Breast Drills 212 through 7740

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. 212

Millers Falls No. 212 breast drill Single-speed breast drill

  1. 1915 — malleable iron frame; 4 inch drive gear held in place by slotted screw; hardened steel washer as thrust bearing; adjustable breast plate; Parsons' spring-type chuck adjustable from 0 to 3/8 inch. Stained hardwood handles; frame painted dull black; drive gear and underside of breast plate painted red; crank with black oxidized finish; chuck is polished.
  2. 1921 — as above, but frame enameled black; decal on drive gear features triangular trademark.
  3. 1922 — as above, but Ryther's chuck.

Optional D-type handle available 1915-1929. Identical to No. 112 except for chuck. Designed for occasional, light work.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
14 1/2 inches 3 1/2:1 single pinion 1915 1935

No. 219

Goodell-Pratt No. 219 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; Barber Improved chuck with spring-type alligator jaws. Stained hardwood handles; cast iron parts of frame, breast plate and crank handle painted black; drive gear red; unpainted metal parts are polished, rather than nickel plated.

Manufactured by Millers Falls as of 1931. Identical to No. 477 except for chuck.

Illustration from 1936 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 1936

No. 290

Millers Falls No. 290 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; Parsons' spring-type chuck adjustable from 0 to 1/2 inch. Stained hardwood handles; drive gear and breast plate painted red; bright parts are nickel plated.
  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.

Optional D-type handle available 1905-1917. Identical to No. 29 except bright parts are nickel plated.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
18 1/2 inches 3:1 and 1:1 single pinion ca. 1905 1917

No. 291

Millers Falls No. 291 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 1914-1917. Identical to No. 029 except bright parts are nickel plated.

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 1917

No. 293

Millers Falls No. 293 breast drill Two-speed breast drill

Rod-type frame; spring release buttons allow speed change without removing drill from work; ball thrust bearing; adjustable breast plate; auxiliary breast plate can be clamped over regular breast plate for comfort during heavy work; Ryther's chuck adjustable 0 to 3/8 inch. Stained hardwood handles; cast iron frame parts and breast plate painted black; drive gear red.

Optional D-type handle available 1922-1929. Identical to No. 29 except that maximum chuck capacity is 3/8 rather 1/2 inch.

Illustration from 1922 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
18 1/2 inches 3:1 and 1:1 single pinion 1922 1929

No. 312

Millers Falls No. 312 breast drill Single-speed breast drill

Malleable iron frame; 4 inch drive gear held in place by slotted screw; hardened steel washer as thrust bearing; adjustable breast plate; Master chuck with Leland's universal jaws. Stained hardwood handles; frame painted dull black; drive gear and underside of breast plate painted red; crank with black oxidized finish; chuck is polished.

Optional D-type handle available 1915-1922. Identical to No. 112 except for chuck. Designed for occasional, light work.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
15 inches 3 1/2:1 single pinion 1915 1922

No. 477

Goodell-Pratt No. 477 breast drill Goodell-Pratt two-speed breast drill

Rod-type frame; single release button allows speed change without removing drill from work; stained hardwood handles; 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, breast plate and crank handle painted black; drive gear red; unpainted metal parts are polished, rather than nickel plated.

Manufactured by Millers Falls as of 1931.

Illustration from 1936 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 1938

No. 666

Millers Falls No. 666 breast drill Two-speed breast drill

Hollow, tube-type frame of aluminum; pinions enclosed in pressed steel housing; speed changed by removing crank and transferring it to a shaft on opposite side of frame; hardwood handles; side handle can be quickly shifted to opposite side of frame without removing it; aluminum breast plate; ball thrust bearing; three-jaw, spring-type chuck adjustable from 0 to 1/2 inch. Stained hardwood handles; pinion housing painted black; drive gear and breast plate red; tubular frame is polished; bright parts nickel plated.

Illustration from 1938 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
19 1/2 inches 7 1/8:1 and 2 3/8:1 enclosed gears 1937 1944

No. 678

Goodell-Pratt No. 678 breast drill Goodell-Pratt two-speed ratcheting breast drill

Hollow, tube-type frame of aluminum; pinions enclosed in die cast housing; speed changed by turning shifter knob on side of housing; right hand ratchet only; hardwood handles; aluminum breast plate; ball thrust bearing; three-jaw, spring-type chuck adjustable from 0 to 1/2 inch. Hardwood handles; pinion housing and breast plate painted black; drive gear red; tubular frame and bright parts nickel plated.

Manufactured by Millers Falls as of 1931.

Illustration from 1938 catalog.


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

No. 2100

Millers Falls No. 2100 breast drill Two-speed breast drill

  1. 1914 — malleable iron frame; protected speed adjustment allows for speed change without removing drive gear from frame; gear speeds are 4:1 and 1 1/2:1; idler roll to equalize bearings; adjustable breast plate; Parsons' spring-type chuck adjustable from 0 to 1/2 inch. Stained hardwood handles; frame and crank painted black; drive gear and breast plate painted gray with red trim; bright parts are nickel plated.
  2. 1915 — as above, but breast plate painted black; drive gear red.
  3. 1921 — as above, but decal on drive gear features triangular trademark.
  4. 1922 — as above, but Ryther's chuck.
  5. 1925 — as above, but gear speeds are 3:1 and 1:1; idler roll now ball bearing type.
  6. 1931 — as above, but trademark displays Greenfield, rather than Millers Falls location.

Optional D-type handle available 1914-1929.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
17 1/2 inches
  1. 4:1 and 1 1/2:1 (1914)
  2. 3:1 and 1:1 (1925)
 double pinion 1914 1944

No. 2200

Millers Falls No. 2200 breast drill Two-speed ratcheting breast drill

  1. 1914 — malleable iron frame; protected speed adjustment allows for speed change without removing drive gear from frame; ratchet controlled by small boss on crank handle; idler roll to equalize bearings; adjustable breast plate; Parsons' spring-type chuck adjustable from 0 to 1/2 inch. Stained hardwood handles; frame and crank painted black; drive gear and breast plate painted gray with red trim; bright parts are nickel plated.
  2. 1915 — as above, but breast plate painted black; drive gear red.

Optional D-type handle available 1914-1922. Drill is the ratcheting version of No. 2100.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Length Speed(s) Pinion(s) Start Date End Date
17 1/2 inches 4:1 and 1 1/2:1 double pinion 1914 1922

No. 7740; 7740 M-S

Millers Falls No. 7740 breast drill Two-speed breast drill

Rod-type frame; speed is changed by loosening knurled nut and sliding main gear; adjustable breast plate; three-jaw, spring type chuck adjustable from 0 to 1/2 inch. Stained hardwood handles; frame painted black; drive gear red.

Manufactured as part of the Mohawk-Shelburne line 1931-ca. 1949.

Illustration from 1955 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 1931 1960