Hand Drills Unnumbered through 1C

This listing has been developed from information found in Millers Falls catalogs. The features listed for each drill may differ from actual examples. While the company typically stressed new features in its catalogs, it seldom mentioned the disappearance of a feature or the addition of a feature that had become so commonly accepted that it was no longer noteworthy. Then too, production practices varied from catalog copy and illustrations were slow to be updated. By the latter 1960's, catalog copy had become so vague that a detailed description of features is not possible.

Unnumbered

Single speed hand drill

Malleable iron frame, rosewood head and handles; Pratt's two-jaw, springless chuck adjustable from 1/100 to 1/8 inch; shipped with six diamond-shaped drill points. Black enameled frame and drive gear; and bright parts are nickel plated.

Illustration from Scientific American, June 23, 1877.

No. 01

Single speed hand drill

1. 1912 — malleable iron frame, stained hardwood head and handles; detachable, mushroom-shaped side handle; ball thrust bearing on spindle; screw-type adjustable equalizer bearing; and three-jaw, springless chuck adjustable from 0 to 3/16 inch. Black enameled frame; drive gear enameled gray with red stripe; and bright parts are nickel plated.
2. 1915 — as above, but drive gear enameled red.
3. 1921 — as above, but triangular trademark.

No. 01 was a No. 1 with a solid head.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

No. 02

Single speed hand drill

1. 1912 — malleable iron frame; stained hardwood head and handles; head is round-topped; detachable, mushroom-shaped side handle; ball thrust bearing on spindle; adjustable friction roller; and three-jaw, spring-type chuck adjustable from 0 to 3/8 inch. Black enameled frame; drive gear painted gray with red stripe; and bright parts are nickel plated.
2. 1917 — as above, but drive gear enameled red.

Identical to No. 2B save head has rounded top.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

No. 03

Single speed hand drill

1. 1912 — steel frame; stained hardwood head and handles; detachable, mushroom-shaped side handle; rotating barrel-type lock allows access to storage area in hollow head; and three-jaw, springless chuck adjustable from 0 to 3/16 inch. Drive gear enameled gray with red stripe; and bright parts are nickel plated.
2. 1915 — as above, but drive gear enameled red.

Basically a second version No. 3 with an additional pinion.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

No. 04

Small single speed hand drill

Cast iron frame; rosewood crank handle; chuck holds dimpled drill points. Drive gear and frame are black enameled; shipped with eight fluted and dimpled drill points.

The No. 04 is identical to the No. 4 save for its improved chuck. A dimpled drill point is less likely to be pulled from the chuck when it is removed from a piece of stock at the end of the drilling operation.

Illustration from 1908 catalog.

No. 05

Single speed hand drill

1. 1912 — malleable iron frame; stained hardwood head and handles; detachable mushroom-shaped side handle; large gear with extra wide rim can be grasped between thumb and finger for delicate work; ball thrust bearing on spindle; three-jaw, springless chuck adjustable 0 to 3/16 inch. Enameled black with drive gear painted gray with red stripe; bright parts are nickel plated.
2. 1915 — as above, but drive gear painted red.
3. 1921 — as above, but triangular trademark.
4. 1925 — as above, but chuck is now spring type and adjustable from 0 to 1/4 inch.
5. 1931 — as above, but trademarks display Greenfield, rather than Millers Falls location.
6. 1935 — as above, but mahogany-finished hardwood head and handles; and detachable chef's cap side handle.

Basically, a No. 5 with a solid head.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

No. 1 (early frame)

Single speed hand drill

1. 1878 — early-type malleable iron frame; short spindle; rosewood head and crank knob; crank knob attached directly to drive gear; Pratt's two-jaw, springless chuck adjustable from 1/32 to 1/8 inch; shipped with six diamond-shaped drill points. Drive gear and frame are black enameled.
2. ca. 1880 — as above with hollow head; and bright parts are nickel plated.
3. 1897 — cocobola head and crank handle; crank knob attached to a tapered handle rather to drive gear; three-jaw springless chuck adjustable from 0 to 3/16 inch; shipped with eight fluted drill points

Photo of ca. 1890 drill by author.

No. 1

Single speed hand drill

1. by 1903 — malleable iron frame; cocobola head and crank handle; teardrop-shaped side handle; screw-type adjustable equalizer bearing;three-jaw springless chuck adjustable from 0 to 3/16 inch; shipped with eight fluted drill points. Drive gear and frame are black enameled; bright parts are nickel plated.
2. 1910 — as above, but detachable, mushroom-shaped side handle.
3. 1912 — as above, but ball thrust bearing on spindle.
4. 1914 — as above, but tropical hardwood head and handles
5. 1915 — as above, but drive gear is painted red.
6. 1917 — as above, but cocobola head and handles.
7. 1921 — as above, but triangular trademark; head is cocobola, side and crank handles are not.
8. 1925 — as above, but chuck is now spring type and adjustable from 0 to 1/4 inch.
9. 1931 — as above, but trademarks display Greenfield, rather than Millers Falls location.
10. 1935 — as above, but tropical hardwood head; no mention of screw-type adjustable equalizer bearing; detachable chef's cap side handle.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

No. 1A

Single speed hand drill

Early-type malleable iron frame; short spindle; rosewood head and crank handle; Pratt's two-jaw, springless chuck adjustable from 1/32 to 1/8 inch; shipped with six diamond-shaped drill points.

The No. 1A became obsolete when the No. 1 was equipped with a hollow head.

Photo by author.

No. 1B

Single speed hand drill

1. 1878 — early-type malleable iron frame; long spindle; rosewood head and crank handle; Pratt's two-jaw, springless chuck adjustable from 1/32 to 1/8 inch; shipped with six diamond-shaped drill points. Drive gear and frame are black enameled.
2. ca. 1880 — as above, head is now hollow; and bright parts are nickel plated.

Source of illustration forgotten.

No. 1C

Single speed hand drill

Early-type malleable iron frame; long spindle; rosewood head and crank handle; Pratt's two-jaw, springless chuck adjustable from 1/32 to 1/8 inch; shipped with six diamond-shaped drill points.

The No. 1C became obsolete when the No. 1B was equipped with a hollow head.

Illustration from 1878 catalog.

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