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UNC and UNF fasteners in Britain

Arran Cameron
Somebody will know the answer to this…


Almost all British machinery manufactured before 1950 used Whitworth, BSF, or BA fasteners. Manufacturers moved towards using metric fasteners in the 1970s and these have been the most commonly available and used family since 1980, although the proposal to use metric fasteners dates back 1965. Whitworth and BSF officially became obsolete in 1948 following an agreement between the UK, US, and Canada to standardise on the American UNC and UNF fasteners for future use. UNC and UNF fasteners were used in British machinery manufactured in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s where they gradually replaced Whitworth and BSF before themselves being replaced by metric fasteners.


1. Were UNC and UNF fasteners used across most industries in the UK or were they largely confined to specific industries such as automotive and machine tools? Were they regularly used in railways or shipbuilding?

2. Were the numbered sizes smaller than ¼ inch commonly used or did industry stick with BA fasteners until they moved to using metric fasteners?

3. Were UNC and UNF fasteners commonly used in construction? What are the most common family of fasteners used to hold together 1960s tower blocks and university buildings?

4. Was it easy to buy UNC and UNF fasteners from hardware and DIY shops in the 1960s and 70s or did they move directly from selling Whitworth and BA fasteners to metric fasteners?
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    According to the 1965 Halfords catalogue

    https://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/halfords-1965-catalogue/


    Set pins and nuts are available individually in BSF sizes. Round headed screws with hexagon locking nuts in 2BA size. Also a Halfords Handyman Assortment. 36 UNF bolts and nuts, suitable for BMC, Ford, and Vauxhall cars etc. Sizes 5/16” × ½” to 5/16” × 1½”. Packaged in attractive tin. Keep one in your garage. Price 9 shillings. No mention of any metric fasteners.


    The spanners listed are Whitworth or AF although it does say in the small print that Gordon spanners are available in metric. These are highly prized today as Gordon was the Snap-On of the 1960s. The socket sets by Halfords, Britool, and Swinborne are all Whitworth or AF.


    UNC fasteners are commonly encountered in medical devices designed or manufactured in the US. They tend to be the smaller numbered sizes although sometimes sizes ¼ inch or larger are encountered on stands and mounting brackets. It can be tricky to source replacements this side of the Atlantic. Just ask anybody who services medical devices. They often keep a stock of fasteners salvaged from scrapped medical devices as a result.


    I was verbally informed that 1960s tower blocks were held together with whatever fasteners were the cheapest at the time which, more often than not, would have been Whitworth.
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  • 0
    According to the 1965 Halfords catalogue

    https://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/halfords-1965-catalogue/


    Set pins and nuts are available individually in BSF sizes. Round headed screws with hexagon locking nuts in 2BA size. Also a Halfords Handyman Assortment. 36 UNF bolts and nuts, suitable for BMC, Ford, and Vauxhall cars etc. Sizes 5/16” × ½” to 5/16” × 1½”. Packaged in attractive tin. Keep one in your garage. Price 9 shillings. No mention of any metric fasteners.


    The spanners listed are Whitworth or AF although it does say in the small print that Gordon spanners are available in metric. These are highly prized today as Gordon was the Snap-On of the 1960s. The socket sets by Halfords, Britool, and Swinborne are all Whitworth or AF.


    UNC fasteners are commonly encountered in medical devices designed or manufactured in the US. They tend to be the smaller numbered sizes although sometimes sizes ¼ inch or larger are encountered on stands and mounting brackets. It can be tricky to source replacements this side of the Atlantic. Just ask anybody who services medical devices. They often keep a stock of fasteners salvaged from scrapped medical devices as a result.


    I was verbally informed that 1960s tower blocks were held together with whatever fasteners were the cheapest at the time which, more often than not, would have been Whitworth.
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