Screwdrivers & Fastener Drives
Slotted, Phillips, hex, Torx and other drive systems that shaped shop kits.
Who invented the Phillips screw?
Short answer: The cross-head screw design is associated with Henry F.
The cross-head screw design is associated with Henry F. Phillips, whose company developed and promoted it in the 1930s after acquiring a design originally created by John P. Thompson. The cam-out feature and self-centering drive made it well suited to assembly-line power drivers.
What was the first car to use Phillips screws?
Short answer: The 1936 Cadillac is widely cited as the first production car to use Phillips screws on its assembly line.
The 1936 Cadillac is widely cited as the first production car to use Phillips screws on its assembly line. General Motors' adoption helped make the Phillips drive standard across the American auto industry within a few years.
Why did automakers adopt Phillips screws?
Short answer: Phillips screws self-center the driver bit, which let assembly workers use power drivers quickly without the bit slipping off the screw head.
Phillips screws self-center the driver bit, which let assembly workers use power drivers quickly without the bit slipping off the screw head. That speed on the assembly line was the main reason automakers adopted the design in the 1930s and 1940s.
Who invented the Robertson screw?
Short answer: Canadian inventor P.L. Robertson patented the square-recess screw in the early 1900s.
The square-recess Robertson screw was invented by Canadian P. L. Robertson, who patented it in the early 1900s. It became the standard screw in Canada and was used by Ford in Canadian-built Model T bodies, but licensing disputes limited its adoption in the United States.
Why did Ford use Robertson screws?
Short answer: Ford found that Robertson's square-drive screws sped up assembly because the driver stayed in the screw head.
Ford found that Robertson's square-drive screws sped up assembly because the driver stayed in the screw head. Ford used them at its Canadian plants, but Henry Ford could not reach a licensing agreement for wider use, so the design never became dominant in U.S. auto manufacturing.
When was the Torx fastener introduced?
Short answer: The Torx six-lobe drive was introduced in 1967 by Camcar, then part of Textron.
The Torx six-lobe drive was introduced in 1967 by Camcar, then part of Textron. Its star-shaped recess transmits torque efficiently with less cam-out, which made it popular in automotive assembly and electronics.
Why did automakers adopt Torx fasteners?
Short answer: Torx fasteners resist cam-out and allow higher torque without damaging the head or driver bit.
Torx fasteners resist cam-out and allow higher torque without damaging the head or driver bit. That suits automated assembly and high-torque applications, so automakers increasingly used Torx screws on interiors, lights, brakes and engines.
When did E-Torx fasteners become common on vehicles?
Short answer: External Torx, or E-Torx, fasteners have a six-lobe shape on the outside of the bolt head.
External Torx, or E-Torx, fasteners have a six-lobe shape on the outside of the bolt head. They became common on engines, transmissions and other components on many vehicles from the late twentieth century, requiring matching E-Torx sockets.
Why is an Allen wrench called an Allen wrench?
Short answer: "Allen wrench" comes from the Allen Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut, which made hex-socket screws and keys in the early twentieth century.
"Allen wrench" comes from the Allen Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut, which made hex-socket screws and keys in the early twentieth century. The brand name became so common that it is now used generically for hex keys.
Why did hex keys become common in automotive work?
Short answer: Hex keys turn socket head cap screws. They became common in automotive work as hex socket fasteners spread on brake calipers, interior components and engines.
Hex keys turn socket head cap screws. They became common in automotive work as hex socket fasteners spread on brake calipers, interior components and engines.
When was the Pozidriv screw drive developed?
Short answer: Pozidriv was developed in the 1960s as an improvement on the Phillips drive, with additional ribs that reduce cam-out.
Pozidriv was developed in the 1960s as an improvement on the Phillips drive, with additional ribs that reduce cam-out. It became common in Europe, and using a Phillips driver on a Pozidriv screw can damage the head.
Why did JIS screwdrivers become popular with mechanics?
Short answer: Japanese Industrial Standard cross-head screws look like Phillips screws but have a slightly different profile.
Japanese Industrial Standard cross-head screws look like Phillips screws but have a slightly different profile. As Japanese cars and motorcycles became common, technicians found Phillips drivers tended to cam out of JIS screws, so dedicated JIS drivers gained popularity.
Why were slotted screws common on early cars?
Short answer: Slotted screws were the dominant screw design for centuries and were easy to manufacture.
Slotted screws were the dominant screw design for centuries and were easy to manufacture. Early automobiles used them widely, but their tendency to let the driver slip out made them slow on the assembly line, which pushed manufacturers toward Phillips and other recessed drives.
How long have hand impact drivers been used on stubborn screws?
Short answer: Manual impact drivers convert a hammer blow into a sharp turning force while pushing the bit into the screw.
Manual impact drivers convert a hammer blow into a sharp turning force while pushing the bit into the screw. They have long been used to loosen stubborn screws, such as brake rotor retaining screws, without stripping them.
When did tamper-resistant fasteners appear on vehicles?
Short answer: Tamper-resistant fasteners such as pin-in-Torx and other security heads appeared on vehicles to discourage removal of emissions components, antennas and some trim.
Tamper-resistant fasteners such as pin-in-Torx and other security heads appeared on vehicles to discourage removal of emissions components, antennas and some trim. Shops added security bit sets as a result.
General guidance only. Follow the vehicle and tool manufacturer's procedures, and confirm vehicle coverage on the tool maker's list before buying.