Thanks for sharing looking forward to your next video 👍👍👍🔧🔧🪛🪛😊
My grandpa’s Rosco screwdrivers are a core childhood memory!
I Remember that everyone seemed to sell the two fister, probably the 'largest screwdriver ' claim
Hey, I’m on Long Island too! I think I have seen that Rosco logo somewhere..
Very cool. I suspect they were more of a regional brand on the east coast.
I recall that the black and orange Rosco was sold in auto parts stores in the late 1970's or very early 1980's. Someone told me that they were a high quality bargain. I tried one. It was comparable to hardware store brands, what I classify as common junk tools.
The Rosco Dingus Driver...Ratcheting for Her Pleasure. A customer pleased every seven seconds.
LOL!
That 50 cent reference at the beginning was solid
Thanks! Been waiting for someone to pick up on that.
Interesting presentation. And then I searched for Tobrin tool Company… then at Alloy Artifacts reading about BOG Tools. I inherited a Tobrin screw driver. It’s a nice screw driver.
I have two BOG Tools 7/16 hex drive socket sets that my dad purchased in the late 20’s or early 30’s.
Thanks. I'll have to add Tobrin & Bog to my list of companies to research.
@@ballinator
In the last few years I have become somewhat of a screw driver snob. My interests changed and I needed better screw drivers to work on the toys at hand. I am not fond of slotted screws but that is what the products of Winchester, Marlin, Maynard, Spencer, Springfield and Sharps used. Set of Brownell’s magna tips have become must have tools. Not cheap but indispensable. The thin bit set is required for Winchesters and Marlins.
Wrenching on cars and home improvement project is one level. Working one fine machinery(projectile throwers) is different. The fit of the blade into the slot is critical.
I am not holding my breath, but may we have the more.wide spread distribution of Pozidriv Screws. Phillips drive sucks.
@@gotsloco1810 You are 100% correct, Philips screws and drivers do suck! They're genuinely made to cam out and strip screws by design, to prevent over tightening. I have since replaced all my Philips drivers with JIS. They're machined much more crisp and provide a lot more contacts for screw engagement. It's too bad Pozidriv never really caught on.
@@4by_yotaguy373 Pozidriv is alive and well in Europe. The only company I know of that has used them in the US the HP. I asked my faster supplier about availability twenty five years ago. His response was not. I later learned that to a faster manufacture all screws a specials. There is one application with 100 degree flat head NO.2 Phillips M4 screws out there. I designed those screws. DIN flat head screws are 90 degree included angle.
I had a couple of hand me downs over the years
I have a Rosco screwdriver here and I've no idea where it came from. It could have snuck into my garage when I wasn't looking. But as far as screwdrivers go I'd say it's a good one. Now I'm doubting the USA mark on it though. You can never really tell about that sort of thing.
I had a two fister rosco had is the key word the year was 1978 I was using the big bastard to clean frozen mud out of a cat under carriage hit that big handle and pulverized it still got some roscos from the 80s they are good have red and yellow handles they were economical to buy. Nice story sir.
Thanks! Good thing it was the screwdriver handle getting pulverized and not your hand.
I love your "history of..." videos! Hope to see hundreds more! Thanks for the video.
Thanks! I'll keep making them as long as people are watching them.
Were there a couple of plays off of The Ballad of Irving? "They were the largest screw driver manufacturer - CLICK - in the world." (He was the 142nd fastest gun - bang - in the west.)
I was going for a Top Gear Jeremy Clarkson thing. He would always to a "dramatic pause" before saying "in the world"
looking for 143
They should have used Elmer Fudd as their spokesperson. "Twy Wasco skwewdrivers, they're the wargest and the best"
LOL!
I'm with you I highly doubt that they were the largest screwdriver manufacturer in the world not even close I've only seen a couple of examples of rosco screwdrivers in the wild when I'm out looking for tools which leads me to believe that they weren't very common or popular for that matter and that could be based on location but doubtful
Yeah, if they had said "largest on the east coast" it might be more believable. I'm sure it was some technicality, like they had the largest factory exclusively dedicated to screwdrivers or something. Or they just made it up for marketing purposes...
@ballinator that's a possibility but I'm leaning towards marketing strategy in hopes to become the biggest but obviously it didn't work Stanley obviously is look at how many tool companies they have owned and still own to this day
Another banger.
Thanks!
Still have a " two fister " unfortunately half of the handle broke off.
You know what, screw you *Turns your Two-Fister into a One-Fister*
Yeah the "unbreakable ebonoid plastic" carries the hubris of the Titanic being unsinkable.
Interesting. If they're really made from ebonite, that's the same material Ace hair combs are made of. I wonder if it degrades over time due to the high rubber content in the plastic, or something.
@@ballinator probably breaks down under UV etc
I’ve got a couple two fister screwdrivers that look just like that one but they are Buffalo and made in USA. They both say two fister right on the handle.
Interesting. Vermont American owned the trademark for "two fister" so they must have made it under contract or licensed it to them. I'll have to dig some more into Buffalo tools.
In my experience Rosco screwdrivers were decent quality, not top of the line but the steel wasn't bad.
The Two foster is quite a tough screwdriver and those orange & black handles are pretty durable.
I would definitely call BS on them being the largest.
Stanley had to be larger, and the largest yet was probably Pratt-reed.
P-R was a major OEM and even owned their own subsidiary dedicated to just manufacturing screwdriver handles.
Yeah, Pratt-Reed would have been way bigger. I'll make sure they're on the list for a future video.
I have one of those bent handle ratcheting screwdrivers. My father had it and while I dont use it I do like the look of it. Too bad you cant add photos to these posts. Charles
I can't imagine what the advantage to the bent handle is. Does it give you more leverage somehow? Once a screw is loose it has to be horrible to twist then. Maybe it's a union thing? You know, slow the job down. But you say it is ratcheting so there goes that theory.
@1pcfred it is more ergonomic and does help you to use more power. It is easier to put more pressure against the screw for when it is very tight.
Also it is a ratchet so that is very helpful.
@465maltbie @1pcfred The patent documentation says it's for getting extra torque in cramped locations. Somewhere I have an old Craftsman driver with a hinged handle, so you can bend it like that. Only used it a few times but you can def get some extra torque with it.
@@ballinator yes because applying a lot of torque to screws always works out so well. To be fair they did use different screws in the past compared to what's popular today. I'm still glad we have impact drivers now though.
@@465maltbiefor me high torque and ratchet mechanism just don't mix. But to each their own I guess. How tight can a screw be anyways? Yeah I know, pretty tight. Snap the head off tight sometimes. Ya just gotta love when that happens.
Miller high life / old Milwaukee
I have one of the double fister screwdrivers. It's a good screwdriver, very well made. Although idk if I've ever used it for actual screw driving.... The handles too freaking big! Lol
And interestingly on my screwdriver, you can read where it's marked "Two-Fister" , but I don't see any Rosco markings anywhere.
Another commentor said they had one marked "Buffalo" so it's likely Rosco made them for other brands under contract too.
@@ballinator It also makes sense you said Rosco tools is more of an East Coast thing. And me being in California, prob why I'm not familiar with them. So I'm sure the one I have is rebranded/contracted out, like you say. 👍
Dave! Open up, I think the cops saw me!
Dave's not here, man.
@@ballinator Sheesh! I can't believe I screwed that up. I'm Dave!
@@randyshoquist7726 LOL
I miss my Rosco 2 Fister...
There's probably some on eBay, or keep your eyes peeled at garage sales.
@@ballinator Indeed there are. I'm pretty tempted...
I thought Rosco was a company that made screwdrivers for other companies, like western Forge is / was with pliers and wire cutters
Yeah, they did a ton of contract manufacturing for other companies.
That was hilarious!
Thanks! I had a ton of fun recording it.
Synthetic Organic Chemicals ... Just perfect for spraying your organic lettuce.
I like that largest screwdriver poke .... yeah, it had a 4' long handle, yeah!😖
Thanks! Yeah, I thought that was odd when I stumbled across it. I suspect they got into the chemicals so they could make their own screwdriver handles.
No surprises about the overblown claims to aid in marketing, pretty typical I'd say
As is the case with 99% of all "tool" videos on TH-cam, too much talk, not enough fact.
What was the trademark NUMBER from 1943? What was the trademark FOR?
You could have said all of that in less than HALF of the seven minutes of my time you took up.
LOL! Wow. There's literally a link directly to the trademark registration in the video description... Yeah, this channel is not for you.
😂😂😂🤷♂️🫡
Globemaster🪛 👀...🤔
They mastered the entire globe... I'll add Globemaster to the list to cover for a future video. I'm sure there's an interesting story there.
I call my Rosco a two fister....it isn't true but I still say it
LOL