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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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    Thanks for your reply, Andy. Yes of course BA was successful in its day and served its purpose well. In my industry I came across BA sizes in instruments and other small assemblies. I was used for many other purposes, including bicycles.


    In the 60s I had a Suzuki motor bike and Renault car, so I came across metric fasteners there, and bought myself a set of metric spanners (which I still have to this day). My first experience of Isometric fasteners in industry was in 1973 when I worked for a while for a subsidiary of Philips.


    As you say, modern on-line shopping is marvelous for procuring "impossible" things. I have a Christmas tree lighting set from the 1950s which now has great sentimental value and I can still get spare bulbs to keep it going.
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    Thanks for your reply, Andy. Yes of course BA was successful in its day and served its purpose well. In my industry I came across BA sizes in instruments and other small assemblies. I was used for many other purposes, including bicycles.


    In the 60s I had a Suzuki motor bike and Renault car, so I came across metric fasteners there, and bought myself a set of metric spanners (which I still have to this day). My first experience of Isometric fasteners in industry was in 1973 when I worked for a while for a subsidiary of Philips.


    As you say, modern on-line shopping is marvelous for procuring "impossible" things. I have a Christmas tree lighting set from the 1950s which now has great sentimental value and I can still get spare bulbs to keep it going.
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