I thought this would be of interest to the list.
 
Mike Polk
---------------------
Forwarded message:
From:   [log in to unmask] (Bob Wier)
Sender: [log in to unmask]
Reply-to:       [log in to unmask]
To:     [log in to unmask] (Multiple recipients of list)
Date: 97-04-08 13:08:18 EDT
 
 
Here's a topic from the History of Technology list which at
first glance seems not to concern us here - BUT look at the
dates involved below. I guess I'm a little surprised that
you could conceivably have had wagons and contents put together
with relatively modern sounding fasteners...
 
THANKS
 
     mailto:[log in to unmask]
    10:01 PM Monday, April 7, 1997
     Texas A & M University - Commerce
 keeper of the Photo-3d,  Overland-Trails
ICOM radio and LDS State Research Outline Guides
      "Heisenberg may have slept here. . ."
 
>
>As Austen, John discourses
>>
>> Forewarded question.
>>
>> >----------
>> >From:  [log in to unmask][SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>> >Sent:  Saturday, April 05, 1997 12:19 AM
>> >To:    Austen, John
>> >Subject:       Phillips head screws
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >John:  Perhaps your Industrial Archeology group has a resource
>> >to answer a question my son posed the other day.  "When were
>> >Phillips head screws invented, and when used in significant
>> >quantity?"  He was trying to verify whether they should reject
>> >such screws in assembling an historically accurate 1920's chest.
>> >
>I think that we had a discussion on this on the "boatanchor"
>(pre-transistor ham radio equipment) mail list a while back and came
>up with ca. 1930 for the invention, serious use in autombiles began
>around 1936.   I don't recall seeing any references to cite for this.
>
>If you use plain slotted head screws, you are correct for any period.
>Wood screws in the early 19th century were straight shank and blunt
>tip.  Had thread form similar to modern taper shank.  I have these in
>an 1847 piano here, so know they were used then, and think this shape
>continued for another thirty years or so.
>
>The "Phillips" cross-head screws were intended to be installed in mass
>production with power drivers.  "Quality" woodworking items would use
>slotted heads right down to the present.
>
>--
>===================================================================
>Hank van Cleef
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>