Breast Drills 012 through 12A

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 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.

No. 012

Millers Falls No. 012 breast drill Two-speed breast drill.

  1. 1910 — malleable iron frame; drive gear held in place by slotted screw; gear-locking latch; idler roll to equalize bearings; extendable crank; adjustable breast plate; ball thrust bearing; level attached to frame; Master chuck with Leland's universal jaws. Cocobolo handles; frame painted black; drive gear and breast plate painted green; bright parts nickel plated.
  2. 1914 — as above, but tropical hardwood handles.
  3. 1915 — as above, but stained hardwood handles.
  4. 1917 — as above, but double ball thrust bearings with take up in case of wear; breast plate painted black.

Optional D-type handle available 1910-1919. Identical to No. 12 except for gear-locking latch.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
17 1/2 inches 3:1 and 1:1 single pinion 1910 1919

No. 019

Millers Falls No. 019 breast drill Two-speed breast drill.

  1. 1914 — rod-type frame; loosening knurled nut allows speed change without removing drill from work; ball thrust bearing; adjustable breast plate contoured to fit hand; auxiliary breast plate can be clamped over regular breast plate for comfort during heavy work; Barber Improved chuck with spring-type alligator jaws. Stained hardwood handles; cast iron parts of frame and crank handle painted black; drive gear and breast plate painted gray with red trim.
  2. 1917 — as above, but spring release buttons allow speed change without removing drill from work; breast plate painted black; drive gear red.

Optional D-type handle available 1914-1919. Identical to No. 191 except that unpainted metal parts are polished, rather than nickeled.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
18 inches 3:1 and 1:1 single pinion 1914 1919

No. 029

Millers Falls No. 029 breast drill Two-speed breast drill.

  1. 1914 — rod-type frame; loosening knurled nut allows speed change without removing drill from work; ball thrust bearing; adjustable breast plate contoured to fit hand; auxiliary breast plate can be clamped over regular breast plate for comfort during heavy work; Parsons' spring-type chuck adjustable 0 to 1/2 inch. Stained hardwood handles; cast iron parts of frame and crank handle painted black; drive gear and breast plate painted gray with red trim.
  2. 1917 — as above, but spring release buttons allow speed change without removing drill from work; breast plate painted black; drive gear red.

Optional D-type handle available 1914-1919. Identical to No. 291 except that unpainted metal parts are polished, rather than nickeled.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
18 1/2 inches 3:1 and 1:1 single pinion 1914 1919

No. 0477

Goodell-Pratt No. 0477 breast drill Goodell-Pratt two-speed breast drill

Rod-type frame; single release button allows speed change without removing drill from work; ball thrust bearing; adjustable breast plate; three-jaw, spring-type chuck adjustable from 0 to 1/2 inch. Stained hardwood handles.

Manufactured by Millers Falls as of 1931. Identical to No. 477 but finishes are cheaper.

Illustration from 1938 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
16 1/2 inches 3 1/2:1 and 1 1/2:1 double pinion acquired 1931 1942

No. 6A

Goodell Pratt No. 6A breast drill Goodell-Pratt two-speed breast drill.

Malleable iron frame; speed changed by turning shifter knob at side of frame; ball thrust bearing; three-jaw, spring-type chuck adjustable from 0 to 1/2 inch. Hardwood handles; frame painted black; drive gear red; bright parts nickel plated. Hardwood handles.

Manufactured by Millers Falls as of 1931.

Illustration from 1938 catalog, where the company used an image of drill No. 6.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
16 inches 3 1/2:1 and 1 1/2:1 double pinion acquired 1931 1942

No. 7

Goodell-Pratt No. 7 breast drill Goodell-Pratt two-speed breast drill.

Malleable iron frame; speed changed by turning shifter knob at side of frame; ball thrust bearing; two-jaw, spring type chuck adjustable from 1/8 to 1/2 inch. Hardwood handles; frame painted black; drive gear red; bright parts nickel plated.

Manufactured by Millers Falls as of 1931. Identical to No. 6A except for chuck.

Illustration from 1938 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
17 inches 3 1/2:1 and 1 1/2:1 double pinion acquired 1931 1942

No. 10

Millers Falls No. 10 breast drill Two-speed breast drill.

  1. 1881 — rod-type frame; drive gear held in place by thumb screw; crank is cast as part of main gear; non-adjustable breast plate; Barber Improved chuck with Amidon's jaws. Rosewood handles; drive gear painted black; underside of breast plate painted red; bright parts are nickel plated.
  2. 1887 — as above, but offset crank is no longer cast as part of main gear; equipped with Goodell's secondary grip.
  3. 1897 — as above, but crank is extendable; ball thrust bearing; level attached to frame; adjustable breast plate; Barber Improved chuck with spring-type alligator jaws replaces Goodell's secondary grip; cocobolo handles.
  4. 1912 — as above, but Master chuck with Leland's universal jaws.
  5. 1914 — as above, but tropical hardwood handles.
  6. 1917 — as above, but stained hardwood handles and breast plate painted red.
  7. 1921 — as above, but decal on drive gear features triangular trademark.

Optional D-type handle available 1901-1929.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
  1. 14 inches (1881)
  2. 17 inches (1912)
 3:1 and 1:1 single pinion 1881 1935

No. 10A

Millers Falls No. 10A breast drill Two-speed breast drill.

  1. 1912 — rod-type frame; extendable crank; ball thrust bearing; level attached to frame; adjustable breast plate; Barber Improved chuck with spring-type alligator jaws. Cocobolo handles.
  2. 1914 — as above, but tropical hardwood handles.
  3. 1917 — as above, but stained hardwood handles and breast plate painted red.

Optional D-type handle available 1912-1922. Identical to No. 10 except for chuck.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
17 1/2 inches 3:1 and 1:1 single pinion 1912 1922

No. 11

Millers Falls No. 11 breast drill Two-speed breast drill.

  1. 1881 — rod-type frame; drive gear held in place by thumb screw; crank is cast as part of main gear; rosewood handles; non-adjustable breast plate; Pratt's two-jaw, springless chuck adjustable from 1/32 to 1/4 inch. Rosewood handles; drive gear painted black; underside of breast plate painted red; bright arts are nickel plated.
  2. ca. 1887 — as above, but offset crank is no longer cast as part of main gear
  3. 1897 — as above, but McCoy's springless chuck adjustable from 0 to 17/64 inch; cocobolo handles.
  4. 1901 — as above, but offset crank is no longer cast as part of main gear; level attached to frame; adjustable breast plate.
  5. 1905 — as above, but Parsons' spring-type chuck adjustable 0 to 3/8 inch.
  6. 1907 — as above, but ball thrust bearing.
  7. 1914 — as above, but tropical hardwood handles.
  8. 1917 — as above, but stained hardwood handles and breast plate painted red.

Optional D-type handle available 1903-1922.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
15 inches 3:1 and 1:1 single pinion 1881 1922

No. 12

Millers Falls No. 12 breast drill Two-speed breast drill

  1. 1873 — malleable iron frame; 4 1/2-inch drive gear held in place by U-shaped pin; crank is not offset; non-adjustable breast plate; Goodell's chuck of July 1873. Hardwood handles; drive gear and breast plate are painted green; bright parts are nickel plated. (Photo of this early drill)
  2. ca. 1881 — as above, but Barber Improved chuck with Amidon's jaws; rosewood handles.
  3. ca. 1884 — as above, but machined drive gear has gilt stripe.
  4. 1887 — as above, but idler roll to equalize bearings; offset crank; equipped with Goodell's secondary grip.
  5. ca. 1888 — as above, but drive gear held in place by wing-type thumb screw.
  6. ca. 1891 — as above, but ball thrust bearing; level attached to frame; adjustable breast plate; Barber Improved chuck with spring-type alligator jaws replaces Goodell's secondary grip.
  7. 1897— as above, but 5-inch drive gear held in place by disc-type thumb screw; extendable offset crank; auxiliary side handle is now positioned below, rather than above, the drive gear; cocobolo handles.
  8. 1910 — as above, but Master chuck with Leland's universal jaws.
  9. 1912 — as above, but drive gear held in place by slotted screw.
  10. 1914 — as above, but tropical hardwood handles.
  11. 1915 — as above, but stained hardwood handles.
  12. 1917 — as above, but double ball thrust bearings with take up in case of wear; breast plate painted black.
  13. 1921 — as above, but drive gear enameled red; decal on drive gear features triangular trademark.
  14. 1925 — as above, but spring release buttons allow speed change without removing drill from work; idler roll now ball bearing type.
  15. 1931 — as above, but trademark displays Greenfield, rather than Millers Falls location.

Optional D-type handle available 1901-1929.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
16 1/2 inches 3:1 and 1:1 single pinion 1873 1957

No. 12A

Millers Falls No. 12A breast drill Two-speed breast drill.

  1. 1912 — malleable iron frame; drive gear held in place by slotted screw; idler roll to equalize bearings; extendable crank; ball thrust bearing; level attached to frame; Barber Improved chuck with spring-type alligator jaws. Cocobolo handles; frame painted black; drive gear and breast plate painted green; bright parts nickel plated.
  2. 1914 — as above, but tropical hardwood handles.
  3. 1915 — as above, but stained hardwood handles.
  4. 1917 — as above, but double ball thrust bearings with take up in case of wear; breast plate painted black.
  5. 1921 — as above, but drive gear enameled red; decal on drive gear features triangular trademark.
  6. 1925 — as above, but spring release buttons allow speed change without removing drill from work; idler roll now ball bearing type.

Optional D-type handle available 1912-1929. Identical to No. 12 except for chuck.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
17 1/2 inches 3:1 and 1:1 single pinion 1912 1935