Recently I took a test and this was one of the multiple choice questions. What is the name of a screwdriver that has a crossed, thin, sharp tipped blade? A - slotted, B - Philips, C - awl, D - Reed and Prince. I said B - Philips but was told “D”? I never heard of a Reed and Prince and haven’t found anything on it yet? Any insight?
I agree with you, I think that description could also apply to a Phillips. The Reed and Prince is also known as a Bristol or Multi-Spline screwdriver. I’m at a loss about how to describe it for you in words. I’ll try to find a picture for you.
They got you w/ the “sharp tip”. Phillips (decent ones anyway) are rounded off at the point. They were developed to speed up automated assembly and a sharp point wouldn’t slide into the fastener as easily. The blunted tip also allows the driver blades to fully bottom in the fastener.
I’ve got one of each in front of me now (#2 Phillips and 1/4" R+P, both Craftsman). The differences I see are:
- Phillips has a blunted point, R+P has sharp point.
- Phillips tapers back from point to shaft @ about 60 deg, R+P 45 deg.
- Each spline of Phillips gets narrower toward point, R+P splines stay the same width to the point.
I don’t know what the R+P is supposed to fit (I got it as part of a set), but it is pitiful in Phillips fasteners. It bottoms out in #3 Phillips fasteners and the blades are too wide for #2. My WAG is it’s a Euro standard and/or so old it isn’t used anymore.
Cecil on Phillips:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_290b.html
A joke:
A group of tourists on a Gray Line bus tour in New York visited a gay bar in Greenwich Village. While the tourists milled around in the bar, the bartender asked the bus operator,
“You wanna screwdriver?”
The operator said, “Hell, no, you swish–I’m straight!” 
“If you drive an automobile, please drive carefully–because I walk in my sleep.”–Victor Borge
I always thought a Phillips Screwdriver was a coctail of vodka and milk of magnesia.
You think that’s confusing, try working with Hi-torcs on aircraft!
Anyway, I have to agree that R&Ps are old.
Most of the R&P screws I encounter are in old furniture, and trim screws on Pre-'70’s cars, mostly European, my '67 MGB-GT for instance.
There’s your foreign tie-in also.
VB
Some people say that cats are sneaky, evil, and cruel. True, and they have many other fine qualities as well.
**pmh **,
May I say that you did one fine writing job describing the differences between the two drivers.
I believe I learned something that I never thougth I’d care about,
Thanks,
Renee
I never heard of R&P, but, I guess about 25 yr ago or so, a tech or two would tell something he called “cross-recessed” screw was different from a Phillips screw – I think just in angles or relative dimensions. Is there such a thing that is different from a Phillips-head screw, or is that just another name for same?
Ray (Only the rest of the world is screwed up.)