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correct screw head - slotted or phillips

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dave tuttle
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correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by dave tuttle » Sun Sep 14, 2014 9:30 pm

Question - Pertaining to the chrome hardware on my 1948 cc 17 foot deluxe runabout what was the original type of screw head used-- slotted or phillips?

Thanks , Dave Tuttle

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Brian Robinson
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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by Brian Robinson » Sun Sep 14, 2014 9:39 pm

Neither, Frearson a.k.a. Reed & Prince.
-Brian
1923 Hackercraft 23' Dolphin #03
1938 Gar Wood 22' Streamliner #6256 Empress
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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by dave tuttle » Sun Sep 14, 2014 9:52 pm

Perfect - just the answer i was looking to receive. Thanks Brian.

dave tuttle

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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by tuobanur » Mon Sep 15, 2014 3:55 pm

I'm pretty sure that for the chrome hardware it was a Phillips oval head.
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1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Brian Robinson
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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by Brian Robinson » Mon Sep 15, 2014 8:14 pm

No, Frearson after May 1941, slots before. I used to think slots remained in the hardware through WWII despite the Frearson construction screws coming in 5/41, but have seen convincing original examples since indicating the oval head hardware screws changed around the same time as well.
-Brian
1923 Hackercraft 23' Dolphin #03
1938 Gar Wood 22' Streamliner #6256 Empress
1952 Chris~Craft 19' Racing Runabout #363 Thunderstruck
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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by joanroy » Tue Sep 16, 2014 7:25 am

Is chrome plated bronze Prince and Reed still available?

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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by WoodenRookie » Tue Sep 16, 2014 8:28 am

I second the CP bronze question, and wonder how many are using CP Stainless or other for the CP trim.
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Brian Robinson
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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by Brian Robinson » Tue Sep 16, 2014 9:50 am

Top Notch Fasteners and Clark Craft Fasteners (among others) still make chrome plated brass Frearson head.

Remember, Reed & Prince is a brand, not a screw type. Frearson is the screw head type. Reed & Prince was the predominant manufacturer of Frearson head screws, and is who Chris-Craft bought them from, so it has become a term like Kleenex. Reed & Prince also made Phillips and slotted screws too.
-Brian
1923 Hackercraft 23' Dolphin #03
1938 Gar Wood 22' Streamliner #6256 Empress
1952 Chris~Craft 19' Racing Runabout #363 Thunderstruck
Robinson Restoration, LLC (760) 468-1009


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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by joanroy » Tue Sep 16, 2014 5:20 pm

The original screws that are left in my hardware appear to be chrome plated bronze, not brass. Brass is ok, but not as strong.

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Doug P
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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by Doug P » Tue Sep 16, 2014 7:31 pm

So what is correct?
My friend's 1942 barrelback trim has chrome plated slotted screws. The boat has won at 2 International ACBS shows and several regional shows

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Don Vogt
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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by Don Vogt » Wed Sep 17, 2014 7:41 am

You may want to check out my blog in research related last year "Reed and Prince vs. Frearson. The two of them are, i believe, different from phillips, and they are also different from each other in minor detail. see photo in that article. I owe this to Jim Hastings who was probably the most determined purist i ever met in the hobby. He went so far as to track down the closed reed and prince factory and buy some of the machines that made the screws. sold them for a while, but then moved up, i think, to michigan? dont know if he is still with us? In any event, the difference between r&p and frearson is that the width of the cross slots is smaller in the r&p, which becomes more noticeable where they cross in the center. Results in a smaller center hole and makes a crisper look than the frearson. Not that it is the end of the world, but it would be noticeable to an eagle eye if they are mixed together, for example, in screwing down the hatch cover trim, etc.

I think Brian is right about when they got rid of slotted screws.
1938 Chris Craft 17' Deluxe Runabout "Jennifer II"

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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by joanroy » Wed Sep 17, 2014 4:38 pm

To bad Reed and Prince is gone. I find as time goes on, it gets increasingly difficult to get a good screw.

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Doug P
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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by Doug P » Wed Sep 17, 2014 5:00 pm

joanroy wrote:To bad Reed and Prince is gone. I find as time goes on, it gets increasingly difficult to get a good screw.
Not without a washer

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Brian Robinson
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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by Brian Robinson » Wed Sep 17, 2014 7:47 pm

joanroy wrote:I find as time goes on, it gets increasingly difficult to get a good screw.
Zing!!!!????
-Brian
1923 Hackercraft 23' Dolphin #03
1938 Gar Wood 22' Streamliner #6256 Empress
1952 Chris~Craft 19' Racing Runabout #363 Thunderstruck
Robinson Restoration, LLC (760) 468-1009

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Brian Robinson
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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by Brian Robinson » Wed Sep 17, 2014 7:56 pm

Don,

As I said, Reed & Prince is a brand, not a screw head type. For example, if you went down to the local hardware store and compared different brands of Phillips, Robertson, hex, slotted etc. screws, I am sure you would note minor differences in tooling used for slot width, depth, edge radius etc. between screws. I agree the Reed & Prince brand Frearson's had slimmer, cleaner tooling than others, but they are generally the same thing, and all Frearson's take the same screwdriver (for which Jim Staib has).
-Brian
1923 Hackercraft 23' Dolphin #03
1938 Gar Wood 22' Streamliner #6256 Empress
1952 Chris~Craft 19' Racing Runabout #363 Thunderstruck
Robinson Restoration, LLC (760) 468-1009

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Don Vogt
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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by Don Vogt » Wed Sep 17, 2014 8:03 pm

Right
1938 Chris Craft 17' Deluxe Runabout "Jennifer II"

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Doug P
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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by Doug P » Wed Sep 17, 2014 8:34 pm

Just goes to show that there are many different opinions of that which makes the best screw... :D

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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by joanroy » Thu Sep 18, 2014 7:03 am

So true about the screw Doug. Hopefully we'll be able to at least get good wood for many years to come.

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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by PaulK » Fri Sep 19, 2014 11:45 am

I have been unable to find an online source for a frearson screwdriver, I was able to get some insert bits but have not found any drivers.

Does anyone have a link to one?

Thanks!

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Don Vogt
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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by Don Vogt » Fri Sep 19, 2014 12:01 pm

I dont recall exactly what the article in wooden boat covered, but you might check it out. i think it discussed suppliers?
1938 Chris Craft 17' Deluxe Runabout "Jennifer II"

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JohnKadimik
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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by JohnKadimik » Thu Sep 25, 2014 9:17 am

As Brian mentioned, Jim Staib has Frearson screwdrivers. Also believe it or not, I found Frearson screwdrivers in the mall at Sears.

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Doug P
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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by Doug P » Thu Sep 25, 2014 9:23 am

JohnKadimik wrote:Also believe it or not, I found Frearson screwdrivers in the mall at Sears.

Hey John, you told me a few years back that Frearson screwdrivers were available at Sears. You must have a better Sears. Only place I have found them were at Grainger's :D

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Re: correct screw head - slotted or phillips

Post by drrot » Fri Sep 26, 2014 8:31 am

JohnKadimik wrote:As Brian mentioned, Jim Staib has Frearson screwdrivers. Also believe it or not, I found Frearson screwdrivers in the mall at Sears.
I sold out at the WOODYBOATER Christmas special. Craftsman and Snap-on both make drivers but neither work like the original Chris-Craft Reed & Prince
R&P ad.jpg
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1947 Penn Yan 12' Cartopper WXH474611
1950 Chris-Craft 22' Sportsman U-22-1532
1957 Chris-Craft 26' Sea Skiff SK-26-515
1968 Century 17' Resorter FG-68-174

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