[pianotech] Robertson screws, was Un-Grand revisited

[Jurgen Goering]

The Robertson story is an interesting one. The 20 second version:
Robertson was a Canadian who patented a square socket drive screw.  It was and still is a remarkable screw for many reasons.   He negotiated with Henry Ford about having the screws used in automobiles.  Robertson was a bit of a strange man, wanting to be in control.  He wanted to manufacture and sell his screws; Henry Ford wanted to produce them under license.  The two could not agree.  Henry Phillips was more astute and willing to license out the manufacture of his screw, to Ford and others around the world.  The rest is history. Robertson made a living, Phillips presumably got enormously wealthy.  Canada (and Canadian piano manufacture until its demise) has enjoyed the advantages of Robertson screws for over 100 years now, they are the most common screws in hardware stores here. ONly in recent years have legal barriers fallen, allowing Robertson screws to move into other markets such as the US, where boat builders and other "fastener freaks" had been importing them for a long time .
Jurgen Goering
Piano Forte