The solution was found by a 27-year old Canadian, Peter L. Robertson. He was a pitchman for a Philadelphia tool company, a traveling salesman who sold goods at trade fairs and on street corners throughout eastern Canada. He spent his spare time in his workshop.

When did Robertson screws start?

The Robertson screwdriver, also known as a square screwdriver, was invented in 1908 by P.L. Robertson, a native Canadian.

Why are there no Robertson screws in America?

Most historians attribute its lack of popularity in the United States to Henry Ford. Having been nearly bankrupted by shady European licensees, Robertson refused to license his invention to Ford. Without a guaranteed supply, Ford turned to the Phillips-head screw, cementing its reign in American industry.

Are Robertson screws Canadian?

Ever since, the Phillips screw has dominated the U.S. market. Down but not out, Robertson stayed in Milton and made sure that every Canadian homeowner used his screws. ... Today, the company he started, now called Robertson Inc., keeps its head office in Milton, but the screws are made in Montreal.

Who invented Square Drive screws?

In 1908, square-drive screws were invented by Canadian P. L. Robertson (1879–1951), 28 years before Henry Phillips patented his Phillips head screws, which are also square-drive screws.

Robertson, Phillips, and the History of the Screwdriver

What did PL Robertson invent?

Peter Lymburner Robertson – also known as P.L. Robertson – was a Canadian business mogul, author and inventor. He popularized the square-socket version of the screw and the corresponding screwdriver in the early 1900s. His products are still named after him today.

Where are Robertson screws made?

The brand has been sold over the years, and the manufacturing for the present corporation (Robertson Inc.) is done in Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China; but the Milton, Ontario, building was still a head office for a long time before moving to nearby Burlington, Ontario.

When was the slot screw invented?

The first documentation of the tool is in the medieval Housebook of Wolfegg Castle, a manuscript written sometime between 1475 and 1490. These earliest screwdrivers had pear-shaped handles and were made for slotted screws (diversification of the many types of screwdrivers did not emerge until the Gilded Age).

Who invented flat head screwdriver?

Henry Frank Phillips (June 4, 1889 – April 13, 1958) was an American businessman from Portland, Oregon. The Phillips-head ("crosshead") screw and screwdriver are named after him.

What does Hollow Ground screwdriver mean?

Hollow ground screwdriver bits are not tapered like other screwdriver bits (think \/), but instead are concave and straighten out to a parallel (think ||).

Who invented Phillips head screws?

The Phillips screw and driver, originally invented by Portlander John P. Thompson, dramatically increased the speed of manufacturing and made the Phillips screwdriver a necessity in every toolbox.

Are Robertson and square drive the same?

Although the terms "square drive" and "Robertson" are often treated as the same in catalogs, the difference (as I understand it) is that Robertson tools and screws have a slight taper to the square recess and the square drive ones do not. Most online sources claim that the tapered design is superior.

What is a Robertson screw head?

A Robertson screw, also known as a square screw or Scrulox, is a type of screw which has a square-shaped socket in the screw head and a square protrusion on the tool. Both the tool and the socket have a slight taper. ... The Robertson screw is specified as ANSI Type III Square Center.

Why was the Robertson screwdriver invented?

Peter frequently told the story- now a legend – about the accident in downtown Montréal. He was demonstrating a spring-loaded screwdriver when the blade slipped from the screw-slot and badly cut his hand. The incident inspired him, so he decided to invent an improved and safer screw – The Robertson® Drive.

What screw head is least likely to strip?

Non-slip head

(A standard Phillips head has only four.) More contact means better grip, which makes the bit less likely to slip and strip the fastener. Shorter Outlaw screws have two recesses (12 contact points) but the same hexagonal shape.

Why are there Phillips and flat head screws?

The reason for the different styles is cost and torque. Phillips screws are self-centering, making powered screwdrivers possible. They're somewhat more expensive to produce than slotted-head. They tend to 'cam-out' easily under torque, making it hard to apply much torque.

Do longer screwdriver have more torque?

A: This may seam odd, but the different length of screwdriver really doesn't affect the torque directly. Torque is the force applied times the distance from the axis you are rotating about. ... The long handle will move your hand further from the rotation and give you more torque.

When did cross head screws come out?

To counteract these disadvantages, J. P. Thompson patented a screw with a cross recess in 1933. He sold the patent to the Phillips Screw Company. It improved the profile and introduced the screw to the market in 1936/37.

What screw head is best?

Phillips. What is the best type of screw drive? Many would say the Phillips drive screw, characterized by a pointed tip, tapered flanks and rounded corners. The Phillips screw is more commonly used than a slotted screw because it's more stable with four contact points.

What is a Phillip head screwdriver used for?

Phillips screw heads allow a tighter fit than a flat head screw, which is why most factories and handymen use them. The screws tend to be lightweight and relatively small. The trick is to match your screwdriver to the type and size of screws you're using. Your choice of screw depends on the type of job you're doing.

When was the first wood screw invented?

The earliest record of lathe made wood screws dates to an English patent of 1760. The development of wood screws progressed from a small cottage industry in the late 18th century to a highly mechanized industry by the mid-19th century.

What is a Robertson #2 bit?

These genuine Robertson screw drive bits are manufactured with accurate tool-steel square-recess drive tips for a precise fit, and durable powder-coat carbon-steel shanks. ... The red #2 drive bits are 1”, 2”, 4” or 6” long and fit screw sizes #8, #9 and #10.

What is Philip screw?

A Phillips screwdriver has a head with pointed edges in the shape of a cross, which fit neatly into the cross slots of a Phillips screw. Phillips screwdrivers are available in five different sizes, ranging from zero(smallest) to four (largest).