History of Fastenings

Fasteners hex bolts nuts and taper screws along with fixings, rivets and nails are down to earth products. Investigation reveals a history and more behind the square head bolt, slotted screw, rivet and nail. Without fasteners & Fixings, all of the products used in daily life would not exist.

Fasteners are the most common elements used in the assembly of mechanical machines, they keep every­thing together; from screws in phones and electronic items to computers and dishwashing machine and on larger scale Rocket launch equipment and the majority of aircraft types from the commercial aeroplane to the fighter jet. 

Fixings have a long history that started with nails, the precursor to the solid rivet. Solid puddle rivets were there at the start of the industrial revolution; furnaces ships, bridges, trains and skyscrapers would not have been possible without the solid rivet.

From early history through to today fasteners and fixings have become common objects used throughout the world. Modern fasteners are complexed products and the route to them becoming cold forged mass-produced articles has a long history. 

HISTORY of the:

   Nail    Rivet    Threads    Drives    Fasteners Pre-1800    Fasteners After-1800

Smith and Forgers

Hephaestus was the ancient Greek god of smiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals, metallurgy, fire and volcanoes. Hephaestus' Roman equivalent was Vulcan taken from the older Minoan god of fire, Velchanos. In Greek mythology, Hephaestus was the son of Zeus and Hera, the King and Queen of the Gods.

Greek Smiths

As a metalworking god, Hephaestus made all the weapons of the gods in Olympus. He served as the 'Smith' of the gods and was worshipped in the manufacturing and industrial centres of Greece. 

Vulcan

Hephaestus's symbols are a smith's hammer, anvil, and a pair of tongs, these symbols also apply to both the Roman and Minoan gods Vulcan and Velchanos. 

History of Fasteners

Greek development of the basic tools of metalworking was just the start, the nail was a major influence in the ancient world, replacing wood dowels or hemp string with iron nails.