Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 39 replies
  • Subscribers 9 subscribers
  • Views 3295 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion is locked.
You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

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?
Parents
  • 0
    BA fasteners were used in British Strowger telephone exchanges, with larger sizes in BSF, but the mechanical dimensions of the equipment were standardised in the 1930s so it was not feasible to use UNC and UNF fasteners on equipment manufactured after 1948.


    UNC and UNF fasteners were used on Rootes cars as Chrysler took over the company in the 1960s. Cars later manufactured in Iran often use metric fasteners or in some cases UNC and UNF fasteners with metric size heads as AF spanners are difficult to find in Iran.
Reply
  • 0
    BA fasteners were used in British Strowger telephone exchanges, with larger sizes in BSF, but the mechanical dimensions of the equipment were standardised in the 1930s so it was not feasible to use UNC and UNF fasteners on equipment manufactured after 1948.


    UNC and UNF fasteners were used on Rootes cars as Chrysler took over the company in the 1960s. Cars later manufactured in Iran often use metric fasteners or in some cases UNC and UNF fasteners with metric size heads as AF spanners are difficult to find in Iran.
Children
No Data

Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Joining EngX lets you personalise your experience so you stay up to date on the topics that interest you, plus you’ll be able to make connections who are looking to collaborate, exchange ideas and more.

Join us Not now

Community Rules & Guidelines