When a Phillips is not a Phillips!

Step 9 Reed & Prince or Frearson

A later cross drive system referred to in ANSI standards as Type 2 recess. It was developed by an English inventor named Frearson and was produced from the late 1930s to the mid 1970s by the former Reed & Prince Manufacturing Company of Worcester, Massachusetts (was liquidated in 1990 with the sale of company assets). Today it is mostly referred to as Frearson but occationally still by its former name of Reed & Prince. This drive is very similar to a Phillips but has a more pointed 75 degree V shape. It is found mainly in marine hardware. The tool recess is a perfect cross, unlike the Phillips head, which is designed to cam out.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Frearson

Its advantage over the Phillips drive is that one Frearson driver or bit fits all Frearson screw sizes, although there are 2 sizes available. Improved torque with minimal camout. Unfortunately the screw head recess appears to be a Phillips and so it is too easy to use the wrong tool or screw.

Comments

[Chief51]

Really good article on the various types of screws Arcticpenguin. I couldn't remember the difference between R&P and Phillips head screws; I just new there was a difference that mattered. I found everything I needed in one article.

[guilfman3]

R&P is still in business, the original building was sold and demolished in 2001, The company moved to Leominster MA. and is still in business barely.

[whit3rd]

The Reed & Prince tip isn't blunted, so won't fit 'normally' in a Philips #1, #2, or #3 screw; anyone who pays attention to the feel of the screwdriver will not mistake it for a Philips. Alas, I once met a technician who claimed "I can loosen any of these with (holds up a Philips #1 screwdriver)". People like that bugger up screwheads and give all the fastening systems a bad reputation.