Side handle in Stained Hardwood - "teardrop" shape.
Main handle in Rosewood. In some catalogs (1886 and
1887)
this handle
is also called a "head".
Crank knob in Rosewood. No manufacturer marks
on crank arm.
Patented (568,539-McCoy)
spring-less chuck. The text reads:
Millers Falls Co. Millers Falls. Mass.
Pat'd. Sept. 29TH,
1896
Some parts of this drill came as a surprise.
First, a repair of the cap on main handle. Obviously done
by one of the owners of this drill, it still hold the cap
together and it is in working condition. It also adds a nice
character and personal touch to this specimen.
Second, the arm of the crank handle. During the summer of
2007 I purchased several No. 1 drills with this type of handle.
The shape was so similar that at some point I begun considering
this to be a replacement handle, possibly manufactured by
Millers Falls Co. itself. However, closer examination of
four drills equipped with this type of handle reviled to many
small inconsistencies. The theory was short lived and the
sample was to small to continue this speculation any further.
My conclusion is that these were "home made" replacements.
However, the similarity of the shape still puzzles me.
One of the possibilities to consider is the same region that
these drills came from and local mechanic serviced them with
replacement handles of similar design. However, I didn't
keep the record of origin on these drills. Oh well -
another mystery of old tools...
Third, the wood used on main handle and crank knob. The
Catalog "B" - 1903 describes this drill as equipped with
Cocobolo handle and crank knob. In
previous
example of the No. 1 drill it is true - the handle is made
in Cocobolo and it can be clearly seen on the photographs.
Cocobolo
Handle from previous example. |
|
Rosewood (Brazilian?) of
the current drill. |
The difference in the wood is quite obvious. Why this
inconsistency? The answer might be in Millers Falls Co.
catalogs.
