Is it just me of has the quality of tools gone to hell? | Page 3 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Is it just me of has the quality of tools gone to hell?

Friends of mine now own PL Robertsons mansion , which was built here in Milton where he lived. His 'missed opportunity" was henry ford wanted the screw for his automobile assembly line, it didnt fall off the screwdriver. Robertson balked when Ford demanded an equity position in the company and a guy named Philips became rich and the maker of all automotive hardware for the next 90yrs. Robertson still made bags of cash, but you couldn't find a square drive screw in the US for years.
There is a Robertson historical plaque on the windy part of bronte rd n. Until I saw that I didnt realize Robertson was connected to milton.
 
Friends of mine now own PL Robertsons mansion , which was built here in Milton where he lived. His 'missed opportunity" was henry ford wanted the screw for his automobile assembly line, it didnt fall off the screwdriver. Robertson balked when Ford demanded an equity position in the company and a guy named Philips became rich and the maker of all automotive hardware for the next 90yrs. Robertson still made bags of cash, but you couldn't find a square drive screw in the US for years.
Even harder to find an Avro Arrow for similar reasons lol
 
My understanding is Phillips were designed to cam out to prevent over-torquing. Could be fake news, either way they are ****. I only have a few here and there left on the bikes I rebuilt, I try to swap over to hex head bolts or socket head cap screws.
 
There is a Robertson historical plaque on the windy part of bronte rd n. Until I saw that I didnt realize Robertson was connected to milton.

The factory was right on the windy part of Bronte rd N, most demolished about a decade ago, the original office is still standing on the east side. The mansion was on the back side of the mill pond, a short walk from the factory.
Robertson was a true Canadian success story, major employer in town and as a lifelong bachelor , by all accounts a pretty good guy.
 
There is a Robertson historical plaque on the windy part of bronte rd n. Until I saw that I didnt realize Robertson was connected to milton.

Will have to go check that out. Hmmm...maybe I’m somehow related .


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My understanding is Phillips were designed to cam out to prevent over-torquing. Could be fake news, either way they are ****. I only have a few here and there left on the bikes I rebuilt, I try to swap over to hex head bolts or socket head cap screws.

Aren't most Japanese screws JIS. I don't know about Brit or Euro.
 
Aren't most Japanese screws JIS. I don't know about Brit or Euro.
I've had the same problem with JIS, using proper JIS screwdrivers. But yes, unwittingly using Phillips on JIS screws may have coloured my opinions early on.
 
RE furniture screws. There's a good chance they are pozi screws not phillips.

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As above... a lot of that fancy 'connector' style furniture , euro hinges etc. aren't Philips. Its close, and mostly works, right up until it doesn't.
 
I got my dad's old Mall saw and was talking to an old professor about it. Turned out his dad had been a Mall representative and he had a bunch of stuff in his garage he didn't want so he gave it to me. Probably all belongs in a museum.
 
Mall tools, Chicago. ran from the late 20's to the late 50's, then sold to Remington . The chain saws existed for a few more yrs but I think the power tools went away.
Either a museum or a recycling bin, they were sears roebuck quality when new. Don't loose a finger with that stuff.
 
Remember when a cordless drill didn't have a battery?View attachment 40690

Any Bell employees?
I took a Bell course a number of yrs ago.
When we were taught to drill through walls from outside, these were the recommended tool.
Apparently, an employee had drilled through a wall and also through a customer's china cabinet using a power drill. They said "it's all about 'feel' ".
 
Any Bell employees?
I took a Bell course a number of yrs ago.
When we were taught to drill through walls from outside, these were the recommended tool.
Apparently, an employee had drilled through a wall and also through a customer's china cabinet using a power drill. They said "it's all about 'feel' ".
You would sure as hell "feel" a live wire if you caught it with an eggbeater drill.
 
Bell employees, I'm sure there are good/better/best with those guys. We only got remedial class on install calls. Ball pien hammer and a staple gun, all that seemed required.
 
... bit and brace set at my parents. They are cool, but I will probably never actually use them.
That's what I still use to tap maple trees every spring, about 100 of them.
lol Had a friend come out to help one year and he managed to almost drill 1 hole before he looked like he was about to have a heart attack.
 

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