Beware the Powerful Pete

Leadfoot · **on:** December 08, 2012, 05:06:12 AM

It started out rather simply, read a thread on here about Powerful Pete.

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,12943.0.html

Thought it would be a cool thing to have and remembering somewhere
in my myriad of junk, that there should be a few different screwdrivers of
this type acquired from some gun purchases.

Promptly made a search on Fleabay and bid on the best looking one of the bunch.

Combined it with the gun company and Sears versions I had and was content.

Well we all know how long that lasted. And thus it began.

Seems that there are other shapes of this type of tool, and as a person
who understands the meaning of the words, pairs and sets, I was off.

Some are actually shaped like....... keys

And then there is Sears, and yes they are all slightly different.
These are the ones I currently have, there are more.
Scans of front and then back.

The tell me my affliction is incurable, but the symptoms are not visible,
unless I'm giving you the stink eye cause yer bidding on my next acquisition.

Be well, and beware the Powerful Pete

Leadfoot

Crouton · **Reply #1 on:** December 08, 2012, 05:24:36 AM

Great post. I think you've got the psychology of collecting well captured here.

It's also a great looking set of tools.

stealth007s · **Reply #2 on:** December 08, 2012, 06:04:25 AM

Very nice leadfoot!¡!

Leadfoot · **Reply #3 on:** December 08, 2012, 06:27:08 AM

Thanks guys, I've had several versions of this affliction over my life,
this is just the current variation. I'm sure it will continue.

Leadfoot

Vladimir · **Reply #4 on:** December 08, 2012, 09:35:47 AM

Great collection!

Zed · **Reply #5 on:** December 08, 2012, 10:31:42 AM

Very cool collection mate

Sparky415 · **Reply #6 on:** December 08, 2012, 11:31:30 AM

Quote from: Zed on December 08, 2012, 10:31:42 AM

Very cool collection mate

What he said

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #7 on:** December 08, 2012, 12:47:24 PM

That is a great collection!

Any chance of ever finding out the years produced or even relative timeline for those?

Swiss Man · **Reply #8 on:** December 08, 2012, 01:27:48 PM

Sorry if I am the one that started your current addiction

It was PeteB pic that started it though. ;p
BTW Nice collection.

Steinar · **Reply #9 on:** December 08, 2012, 06:48:40 PM

The collector mindset is both a blessing and a curse.

Cool collection, and those simple, one-piece tools have a certain charm all of their own.

Leadfoot · **Reply #10 on:** December 08, 2012, 08:05:54 PM

Quote from: Mr. Whippy on December 08, 2012, 12:47:24 PM

That is a great collection! Any chance of ever finding out the years produced or even relative timeline for those?

Thanks everyone

The Powerful Pete appears to be made up into the 50's
The VFW was mass mailed out shortly after WWII with a return envelope for donations for veterans.
The Marlin is a 100yr anniversary 1970
The two "Boye"'s are usually attributed to the 1930's, but I have no proof.
The key shaped Porter was built by a company who made locomotives, not sure the age but my guess is the 30's.

Leadfoot

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #11 on:** December 08, 2012, 08:36:39 PM

You know, the first Powerful Pete thread got me out looking for one and I got one off eBay.

Now I see just how deep the rabbit hole goes....

Def

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

enki_ck · **Reply #12 on:** December 09, 2012, 01:15:56 AM

Really great and interesting collection there

MARIOS7319 · **Reply #13 on:** December 14, 2012, 09:17:58 AM

Very nice collection you got there.

Leadfoot · **Reply #14 on:** December 15, 2012, 07:39:59 PM

Thanks again everyone.

The rabbit hole is indeed very deep.

Leadfoot

Leadfoot · **Reply #15 on:** December 17, 2019, 08:46:31 AM

It's been seven years, I've escaped but I don't have much time. I hear the dogs in the distance.

The collection has grown.

gregozedobe · **Reply #16 on:** December 17, 2019, 11:07:53 AM

Quote from: Leadfoot on December 15, 2012, 07:39:59 PM

The rabbit hole is indeed very deep.

And it seems you have been a very industrious digger indeed !

Leadfoot · **Reply #17 on:** December 17, 2019, 12:01:55 PM

Other than a few new in package, those near the back of the pic, there are no duplicates.

Aloha · **Reply #18 on:** December 17, 2019, 01:31:29 PM

Wonderful collection.

SteveC · **Reply #19 on:** December 17, 2019, 03:17:31 PM

comis · **Reply #20 on:** December 17, 2019, 03:36:53 PM

That's gonna one of the most impressive powerful pete/sears tool and OPT collection I have seen, amazing!

Leadfoot · **Reply #21 on:** December 18, 2019, 10:00:11 AM

H C Cook Company, maker of the Powerful Pete. Based in Astonia, CT
Was a die making company for heavy industry.
The Gem line, nail clippers and other items, were a sideline for slack times in
the production of dies and other industrial items.

The trademark logo, Powerful Pete, in an arch, was the only copyrighted trademark. f
The image of Powerful Pete was never trademarked.

These are what I call in house designs. Mostly promos for H C Cook.
The Powerful Pete on the right is I believe, the earliest item in the collection
The trademark, Power Pete is of a different font than the copyrighted version.
The Brass looking Pete is just the under plating before nickel plating. I have a few of these.

There are 398 screw drivers in this collection.
No duplicates unless there is another copy new in packaging.

Leadfoot · **Reply #22 on:** December 18, 2019, 10:05:37 AM

These are what I call clover backs.
Advertising on the front, with the four leaf clover on the back.

Leadfoot · **Reply #23 on:** December 18, 2019, 10:08:51 AM

This set has the advertising companies name on front,
and other company information on the back.
No marks identifying H C Cook as the maker, nor the four leaf clover.

Leadfoot · **Reply #24 on:** December 18, 2019, 10:11:30 AM

Quote from: comis on December 17, 2019, 03:36:53 PM

That's gonna one of the most impressive powerful pete/sears tool and OPT collection I have seen, amazing!

I've ran across another collector that had around 70 various key chain screwdrivers.
Hopefully the other collectors will chime in.

Aloha · **Reply #25 on:** December 18, 2019, 04:27:44 PM

. Such an impressive collection and I too hope others will join in.

Leadfoot · **Reply #26 on:** December 18, 2019, 09:13:56 PM

Thanks Aloha

1 Various key shaped styles

2 Figural shaped, turtles, dogs, bubblegum etc.

3 miscellaneous shapes.

4 VFW

Leadfoot · **Reply #27 on:** December 19, 2019, 05:15:45 AM

Here we have the history of Plomb, Plumb, Proto and the merger with P&C.

All the fronts are different, sometimes just slight changes in font or size.
This follows the path of the original Plomb, who finally had to change to Proto do
to another company back East also using the name Plomb.
Sometimes the back is as important as the front, having the company presidents name,
or one of the other companies Proto is associated with.
Names like Ingersol Rand and Stanley, which were both owners of Proto.
P&C was absorbed by Proto and then you started seeing screwdrivers with the P&C logo.
There are 50th and 75th anniversary screwdrivers.
48 pieces, all different.

Leadfoot · **Reply #28 on:** December 19, 2019, 05:23:26 AM

1 Basset, a rival company to HC Cook. Basset and HC Cook sued each other
several times over the years due to copyright infringements.

2 Terry's and Boye style. Terry's is an English company and Boye is US.
Not sure if it was a business connection or a direct rip off.
Yes that is Queen Elizabeth at her coronation on the blue Screw Loose Sir.

Leadfoot · **Reply #29 on:** December 20, 2019, 07:08:30 AM

Miscellaneous groups of shapes and types.

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Beware the Powerful Pete

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