Motolube Motor Oil Co. Advertising Screwdriver, J.L.Sommer Mfg. Co. Newark 1950s For Sale

According to the Miami News of January 11, 1925, “ John L. Sommer . . . ” has made more presents than perhaps any man in the world”, so says Don Thorton in Just For Openers, January-December 2025, a publication of “The International Correspondence of Corkscrew Addicts”(ICCA). This Screwdriver is one of his many advertising successes. After cleaning the Handle, “PAT” and a date became visible, “1-4-19”(see images). That date did not retrieve any Patents, in fact, that date was a Saturday according to the search engine. No Patents issued on Saturdays! DATAMP handled the subsequent search efficiently leading to Design Patent D54,142 for a “DESIGN FOR A HANDLE FOR A SCREW-DRIVER, OR SIMILAR ARTICLE”; Applied: Jan. 12, 1917 and Granted: Nov. 04, 1919.That “HANDLE FOR A SCREW-DRIVER, OR SIMILAR ARTICLE” became an advertising space for a myriad of entities as a search on and elsewhere will show. J.L. Sommer had numerous patents and his company, J.L. Sommer Mfg. Co., of Newark NJ, advertised “Wire, Steel and Metal Novelties for advertising purposes. Letter Openers, Key Rings, Shoe Horns, Button Hooks, Etc.” And Screwdrivers.Evidence of the existence of “MOTOLUBE MOTOR OIL CO. in MONTEBELLO, CALIF.” was limited to the Screwdriver-in-hand. The Street Locations on the back (see images) do not aid in locating . . . anything. The Telephone Numbers (see images) did offer a clue to the years when the Screwdriver might have been available. “BOYLE” (see images) was a prefix for Telephone numbers in Los Angeles in the mid-20th Century and all-number dialing had become extensive and likely standard in Los Angeles no later than the end of the 1950s.The Screwdriver is in has-been-used, functional condition. There is a subtle, barely noticeable twist in the shaft (see images), but it doesn’t compromise use. It’s a substantial piece of steel with a direct link to a whole-other automobile time that’ll contribute to an Automobilia conversation.We will ship the Screwdriver by USPS Ground Advantage on the next regular business day following payment.