SPRING 2013

52 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S

52 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK SFA - 292 Sugarberry Ci., Houston, TX 77024 • Tel: 713.952.5472 • Fax: 713.952.7488 • Email: swfa@swbell.net • www.sfa-fastener.org SOUTHWESTERN FASTENER ASSOCIATION SFA’S 2013 SPRING CONFERENCE - TUCSON, ARIZONA - APRIL 25-28 continued from 50 Panel participants will include: Ron Garrett, SBS Industries, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Tyler Peart, HRS Logistics, Tyler, Texas and Mike Bailey, Nucor Fasteners. The panel has an excellent mix of Importers, Distributors and a leading Domestic Manufacturer. The panel will cover the trends that they have seen in the industry over the past few years and cover their projections of where they see the fastener industry going over the next several years. Saturday afternoon is open for everyone to enjoy the many activities that are abundantly available in the Tucson area. The conference will close with a Southwestern flavored reception and dinner Saturday night. Other Activities SFA welcomes Beacon Fasteners & Components, 198 W. Carpenter Ave, Wheeling, Illinois 60090, as a new member. Beacon, established in 1979, is represented by Megan Bartelli who can be reached by email: meganb@beaconfasteners.com or by phone at: 847.3536.2016. An additional new member is ADG Fasteners Inc., 7517 Kathy Lane, Benbrook, Texas 76126. ADG was established in 1993 and is a Distributor of Quality Hardware for Custom Operations. ADG is represented by Brian Heath, whose email address is bheath@adgfasteners.com and phone contact is: 817.560.9777. Spring time is Scholarship Application time for students of members of the Southwestern Fastener Association. SFA will award eleven (11) scholarships to deserving students in 2013. In addition to the ten (10) Gene Petty scholarships, the Will Rodriguez scholarship will also be awarded to a deserving student. Scholarship Application deadline is April 1, 2013. Applications can be downloaded from the SFA web site at www.sfafastener.org or you can contact the SFA office and an application will be emailed to you. For information on the SFA Spring Conference, Scholarships and/or Membership in the Southwestern Fastener Association, contact John Elsner, Executive Director, 292 Sugarberry Circle, Houston, Texas, 77024. Phone: 713.952.5472, Fax: 713.952.7488 and/or email at swfa@swbell.net. SOUTHWESTERN FASTENER ASSOCIATION MEMBERS ENJOYING THE MANY SOCIAL ACTIVITES

THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 53 The Sopwith Dolphin, a restored First World War aircraft on display at the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum in Hendon, England features a new set of extension springs manufactured by Lee Spring for use on the replica Lewis guns. The assistance and support for this restoration was facilitated by Lee Spring, Europe, headquartered in Wokingham, Berkshire, United Kingdom. The single seat fighting aircraft served operationally from January 1918 to July 1919. A total of 1,778 Sopwith Dolphins were built in Britain the model being declared obsolete in 1921. “We believe that our Dolphin is now the only one in existence,” says John Stoyles, part of a team who restored the Dolphin. Restoration started in 1968 and was completed in early 2012 after 11 years. “The Sopwith Dolphin was the first four gun fighter, having two Vickers machine guns (pointing forwards) and two Lewis guns inclined on the top of the aircraft,” says John, revealing that Lee Spring provided two new music wire extension springs for use in the Lewis gun mechanism. “The original specified spring was 5/16 o/d, 2 1/4" long 20g steel wire, but the Lee Spring replacements were very similar and did the job admirably.” Helical extension springs are loaded in tension and feature hooks or loops to allow a pull force to be applied. Usually, extension springs are attached at both ends to other components which, when they move apart, the spring tries to bring them together again. “This is a truly unique application” says Chris Petts, Managing Director at Lee Spring, Europe. It is another example of how varied the applications of Lee Spring are, and we are delighted to be part of such an historic restoration project." For more information about Lee Spring, contact them by Tel: 1-888-SPRINGS (1-888-777-4647), Fax: 1-888.426.6655, Email:sales@leespring.com or visit their website at www.leespring.com.