I first encountered Robertson or square-drive screws when I was in the stereo repair business. I fixed big console stereos, and a few of these were Canadian. Xcelite, the electronic tool outfit, manufactured a Robertson driver set, and I happened to have bought one of these for a very deep discount some time earlier. Nobody at the store knew quite what it was. This was around 1974. These screws were also used a good bit in mobile-home construction in the US, and perhaps they are at present. They've been available as big deck (outdoor construction) screws for the last few years. Reviews for the Robertson wood screws have been mixed. I thought they'd be utterly foolproof, but a friend who does extensive remodelling work said that, when used with a power screwdriver, the driver bit invariably slips out and damages the screwhead. I didn't believe this until I tried it myself, and that's exactly what happened. I don't quite know why this happens--possibly poor manufacturing tolerances. The driver fit firmly into the screw head, though. I'm sure that Robertsons would make fine adjusting screws. Though in industrial work, recessed hex or Torx have become standard. As for slotted screws, there's a combination slotted and phillips head that seems rather popular. They're not particularly fun to use with a slotted driver, but they should be fairly easy to adjust without much downward force. I'm aware of the aesthetics. Phillips screws look horrible. Hamilton Watch once marketed an 'authentic' marine chronometer. Beautiful case, and I think an authentic chronometer movement. But the brightly-polished brass case screws were phillips! Nobody knew any better. M Kinsler 512 E Mulberry St. Lancaster, Ohio USA 43130 740-687-6368 http://home.earthlink.net/~mkinsler1 _________________________________________________________________ Choose now from 4 levels of MSN Hotmail Extra Storage - no more account overload! http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200362ave/direct/01/
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