daveh
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Post by daveh on Mar 24, 2012 22:01:26 GMT -5
Mickey, Now we're talking. I presume like many really good inventions it was just too good, and manufacturers wouldn't make it as they people wouldn't have to keep replacing them. At least that is what we might expect. It turns out that Robertson wouldn't license his product to other manufacturers. The reason is given in Wiki which has a run down on run down on screw drives here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_screw_drives |
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Mar 24, 2012 23:57:45 GMT -5
Dave,
Not my dad but a good tale.
"I remember a story my dad told me from the mid-80s. The company he works for had a plant in Canada and they would close the wood shipping containers with Robertsons and then ship world wide. One time, there was someone from the US and the UK on site with him (for training I think) when a new part came in. When my dad popped open his briefcase to get a Robertson bit out, they were both flabergasted. The various teams in the US and the UK (and assuming elsewhere) had been opening the shipping crates with crowbars, cursing the #@&*><! at the plant for screwing the boxes closed with "custom" bits. Shortly thereafter, the plant started including a Robertson bit attached to the outside of each crate."
In the US they still have crowbars handy if they use short lived Phillips drivers ✛.
I still use my old (wood handles) red, green and black Robertson drivers that I bought in 1954.
I can't begin to estimate how many screws they have screwed and unscrewed ☐.
I do have a slotted driver that was part of the tool kit that came with my 1955 Austin Cambridge. It can't be beat for opening paint cans —.
Mickey
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Mar 25, 2012 3:47:21 GMT -5
Mickey,
I love stories like that .
Cross point heads are particularly awful as there are several variations on the theme. Once the grooves start to go they are a nightmare especially as you can frequently be unsure which is the right driver for the screw in use.
I did have a slotted screwdriver which had a clip to retain the screw. Once the screw was partly in, the clip could be released.
My uncle, who was a joiner and cabinet maker, used to have some soft soap which would help hold the driver in the screw head. In the days of Brylcream he would sometimes run the thread through his hair - the Brylcream acting as a lubricant making it easier to drive the screw home.
Dave.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Mar 25, 2012 5:09:05 GMT -5
Dave,
My father, my cousin, who is a cabinet maker, and I always scrape a screw over the remnants of a bar of soap. It does make driving the screw easier. No soap? Try a candle.
Mickey
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Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on Mar 25, 2012 9:08:11 GMT -5
Brylcream, a little dab'll do ya! Brylcream, you'll look so Debonaire  |
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Mar 25, 2012 10:00:43 GMT -5
Brylcream, a little dab'll do ya! Brylcream, you'll look so Debonaire Brylcream, the girls 'll all pursue ya. Why not put a little in your hair? It never worked. Neither did Wildroot Cream Oil, Charlie. Mickey |
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Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on Mar 25, 2012 19:44:11 GMT -5
Mickey,
Some of the old ad campaigns were priceless ;D
I've got a pretty large collection of old magazines, mostly of the Mechanics Illustrated type, and I enjoy the ads almost as much as the articles.
Some of the cover art from the 30's and 40's looks good matted and framed; it makes great decoration for the Man Cave.
I use soap or wax on screws, it also works well on old cabinet drawers. They slide better.
Doug
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Post by Randy on Mar 25, 2012 22:06:59 GMT -5
His face
Was smooth
And cool as ice
And oh! Louise!
He smelled so nice
Burma-Shave Lotion
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Mar 25, 2012 23:50:31 GMT -5
What ever happened to Burma-Shave?
That was poetry at its finest.
It was served up in little increments so one could really savour, digest and enjoy it.
No wonder today's little savages have no appreciation for true art.
Mickey
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Mar 26, 2012 3:28:43 GMT -5
"You'll wonder where the yellow went,
when you brush your teeth with Pespsodent!"
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Post by Rachel on Mar 26, 2012 8:43:14 GMT -5
His face Was smooth And cool as ice And oh! Louise! He smelled so nice Burma-Shave Lotion Makes my heart skip a beat ;D |
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Post by Randy on Mar 26, 2012 10:34:02 GMT -5
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Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on Mar 26, 2012 10:54:59 GMT -5
Hi! I believe that Burma Shave is still in business, but I'm sure they only produce shaving soap. Too bad they took down those great signs, I remember seeing them up until the early 70's. I order my shaving stuff on-line ( I really like Bay Rum Aftershave ), and I'm pretty sure they carry it. Yes, I still use a mug, brush and soap  Doug |
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Mar 26, 2012 12:41:22 GMT -5
His face Was smooth And cool as ice And oh! Louise! He smelled so nice Burma-Shave Lotion Makes my heart skip a beat ;D
Wont you try some on your feet.
Try[/color] Burma-Shave[/color] Shakespeare |
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Post by camerastoomany on Mar 27, 2012 8:32:21 GMT -5
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