The Enduring Legacy of the Phillips Screwdriver

How a Portlandian businessman's savvy marketing made the Phillips the standard for American manufacturing and DIY repair

Apr. 20, 2026 at 8:28am by

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D macro illustration of the intricate mechanical structure of a Phillips screwdriver bit, with neon cyan and magenta lights illuminating the tool's technological sophistication and enduring legacy as an iconic symbol of American manufacturing and DIY repair.The Phillips screwdriver's self-centering design and cam-out feature made it an indispensable tool for early 20th century American manufacturing, a legacy that continues to empower DIY repair today.Portland Today

This article explores the history of the iconic Phillips screwdriver, tracing its origins from inventor John P. Thompson's original design to Henry F. Phillips' successful commercialization of the product. The piece delves into the key features that made the Phillips screwdriver a preferred choice for early 20th century industrial manufacturing, as well as its lasting impact as a symbol of hardware openness and DIY repair.

Why it matters

The Phillips screwdriver has become a ubiquitous tool found in households and workshops across America, representing both the country's industrial history and its culture of DIY empowerment. Understanding the screwdriver's evolution sheds light on the interplay between invention, marketing, and technological adoption that shapes the tools we use every day.

The details

The Phillips screwdriver was invented by John P. Thompson, but it was Henry F. Phillips, a Portlandian businessman, who successfully commercialized the design and made it the standard fastener for American manufacturing. The Phillips' self-centering bit and cam-out feature, which caused the driver to slip out under excessive torque, made it an ideal choice for assembly line work, helping it edge out the Robertson screw favored by Henry Ford for the Model T. Over time, as power tools with automatic torque limiters became common, the cam-out feature became less relevant, but the Phillips screwdriver remained ubiquitous due to its openness and universal compatibility.

  • In the early 1900s, the Robertson screw was Henry Ford's first choice for the Model T.
  • John P. Thompson invented the original Phillips screw design but was unable to generate commercial interest.
  • Henry F. Phillips bought the screw design from Thompson and successfully marketed it, making the Phillips the standard in American manufacturing.

The players

John P. Thompson

The inventor of the original Phillips screw design, who was unable to commercialize it successfully.

Henry F. Phillips

The Portlandian businessman who bought the Phillips screw design from Thompson and successfully marketed it, making it the standard fastener in American manufacturing.

P.L. Robertson

The inventor of the Robertson screw, which was Henry Ford's first choice for the Model T, but Robertson refused to license the design.

Henry Ford

The pioneering American industrialist who initially preferred the Robertson screw for the Model T, but ultimately adopted the Phillips design due to licensing issues.

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What’s next

The article mentions that the author will be posting more articles in a series on the history of screwdriver bits leading up to the launch of ifixit.com's new Manta Driver Kit and Mahi Driver Kit on Tuesday, April 24.

The takeaway

The Phillips screwdriver has become an enduring symbol of American manufacturing and DIY repair, with its ubiquity and universal compatibility making it a tool that empowers people to take control of their own devices. Despite changes in technology, the Phillips remains a trusted and iconic fastener.