AHC: No Philips-head screwdrivers

Virtually all American homes contain a set of screwdrivers, containing both flat-head and Philips-head screwdrivers. You can use a flat-head screwdriver on a Philips-head screw, but not a Philips-head screwdriver on a flat-head screw. The fact that only flat-head screwdrivers can be used on both flat-head and Philips-head screws is the basis for this challenge.

Your challenge is to get American screwdriver manufacturers to completely abandon making Philips-head screwdrivers in favor of making flat-head ones, because of the better versatility of flat-head screwdrivers.
 
As Wikipedia states- "The importance of the crosshead screw design lies in its self-centering property, useful on automated production lines that use powered screwdrivers."

You could probably change the type of screw-head but odds are something with that same 'self centering' feature will appear. Probably not just flat-heads.
 

Driftless

Donor
The flat screwdrivers slide out of the slot too easily & tend to strip the slot.

Other folks love the square slotted screws (Robertson head?) - I can't stand 'em

If you've got the right size driver, the Torx head screws work very well.

drive_types.jpg
 
I prefer Robertson myself, those screws you can stick onto the bit, so you in fact only need one hand to hold the screwdriver and screw, which leaves you one hand free to hold the thing you actually screw down (I regularly replace display fitting at a lighting shop, so being able to hold the fitting with one hand and the screwdriver and screw with another is a real advantage). There are of course others with that capability, but none commonly available where I am.
 
I like the one way ones. Very good if someone pisses you off! You can then screw his tool box to the bench.:D

That's what crazy glue is for. You seal the tool box AND glue it to the bench.

Anyone know any hardware jokes? Why don't they use Robertsons on cars? Because they're for furniture. Ha ha. That was funny before Ikea and the allen head socket screw. Flat blade screws were invented by the same guy who invented band-aids.
 
"Flathead" or standard sloted screws date from the 18th or 19th Century in English/US use. the other all seem to have come in the 20th or very late 19th Century when powered driving tools made them more practical than standard slotted.

Getting back to the OP...

...

Your challenge is to get American screwdriver manufacturers to completely abandon making Philips-head screwdrivers in favor of making flat-head ones, because of the better versatility of flat-head screwdrivers.

Hand waive away powered tools & modern 20th Century tool production techniques. We'd all be still driving our screws with a common driver, or a brace & bit rig if a professional.
 
"Flathead" or standard sloted screws date from the 18th or 19th Century in English/US use. the other all seem to have come in the 20th or very late 19th Century when powered driving tools made them more practical than standard slotted.

Getting back to the OP...



Hand waive away powered tools & modern 20th Century tool production techniques. We'd all be still driving our screws with a common driver, or a brace & bit rig if a professional.

You have to kill off Henry Ford and the assembly line. He was the one who standardised of Phillips head because it reduced the damage to the product when a power driver slipped. Once they were used on the Model T (and the driver came in the tool kit) there was no way to stop it becoming 'standard'

And by the way if I ever catch you using a flathead screwdriver on a phillipshead screw you will at least get a strong lecture on the right tool for the job and if you are working for me you will never do it again if you want to keep the job! That is a good way to ruin the screw and the tool!
 
You have to kill off Henry Ford and the assembly line. He was the one who standardised of Phillips head because it reduced the damage to the product when a power driver slipped. Once they were used on the Model T (and the driver came in the tool kit) there was no way to stop it becoming 'standard'

And by the way if I ever catch you using a flathead screwdriver on a phillipshead screw you will at least get a strong lecture on the right tool for the job and if you are working for me you will never do it again if you want to keep the job! That is a good way to ruin the screw and the tool!

Henry Ford apparently used Robertson screws - possibly only in the Canadian plants, I don't know.


Aha!!!
Ford was using Robertsons long before the Phillips screwdriver even came to be.

So, have GM pick up the idea from Ford (instead of introducing a third kind of screwdriver in 1936), and Bob's your uncle
 
Robertson wanted to manufacture the screws while others just wanted a license. Phillips turned out as the response. Everybody wanted a good screw, but they didn't want to buy it.
 
Henry Ford apparently used Robertson screws - possibly only in the Canadian plants, I don't know.


Aha!!!
Ford was using Robertsons long before the Phillips screwdriver even came to be.

So, have GM pick up the idea from Ford (instead of introducing a third kind of screwdriver in 1936), and Bob's your uncle

I just rechecked my sources and I remembered it wrong. Phillips screws were used by GM first not FORD.
 
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