How One Patented Screw Increased Speed in Automotive Assembly
A Brief History of the Phillips Screw
PORTLAND, OR—When the Phillips screw was invented more than 90 years ago, it quickly made a splash in the automotive industry, speeding up the pace at which vehicle manufacturers could put cars together.
The screw is still a preferred choice in many fields today. The Phillips screw is named for Portland businessman Henry F. Phillips, who patented it a few years after founding the Phillips Screw Company — but although Phillips refined the new screw's design, the idea didn't originate with him.