Subject: Robertson Screws

From: "David T. Bilenkey" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 09:31:57 -0500

Any hardware history buffs out there?

I'm trying to find out when Robertson type (square recessed socket) screws first 
became generally available and used in Canada. If I'm not mistaken these screws are 
still pretty much only found in Canada, so this question might not be of interest to 
the Americans who read this group (then again maybe it will).

Any help appreciated.

-- 
David Bilenkey
Industrial Designer                       Telephone:              (613) 765-3476
Corporate Design Group                        Fax:              (613) 763-4904
Nortel Technology Ltd.                      e-mail:      [email-masked]
P.O. Box 3511, Station C
Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada K1Y 4H7

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From: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 97 15:22:56 GMT

> the Americans who read this group (then again maybe it will).
Au contraire! They are available in Ocala, Florida,cost no more, and I wouldn't 
use anything else

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From: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 11:59:44 -0500

> the Americans who read this group (then again maybe it will).

I use them all the time. I am as American as apple pie (although I
aspire to become a member of the trilateral commission to see what it's
all about because I still don't beleave you conspiracy fools).

You can get them from McFeely's -- catalog available at (800) 443-7937
-- and  also Bruss -- catalog avilable at (800) 536-0009.

I just read about this recently, but my recollection is real poor, so I
welcome all corrections and updates.

In the early 1900s (prehaps around WWI or a little later) both the
square head and the phillips head screws and drivers were developed.
Through some shenanagins, the philips design was adopted  as the
preferable fastener here in America (was it government specs or some big
catalog company like Sears that was responsible?) even though it is by
far an inferior design (for all of you who do not think so, you cannot
get nearly as much torque or fingertip control with a philips
screwdriver -- and even pitifully less with a flat edge design -- as you
can with the square tip).

I figured that my scant command of the facts is better than none. I have
no intention of revising history.
-- 
Daniel

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From: neuron@[email-masked] (Richard Tomkins)
Date: 13 Feb 1997 02:28:43 GMT

Having just received my Canadian Encyclopedia Plus, Here is the home of
the Robertson.

 Milton  

 Milton, Ont, Town, pop  32 075 (1991c), 32 037 (1986c), located 29 km
W of Toronto. The area was opened to settlement with the purchase of
the Mississauga Tract from the Mississauga Indians, and creation of the
York Road (Hwy 5) to London. It was first called Martin's Mills after a
pioneer family, and in 1837 was renamed Milton. It was made county seat
of Halton in 1853 and a town in 1857. The agricultural based economy
has become more industrialized due to its geographical location.
Milton, home of the Robertson Òsocket headÓ screw , now abounds with
leisure attractions and historic sites including a modern recreational
complex, The Ontario Agricultural Museum and The Electric Railway
Museum. As steam capital of Ontario, Milton is the home of ÒSteam-EraÓ.

Author:  K.L. MORRISON AND R.A. SMITH  

--------------------
The Canadian Encyclopedia Plus Copyright © 1995 McClelland & Stewart
Inc.

This MIND left BLANK Intentionally!

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From: "Frank K." <[email-masked]>
Date: 13 Feb 1997 02:50:45 GMT

http://www.mirror.org/cabinetware/cab6.html

Also check out other good links at
http://www.woodworking.com/index.html#WEBPAGES
-- 
Best -- Frank

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From: [email-masked] (Computer Systems Manager)
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 21:44:40 +1100

[This followup was posted to rec.woodworking and a copy was sent to the 
cited author.]

In article <[email-masked]>, David T. Bilenkey says...

snip ...
> the Americans who read this group (then again maybe it will).
These screws are available in Australia, although I've only seen them 
in mail-order ads and that's how I get them.  Having used them I wouldn't 
use anything else ... don't know why anyone else would either.

There's more to the world than America, ya know.

-- 
Regards, Rick
In Oz
To email me first remove the * from the email address shown above.

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From: Tim Grissom <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 13:38:33 -0500

I have found there in the states (NC). In fact that is all I could find
for the type and length I needed. When My house was being built I went
behind the framing crew placing screws in the floors to help avoid the
notorious squeeking floor problems. Anyway I didn't realize what I
bought. When I got home I cursed because I did't have a driver for the
dang things. It turns out they provided one in the box for my cordless
driver. It sure worked great for what I was doing. Almost too good. When
using phillips screws usually when you hit the bottom the driver slips
out of the head and you know when it's time to stop. With the robertson
screws they either keep going (through the plywood or they snap the head
off (a real pain).  I'm sure the problem was I was using my electric
drill for the job instead of a electric screw driver....

So shoot me.

:)

-- 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The average person falls asleep in seven minutes.
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Timothy G. Grissom			(esn) 294-7496
Nortel (Northern Telecom)		(phone) (919) 991-7496
Research Triangle Park, NC		(internet) [email-masked]

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From: "David Outen" <[email-masked]>
Date: 13 Feb 1997 19:52:08 GMT

I first remember Robertson screws from their widespread use in recreational
vehicles here in the USA.  From the practical standpoint they are easier to
drive than a Phillips screw but from the aesthetic standpoint they a
Phillips.  I believe that is why the Torx screw is being used more--looks
better than the Roberston and drives better than the Phillips.
                                                              Dave
-- 
**if replying by e-mail remove asterisks from address**
(message edited)
[email-masked] wrote in article <[email-masked]>...

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From: Norm Newhall <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 21:35:15 -0800

I was forced into using them back in 1984 for some camper repairs! 
That's all I could find in the stores, but being from Connecticut, it
meant they also got to sell me the screwdriver! :-)

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From: [email-masked]
Date: 14 Feb 1997 14:53:19 GMT

Bondhus makes a ball Robertson screwdriver for driving at an angle, both #1 & #2.  Very handy compared to the straight drive screwdrivers.  If memory serves McFeely carries.