Robertson Square drives

[john welsford]

Some years ago a hopeful youg guy set up and sold imported Square drive screws from Robertsons in Canada, I bought a bunch and one each of the nicely colour coded screwdrivers, The red and Green ones are getting pretty worn, and I have at last had to throw away the cordless drill driver bits and would like to replace all of those. They are damn good tools and worth a bit more than the rubbish that our local Hardware sells.
By the way, I am not at all sure if the name is Robertson, or Robinson, but I'm sure that someone will know. Do these guys have a web page? An address?

JohnW

[john welsford]

Some years ago a hopeful youg guy set up and sold imported Square drive screws from Robertsons in Canada, I bought a bunch and one each of the nicely colour coded screwdrivers, The red and Green ones are getting pretty worn, and I have at last had to throw away the cordless drill driver bits and would like to replace all of those. They are damn good tools and worth a bit more than the rubbish that our local Hardware sells.
By the way, I am not at all sure if the name is Robertson, or Robinson, but I'm sure that someone will know. Do these guys have a web page? An address?

JohnW

[john welsford]

Some years ago a hopeful youg guy set up and sold imported Square drive screws from Robertsons in Canada, I bought a bunch and one each of the nicely colour coded screwdrivers, The red and Green ones are getting pretty worn, and I have at last had to throw away the cordless drill driver bits and would like to replace all of those. They are damn good tools and worth a bit more than the rubbish that our local Hardware sells.
By the way, I am not at all sure if the name is Robertson, or Robinson, but I'm sure that someone will know. Do these guys have a web page? An address?

JohnW

[reddog]

John;
Yes,it is Robertson.I'm not sure the company still exists but square drive bits,screwdrivers,etc. are sold in any Canadian hardware store.Here's a link to Lee Valley Tools which carries such.
http://www.leevalley.com/home/main.asp
Here's some info:http://www.sachys-robertson.com.au/Screw_history/body_screw_history.html
If you are looking for a particular item(s) let me know and I could pick 'em up and send along.
All the best;Earl
John;Try this site:
http://www.robertsonscrew.com/
P.S. My brother,who lives on the West Coast,just returned from a 29 day tour of NZ and Oz.

[ 12-15-2002, 06:30 AM: Message edited by: reddog ]

[reddog]

John;
Yes,it is Robertson.I'm not sure the company still exists but square drive bits,screwdrivers,etc. are sold in any Canadian hardware store.Here's a link to Lee Valley Tools which carries such.
http://www.leevalley.com/home/main.asp
Here's some info:http://www.sachys-robertson.com.au/Screw_history/body_screw_history.html
If you are looking for a particular item(s) let me know and I could pick 'em up and send along.
All the best;Earl
John;Try this site:
http://www.robertsonscrew.com/
P.S. My brother,who lives on the West Coast,just returned from a 29 day tour of NZ and Oz.

[ 12-15-2002, 06:30 AM: Message edited by: reddog ]

[reddog]

John;
Yes,it is Robertson.I'm not sure the company still exists but square drive bits,screwdrivers,etc. are sold in any Canadian hardware store.Here's a link to Lee Valley Tools which carries such.
http://www.leevalley.com/home/main.asp
Here's some info:http://www.sachys-robertson.com.au/Screw_history/body_screw_history.html
If you are looking for a particular item(s) let me know and I could pick 'em up and send along.
All the best;Earl
John;Try this site:
http://www.robertsonscrew.com/
P.S. My brother,who lives on the West Coast,just returned from a 29 day tour of NZ and Oz.

[ 12-15-2002, 06:30 AM: Message edited by: reddog ]

[whb]

John,

Robertson is the name they are sold under in Canada. In the US I think they are just called square drives and they are very slightly different. I believe there was a patent battle of some sort and Robertson didn't want to license the big US manufacturers so they made a new one called a square drive.

I believe the square drive has perfectly parallel edges whereas the Robertson has a very very small taper to the bit.

Perhaps someone from the US can confirm.

Howard

[whb]

John,

Robertson is the name they are sold under in Canada. In the US I think they are just called square drives and they are very slightly different. I believe there was a patent battle of some sort and Robertson didn't want to license the big US manufacturers so they made a new one called a square drive.

I believe the square drive has perfectly parallel edges whereas the Robertson has a very very small taper to the bit.

Perhaps someone from the US can confirm.

Howard

[whb]

John,

Robertson is the name they are sold under in Canada. In the US I think they are just called square drives and they are very slightly different. I believe there was a patent battle of some sort and Robertson didn't want to license the big US manufacturers so they made a new one called a square drive.

I believe the square drive has perfectly parallel edges whereas the Robertson has a very very small taper to the bit.

Perhaps someone from the US can confirm.

Howard

[capt jake]

All of the square drive bits that I have purchased had a slight taper to the bit. I buy mine at a local nut/bolt supplier and have been very happy with all of them.

[capt jake]

All of the square drive bits that I have purchased had a slight taper to the bit. I buy mine at a local nut/bolt supplier and have been very happy with all of them.

[capt jake]

All of the square drive bits that I have purchased had a slight taper to the bit. I buy mine at a local nut/bolt supplier and have been very happy with all of them.

[David Tabor (sailordave)]

McFeelys Square Drive Screws (http://www.mcfeelys.com)

Check out their web site, get a quote on shipping to OZ and if it's stupid expensive let me know and I'll see what it would cost for me to mail you some driver bits!

[David Tabor (sailordave)]

McFeelys Square Drive Screws (http://www.mcfeelys.com)

Check out their web site, get a quote on shipping to OZ and if it's stupid expensive let me know and I'll see what it would cost for me to mail you some driver bits!

[David Tabor (sailordave)]

McFeelys Square Drive Screws (http://www.mcfeelys.com)

Check out their web site, get a quote on shipping to OZ and if it's stupid expensive let me know and I'll see what it would cost for me to mail you some driver bits!

[john welsford]

Thanks Guys, I will try and see how I get on with Robertsons, I knoew that there was some sort of difference in the screws and drivers, they work just that little bit better than the standard ones and I hadn't picked up on the taper.
I am keen to get the originals so I guess the credit card gets a hiding again, mind you the last set are 12 years old and have built 14 ( I think) boats so have paid their way.
Just an observation, I come from Kiwiland, ( New Zealand, the home of the Americas Cup) Wild Dingoes island is about a thousand miles of salt water out to the left of us, mistaking the two is a bit like calling a Canadian "Yank" . Good friends but love to hate each other if you know what I mean.

JohnW

Originally posted by reddog:
John;
Yes,it is Robertson.I'm not sure the company still exists but square drive bits,screwdrivers,etc. are sold in any Canadian hardware store.Here's a link to Lee Valley Tools which carries such.
http://www.leevalley.com/home/main.asp
Here's some info:http://www.sachys-robertson.com.au/Screw_history/body_screw_history.html
If you are looking for a particular item(s) let me know and I could pick 'em up and send along.
All the best;Earl
John;Try this site:
http://www.robertsonscrew.com/
P.S. My brother,who lives on the West Coast,just returned from a 29 day tour of NZ and Oz.

[john welsford]

Thanks Guys, I will try and see how I get on with Robertsons, I knoew that there was some sort of difference in the screws and drivers, they work just that little bit better than the standard ones and I hadn't picked up on the taper.
I am keen to get the originals so I guess the credit card gets a hiding again, mind you the last set are 12 years old and have built 14 ( I think) boats so have paid their way.
Just an observation, I come from Kiwiland, ( New Zealand, the home of the Americas Cup) Wild Dingoes island is about a thousand miles of salt water out to the left of us, mistaking the two is a bit like calling a Canadian "Yank" . Good friends but love to hate each other if you know what I mean.

JohnW

Originally posted by reddog:
John;
Yes,it is Robertson.I'm not sure the company still exists but square drive bits,screwdrivers,etc. are sold in any Canadian hardware store.Here's a link to Lee Valley Tools which carries such.
http://www.leevalley.com/home/main.asp
Here's some info:http://www.sachys-robertson.com.au/Screw_history/body_screw_history.html
If you are looking for a particular item(s) let me know and I could pick 'em up and send along.
All the best;Earl
John;Try this site:
http://www.robertsonscrew.com/
P.S. My brother,who lives on the West Coast,just returned from a 29 day tour of NZ and Oz.

[john welsford]

Thanks Guys, I will try and see how I get on with Robertsons, I knoew that there was some sort of difference in the screws and drivers, they work just that little bit better than the standard ones and I hadn't picked up on the taper.
I am keen to get the originals so I guess the credit card gets a hiding again, mind you the last set are 12 years old and have built 14 ( I think) boats so have paid their way.
Just an observation, I come from Kiwiland, ( New Zealand, the home of the Americas Cup) Wild Dingoes island is about a thousand miles of salt water out to the left of us, mistaking the two is a bit like calling a Canadian "Yank" . Good friends but love to hate each other if you know what I mean.

JohnW

Originally posted by reddog:
John;
Yes,it is Robertson.I'm not sure the company still exists but square drive bits,screwdrivers,etc. are sold in any Canadian hardware store.Here's a link to Lee Valley Tools which carries such.
http://www.leevalley.com/home/main.asp
Here's some info:http://www.sachys-robertson.com.au/Screw_history/body_screw_history.html
If you are looking for a particular item(s) let me know and I could pick 'em up and send along.
All the best;Earl
John;Try this site:
http://www.robertsonscrew.com/
P.S. My brother,who lives on the West Coast,just returned from a 29 day tour of NZ and Oz.

[ion barnes]

F.Y.I. the Robertson screwdrivers are numbered from 0 to 3 and are also colour-coded. I am hazy about the 0 and 1 as they are not used much, however they have the colours White and Yellow. #2 is Green, #3 is Red, and #4 is Black. The taper was intentional so you can hold the screw on the driver pointed down, bare in mind, this was before magnetic tips and is still relavent today with non ferous metals.

[ion barnes]

F.Y.I. the Robertson screwdrivers are numbered from 0 to 3 and are also colour-coded. I am hazy about the 0 and 1 as they are not used much, however they have the colours White and Yellow. #2 is Green, #3 is Red, and #4 is Black. The taper was intentional so you can hold the screw on the driver pointed down, bare in mind, this was before magnetic tips and is still relavent today with non ferous metals.

[ion barnes]

F.Y.I. the Robertson screwdrivers are numbered from 0 to 3 and are also colour-coded. I am hazy about the 0 and 1 as they are not used much, however they have the colours White and Yellow. #2 is Green, #3 is Red, and #4 is Black. The taper was intentional so you can hold the screw on the driver pointed down, bare in mind, this was before magnetic tips and is still relavent today with non ferous metals.

[David Tabor (sailordave)]

Just an observation, I come from Kiwiland MEA CULPA, MEA CULPA!!! And may I receive 100 lashes w/ a wet 'roo tail also! I KNEW I should have read your orig. post again...esp since I pride myself on knowing geography better than your average (koala) bear!

As far as the Cup goes, well, I've gotten rather soured on the whole darn thing...

[David Tabor (sailordave)]

Just an observation, I come from Kiwiland MEA CULPA, MEA CULPA!!! And may I receive 100 lashes w/ a wet 'roo tail also! I KNEW I should have read your orig. post again...esp since I pride myself on knowing geography better than your average (koala) bear!

As far as the Cup goes, well, I've gotten rather soured on the whole darn thing...

[David Tabor (sailordave)]

Just an observation, I come from Kiwiland MEA CULPA, MEA CULPA!!! And may I receive 100 lashes w/ a wet 'roo tail also! I KNEW I should have read your orig. post again...esp since I pride myself on knowing geography better than your average (koala) bear!

As far as the Cup goes, well, I've gotten rather soured on the whole darn thing...

[Bruce Hooke]

The square drives from McFeeley also have a slight taper to the bit. If I remember correctly the color coding is also identical to what ionbarnes listed.

[Bruce Hooke]

The square drives from McFeeley also have a slight taper to the bit. If I remember correctly the color coding is also identical to what ionbarnes listed.

[Bruce Hooke]

The square drives from McFeeley also have a slight taper to the bit. If I remember correctly the color coding is also identical to what ionbarnes listed.

[MarkWoyWoy]

John,

I've brought a few square drive bits and screwdrivers as well as silicon bronze screws from

http://www.sachys-robertson.com.au

The're in Melbourne and send by post pretty quickly. Although the prices are a little high the quality seems good.

Mark S.

[MarkWoyWoy]

John,

I've brought a few square drive bits and screwdrivers as well as silicon bronze screws from

http://www.sachys-robertson.com.au

The're in Melbourne and send by post pretty quickly. Although the prices are a little high the quality seems good.

Mark S.

[MarkWoyWoy]

John,

I've brought a few square drive bits and screwdrivers as well as silicon bronze screws from

http://www.sachys-robertson.com.au

The're in Melbourne and send by post pretty quickly. Although the prices are a little high the quality seems good.

Mark S.

[mmd]

Hey, youse guys! Heads up!

For those of us who get the television channel called The History Channel, they are televising a documentary on the life and inventions of P.L. Robertson, inventor of the Robertson drive screw.

[mmd]

Hey, youse guys! Heads up!

For those of us who get the television channel called The History Channel, they are televising a documentary on the life and inventions of P.L. Robertson, inventor of the Robertson drive screw.

[mmd]

Hey, youse guys! Heads up!

For those of us who get the television channel called The History Channel, they are televising a documentary on the life and inventions of P.L. Robertson, inventor of the Robertson drive screw.