Breast Drills 13 through 29A

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. 13

Millers Falls No. 13 breast drill Single-speed breast drill

  1. 1881 — rod-type frame; 6-inch drive gear; offset crank; non-adjustable breast plate; Barber Improved chuck with Amidon's jaws. Rosewood handles; drive gear painted red; underside of non-adjustable breast plate painted red; bright parts are nickel plated.
  2. 1887 — as above, but Goodell's secondary grip.
  3. 1897 — 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; cocobolo handles.
  4. 1899 — as above but crank is extendable.
  5. 1912 — as above, but Master chuck with Leland's universal jaws.
  6. 1914 — as above, but tropical hardwood handles.
  7. 1917 — as above, but stained hardwood handles.
  8. 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
15 inches 4 1/2:1 double pinion 1881 1935

No. 13A

Millers Falls No. 13A breast drill Single-speed breast drill

  1. 1912 — rod-type frame; 6-inch drive gear; extendable crank; cocobolo handles; ball thrust bearing; level attached to frame; adjustable breast plate; Barber Improved chuck with spring-type alligator jaws. Cocobolo handles; drive gear and underside of breast plate painted red, bright parts are nickel plated.
  2. 1914 — as above, but tropical hardwood handles.

Optional D-type handle available 1912-1917. Identical to No. 13 except for chuck.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
15 inches 4 1/2:1 double pinion 1912 1917

No. 14

Millers Falls No. 14 breast drill Double crank, single-speed breast drill

Malleable iron frame; extendable cranks; 12-inch breast plate; spindle accepts 1/2 inch bit shanks; optional adjustable chuck.

A strong, powerful drill for heavy duty work.

Illustration from 1896 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
19 inches 2:1 single pinion ca. 1884 1905

No. 15

Millers Falls No. 15 breast drill Two-speed breast drill

  1. 1897— malleable iron frame; 5-inch drive gear held in place by disc-type thumb screw; idler roll to equalize bearings; extendable crank; ball thrust bearing; level attached to frame; Barber Improved chuck with spring-type alligator jaws; equipped with adjustable D-type handle. Cocobolo handles; frame and D-type handle painted black; drive gear green; bright parts are nickel plated
  2. 1910 — as above but Holdall chuck with Leland's universal jaws.
  3. 1912 — as above, but drive gear held in place by slotted screw; Master chuck with Leland's universal jaws.
  4. 1914 — as above, but tropical hardwood handles.
  5. 1915 — as above, but stained hardwood handles.
  6. 1917 — as above, but double ball thrust bearings with take up in case of wear.
  7. 1921 — as above, but drive gear enameled red; decal on drive gear features triangular trademark.
  8. 1925 — as above, but spring release buttons allow speed change without removing drill from work; idler roll now ball bearing type.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
19 inches 3:1 and 1:1 single pinion 1897 1935

No. 15A

Millers Falls No. 15A 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; equipped with adjustable D-type handle. Cocobolo handles; frame and D-type handle painted black; drive gear green; bright parts are 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.

Identical to No. 15 except for chuck.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


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

No. 16

Millers Falls No. 16 breast drill Two-speed ratcheting breast drill

  1. 1899 — collapsible, rod-type frame; rear part of frame may be detached and repositioned at right angle if desired; 7-inch drive gear; ratchet mechanism adjustment located on drive gear; extendable crank; adjustable breast plate; Barber Improved chuck with alligator jaws. Hardwood handles; drive gear painted black with gilt edging; underside of breast plate painted black; bright parts are nickel plated.
  2. 1899 — as above, but 5-inch drive gear.

Optional D-type handle available 1901-1910.

Illustration from 1905 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
variable 2-speed single pinion 1899 1910

No. 18

Millers Falls No. 18 breast drill Two-speed breast drill

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; adjustable breast plate; Parsons' spring-type chuck adjustable from 0 to 1/2 inch. Cocobolo handles; drive gear painted green; bright parts are nickel plated.

Continued by No. 118.

Optional D-type handle available 1901-1912.

Illustration from 1905 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
17 1/2 inches 3:1 and 1:1 single pinion 1900 1912

No. 19

Millers Falls No. 19 breast drill Two-speed breast drill

  1. 1905 — rod-type frame; 5 inch drive gear; loosening knurled nut allows speed change without removing drill from work; extendable crank; ball thrust bearing; level attached to frame; adjustable breast plate; Barber Improved chuck with spring-type alligator jaws. Stained hardwood handles; cast iron parts of frame painted black; drive gear and breast plate painted red.
  2. 1912 — as above, but breast plate painted black.
  3. 1915 — as above, but spring release buttons allow speed change without removing drill from work.
  4. 1921 — as above, but decal on drive gear features triangular trademark.

Optional D-type handle available 1905-1929. Identical to No. 190 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 1905 1935

No. 19A

Millers Falls No. 19A breast drill Two-speed breast drill

Rod-type frame; single release button allows speed change without removing drill from work; ball thrust bearing; adjustable breast plate; Barber Improved chuck with spring-type alligator jaws. Stained hardwood handles; cast iron parts of frame and breast plate painted black; drive gear red; unpainted metal parts are polished, rather than nickeled.

Formerly No. 19; features re-designed frame with an additional pinion.

Illustration from 1938 catalog, where the company used an image of drill No. 19.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
16 1/2 inches 3:1 and 1:1 double pinion 1935 1942

No. 24

Millers Falls No. 24 breast drill Two-speed breast drill

Malleable iron frame; drive gear held in place by slotted screw; gear locking latch; idler roll to equalize bearings; extendable crank; ball thrust bearing; level attached to frame; adjustable breast plate; Holdall chuck with Leland's universal jaws. Cocobolo handles.

Optional D-type handle available 1907-1910. Replaced by No. 012 in 1910.

Illustration from 1907 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
? 3:1 and 1:1 single pinion 1907 1910

No. 25

Millers Falls No. 25 breast drill Combination two-speed breast and chain drill

  1. 1905 — malleable iron frame; but 5 inch drive gear held in place by disc-type thumb screw; idler roll to equalize bearings; extendable crank; ball thrust bearing; level attached to frame; adjustable breast plate; Barber Improved chuck with spring-type alligator jaws; includes chain. Cocobolo handles; frame and breast plate painted black; bright parts are nickel plated.
  2. 1910 — as above, but Master chuck with Leland's universal jaws.
  3. 1912 — as above, but drive gear held in place by slotted screw.
  4. 1914 — as above, but tropical hardwood handles.
  5. 1917 — as above, but large gear painted green, stained hardwood handles.
  6. 1921 — as above, but decal on drive gear features triangular trademark.
  7. 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 1905-1929. Basically a No. 12 with an integral chain drill.

Illustration from 1905 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
20 inches 3:1 and 1:1 single pinion 1905 1935

No. 29

Millers Falls No. 29 breast drill Two-speed breast drill

  1. 1905 — rod-type frame; 5 inch drive gear; loosening knurled nut allows speed change without removing drill from work; extendable crank; cocobolo handles; ball thrust bearing; adjustable breast plate; Parsons' spring-type chuck adjustable from 0 to 1/2 inch. Stained hardwood handles; cast iron parts of frame painted black; drive gear and breast plate painted red.
  2. 1912 — as above, but breast plate painted black.
  3. 1915-- as above, but spring release buttons allow speed change without removing drill from work.
  4. 1921 — as above, but decal on drive gear features triangular trademark.
  5. 1922 — as above, but Ryther's chuck.

Optional D-type handle available 1905-1929. Identical to No. 290 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 1905 1935

No. 29A

Millers Falls No. 29A breast drill 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; cast iron parts of frame and breast plate painted black; drive gear red; rod and chuck polished, rather than nickel plated.

Formerly No. 29; features re-designed frame.

Illustration from 1936 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
16 1/2 inches 3:1 and 1:1 double pinion 1935 1938