Why is a cross-headed screwdriver called a 'Philips' screwdriver?

Question

And who is this Philip anyway? It's not me!
Does he still make money from these screwdrivers?

Answer 1

In the early 1930s, the Phillips head screw was invented by Henry Phillips. Automobile manufacturers now used car assembly lines. They needed screws that could take greater torque and could provide tighter fastenings. The Phillips head screw was compatible with the automated screwdrivers used in assembly line.
Ironically, there is a Philips Screw Company that never made Phillips screws or drivers. Henry Phillips died in 1958 at the age of sixty-eight.

Answer 2

Phillips Head Screwdriver

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Why is a cross-headed screwdriver called a 'Philips' screwdriver?
And who is this Philip anyway? It's not me!
Does he still make money from these screwdrivers?

Answer 4

It should have been called an O'Connor screwdriver and although he invented it 30 years before Phillips, he failed to get a good patent and couldn't get the funding for a factory and for the marketing effort that Phillips managed. Phillips must a realised all that and stole Conner's big idea.

We should call it an O'Connor.

Answer 5

Henry F. Phillips invented both the screw and the driver that bear his name. The Oregon businessman patented two versions of a fastening device for crosshead screws in 1934 and 1936. Phillips intended the screw for use with automatic screwdrivers and marketed it for mass-production industries such as auto manufacturing. The Phillips screw can be driven with more torque and holds better than slotted screws. The Phillips system is also self-centering. If you press the tip of the screwdriver against the screw head, it takes only a little wiggling to seat it properly. The speed with which Phillips screws can be used was crucial to the auto assembly line. In addition, Phillips screws are almost impossible to over screw, which was also very important for industry.

Phillips persuaded the American Screw Company to manufacture his screw design, and the company convinced General Motors to use the screw on the 1936 Cadillac. By 1940, most American automakers used Phillips screws. When the U.S. needed to crank out jeeps and tanks for World War II, Phillips screws were an essential component in the war effort.

Interestingly enough, Phillips was not the first to improve on the old slotted screw. In 1908, Canadian Peter L. Robertson invented a square-head screw. The Robertson screw was the first recess-drive fastener that was practical for mass production. It had all the advantages of the Phillips, but Robertson was unable to get it used by American industries. This screw is standard in Canada and is favored by woodworkers on both sides of the border.

Answer 6

The reason the term 'cross-head' is used is to do with the patent/copy right laws. Once the design was generally know it could be 'copied' but not identically and the name Phillips can only be used to describe the genuine article made to the specifications. Similar items use 'cross-head' to get around the restrictions without breaking the law. Other products developed since are the Pozi-drive, Supadrive and Torx all are registered trade marks and have different features.

Answer 7

Some of them are "Phillips", but others ("Posidriv" is very common nowadays, and blunter at the end than Phillips) have a different design of cross-head, designed to prevent the screwdriver "camming" out when the screw gets hard to turn. Using the wrong type of crosshead driver for the screw in question can mess up the screw-head, particularly if using a cordless driver or power drill to save strain on your wrist

Answer 8

Im sure all the above are correct but from experiance I prefer the pozi-drive screws but you must use a pozi screwdriver the two types are very simlar but not compatable I suppose Mr. Pozi just improved Mr. Philips idea

Answer 9

Cos Henry F Phillips invented the cross head screw - God bless him!

As to if he's still making money of it - I'm sad to report the answer is no...

"Although he received patents for the design in 1936 (US Patent #2,046,343, US Patents #2,046,837 to 2,046,840), it was so widely copied that by 1949 Phillips lost his patent."

Shouldn't have be allowed! - Nowadays he'd sue! (and quite rightly too - why should the talentless be allowed to get a free ride on the coat tails of the talented?)

Answer 10

Because it was invented by Phillips. There is also another type of cross headed screwdriver called a Reed&Prince. Can you guess why it's named that?

Answer 11

Henry F. Phillips invented both the screw and the driver that bear his name. The Oregon businessman patented two versions of a fastening device for crosshead screws in 1934 and 1936. Phillips intended the screw for use with automatic screwdrivers and marketed it for mass-production industries such as auto manufacturing.
The Phillips screw can be driven with more torque and holds better than slotted screws. The Phillips system is also self-centering. If you press the tip of the screwdriver against the screw head, it takes only a little wiggling to seat it properly. The speed with which Phillips screws can be used was crucial to the auto assembly line. In addition, Phillips screws are almost impossible to over screw, which was also very important for industry.

Phillips persuaded the American Screw Company to manufacture his screw design, and the company convinced General Motors to use the screw on the 1936 Cadillac. By 1940, most American automakers used Phillips screws. When the U.S. needed to crank out jeeps and tanks for World War II, Phillips screws were an essential component in the war effort.

Interestingly enough, Phillips was not the first to improve on the old slotted screw. In 1908, Canadian Peter L. Robertson invented a square-head screw. The Robertson screw was the first recess-drive fastener that was practical for mass production. It had all the advantages of the Phillips, but Robertson was unable to get it used by American industries. This screw is standard in Canada and is favored by woodworkers on both sides of the border.