Kevin
As I recall (and it has been many years) my Hi-E front hub was held on with a "whimpy" aluminum skewer that was threaded to tighten. It did not have the cam action of a normal QR skewer. I vaguely recall being told that was because the hub would be damaged by a normal skewer. I absolutely remember feeling like I could easily break the QR if I wrenched on it too hard. Maybe that is what happened to your original skewer. If it isn't too off topic, I believe some of the ultra lightweight modern front skewers work that way also, espically the TI ones.
Brad Luecke
Columbia MO