Evolution of the Screw

Going back through time, the first screw was not a fastener, but a mechanism, a pump.
 In the third century BC, A famed Greek scientist and engineer named Archimedes, was commissioned by King Hieron II to control the constantly seeping water from the bilge of the King’s ship, the Syracusia.Archimedes designed a pump, using a hand-hewn wooden shank with wide spiraling blades.  The screw, placed within a cylindrical unit, turned by hand, successfully forced the water up and out.

Known as the screw pump, Archimedes’ basic and successful design was eventually utilized in irrigation, and later incorporated into presses used in extracting oils from olives and juice from grapes; and more relevant to the times, to extract coal and remove dirt from a ditch.

The physical nature of screw threads and the shape of its cylindrical shank evolved and flourished. Archimedes’ screw pump concept was invaluable to coal production, water aversion, and ship propulsion, all essential elements of the eventual Industrial Revolution that lead to the proliferation of improved materials and mass production of sophisticated and refined tools, including the metal screw fasteners we use today.

In 1760, a machine was patented by brothers Job and William Wyatt that could produce 10 cut screws per minute. Twenty years later, the factory was producing at least 16,000 screws a day!

Historically, leather and cord bindings, wedges, dowels and pins, and mortis and tenon and dovetail joinery have held things together, but they are no match for the strength and convenience of the nails and screws of today.

Fasteners of all types are an integral part of any construction, but screws spiraled into a leadership role because of their ease of use, power to secure and industry adaptation. 

In 1908 P.L. Robertson designed a screw with a squared, recessed head. The deep impression was a revolutionary improvement in the torque ability of a screw and Henry Ford began using them in his Model T assembly.

Robertson would not license his patent to Ford however, and eventually another coveted screw design, this time by Henry F. Phillips, was put on the market and was successfully used in the 1936 Cadillac.

The versatility and reliability of screws as fasteners grew throughout the world and became standard tools in construction, electronic and manufacturing industries.

As global markets emerged and corporations built plants overseas, standardization of parts was imperative.  And in 1948, an international Declaration of Accord adopted a Unified Screw thread system, focusing on a screw’s 3 main elements; the number of threads per inch, the pitch and shape and the diameter size.

Now, wire rods are fed through machines that precision cut the shank, tap out the desired head and cut or roll spiral threads to specification. So, whether it’s a flat, oval, fillister or round head screw, with a Philips or a slot or a hex or a square impression, or a wood screw or a machine screw, whatever screw you use, it has passed the test of time, and has evolved into the world’s most famous and reliant fastener.
 

Business Card Matters
Don’t get lost in the shuffle.  Create a business card worthy of the office rolodex.

Your business card is the last impression you leave with potential clients and you want it to be a good one, not one that gets thrown away or rubber banded with a million others, lost in some drawer. Your business card is too powerful of a tool to waste. The secret is creating a card that everyone wants to keep.

Similarly to a TV commercial that can tell a story in less than 30 seconds, the 2x3.5 inch mini billboard in your pocket can sell your services, leave a great lasting impression, provide you with new clients, and supply you with years of repeat business.

Whatever your design and format, there are a few essential aspects of every successful business card. It must properly advertise who you are, what you do, why you’re the best, and how to contact you.

You need a business card that will stand out and represent you with class and professionalism; a card that will add credibility to your company’s reputation, services and products.

Personalizing a business card that will come to life can be challenging. The options in font, color, size and shape, are endless, but there are only a few essential basics every card is expected to provide;

• Your name
• Company name
• Company logo
• Services offered
• Reliable contact information
• Legibility

Additional marketing information and creative use of the entire card will help keep you out of file 13 and in the circulation pool of referrals.

Consider some of these options when creating a business card that will represent you in your absence.

• Magnetic
• Well utilized card back
• Bi-lingual
• Note pad
• Calendar
• Ruler
• Current picture
• Quality card stock
• Glossy finish
• Compatible size

For the minimal cost and potential exposure, there is no more economical way to market your business than with a good business card.  Its design and content can expressly target your market, act as a memory aid, add credibility to you and your work, and greatly enhance your exposure and reach ability.

Don’t let the small stature of business cards fool you. Their power is enormous but it’s up to you to create a card that really matters!

CSLS Honors Anthony Chattin with a Scholarship
Anthony Chattin has been working in the construction industry for over 25 years and has always been able to find and retain employment.  Until recently that is.  Anthony and his family have dealt with many challenges over the last couple of years with both he and his wife currently unemployed and both of his sons who are in the Army, serving duty in Afghanistan.  CSLS has awarded Anthony with an In-School Law & Trade License Exam Preparation program to support him in his dream to become a licensed General B contractor.  With Anthony’s longevity in the business he has developed a strong network of potential customers and even working small jobs would be beneficial to his situation.  It is his hope that eventually he can develop and grow his own business; to not only help his family but to also put his friends in the industry to work as well.