Hand Drills 379 through 506121
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 1960s, catalog copy had become so vague that a detailed description of features is not possible.
No. 379
Goodell-Pratt single-speed hand drill.
Malleable iron frame; tropical hardwood head; mahogany-finished side and crank handles; detachable chef's cap side handle; non-adjustable gear guide; three-jaw chuck adjustable from 0 to 1/4 inch; shipped with eight fluted drill points. Frame enameled black; drive gear red; bright parts are nickel plated.
Manufactured by Millers Falls as of 1931.
Illustration from 1936 catalog.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 3/8 inches | single pinion | hollow head | acquired 1931 | 1938 |
No. 480
Single-speed hand drill.
Malleable iron frame as found on model 104; metal end handle, hardwood crank handle; non-adjustable gear guide; three-jaw, spring-type chuck is adjustable from 0 to 3/16. Rotatable cap on end handle provides access to eight drill points, each in its own compartment. Black enameled frame; bright parts are nickel plated.
Information about the No. 480 drill is courtesy of George Langford. Photos of No. 480 hand drill are copyrighted and used with the permission George Langford.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ??? | single pinion | hollow head | 1918? | 1921? |
No. 655
Goodell-Pratt single-speed hand drill.
Malleable iron frame; mahogany-finished hardwood head and crank handle; three jaw chuck adjustable 0 to 1/4 inch. Frame enameled black; drive gear red; bright parts are nickel plated.
Manufactured by Millers Falls as of 1931. For reasons unclear, was re-numbered, ca. 1937, as model 655A.
Illustration from 1938 catalog.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 1/4 inches | single pinion | solid head | acquired 1931 | 1937 |
No. 655A
Goodell-Pratt single-speed hand drill.
Malleable iron frame; mahogany-finished hardwood head and crank handle; three jaw chuck adjustable 0 to 1/4 inch. Frame enameled black; drive gear red; bright parts are nickel plated.
Formerly No. 655.
Illustration from 1938 catalog.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 1/4 inches | single pinion | solid head | 1937 | 1942 |
No. 980
Two-speed hand drill.
- 1913 — malleable iron frame; stained hardwood head and handles; head with mushroom-shaped top may be detached by loosening check nut and pressing on plunger to provide access to bit storage; detachable side handle; ball thrust bearing on spindle; bent adjustable gear guide; Parsons' spring-type chuck adjustable 0 to 3/8 inch. Speed change controlled by knurled ring shifter; two pinions and shifting device are enclosed. Frame enameled black and drive gear gray with red stripe; star-type trademark on crank; bright parts nickel plated.
- 1915 — as above, but drive gear enameled red.
- 1917 — as above, but adjustable gear guide replaced by unenclosed idler pinion.
- 1921 — as above, but access to bit storage in head now via traditional screw top cap; triangular trademark.
- 1922 — as above, but Ryther's chuck.
- 1925 — as above, but bit storage in head eliminated.
- 1931 — as above, but trademarks display Greenfield, rather than Millers Falls location.
- 1935 — as above, but mahogany-finished hardwood head and handles.
Essentially a No. 98 with a mushroom-topped head.
Illustration from 1915 catalog.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
1913 | 1942 |
No. 980D
Two-speed hand drill.
Malleable iron frame; stained hardwood head and handles; hollow head with mushroom-shaped, screw type top provides bit storage; detachable side handle; ball thrust bearing on spindle; adjustable gear guide; Ryther's chuck adjustable 0 to 3/8 inch. Speed change controlled by knurled ring shifter; two pinions and shifting device are enclosed; shipped with six twist drills. Frame enameled black and drive gear red; bright parts nickel plated.
Identical to No. 980 except shipped with twist drills.
Illustration from 1922 catalog.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 3/4 inches | three pinions | hollow head | 1922 | 1925 |
No. 981
Two-speed hand drill.
- 1913 — malleable iron frame; tropical hardwood head and handles; head may be detached by loosening check nut and pressing on plunger to provide access to bit storage; detachable breast plate; detachable side handle; ball thrust bearing on spindle; bent adjustable gear guide; Parsons' spring-type chuck adjustable 0 to 3/8 inch. Speed change controlled by knurled ring shifter; pinions and shifting device are enclosed. Frame enameled black and drive gear gray with red stripe; bright parts nickel plated.
- 1915 — as above, but drive gear enameled red.
Illustration from 1915 catalog.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 1/2 inches | two pinions | hollow head | 1913 | 1917 |
No. 1420
Single-speed hand drill.
- 1956 — Steel frame; red-finished hardwood head and crank handle; three-jaw chuck adjustable 0 to 1/4 inch. Drive gear painted gray (red has been observed); bright parts nickel plated.
- 1960 —as above, but head and handles finished black.
Shipped as a V-line (Value Line) product from 1956 to 1960.
Illustration from 1960 catalog.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 1/2 inches | single pinion | solid head | 1956 | 1970 |
No. 1425
Single-speed hand drill.
- 1956 — Steel frame; red-finished hardwood head and handles; detachable side handle; three-jaw chuck adjustable from 0 to 1/4 inch. Drive gear painted gray (red has been observed); bright parts nickel plated.
- 1960 — as above, but head and handles finished black.
Shipped as a V-line (Value Line) product from 1956 to 1960.
Illustration from 1960 catalog.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 1/2 inches | double pinion | hollow head | 1956 | 1971 |
No. 1515
Goodell-Pratt single-speed hand drill.
Die cast frame which encloses pinion; tropical hardwood head and mahogany-stained side and crank handles; detachable chef's cap side handle; ball bearing spindle; non-adjustable gear guide; three- jaw chuck adjustable 0 to 3/8 inch; shipped with 8 fluted drill points. Frame enameled black and large solid gear red; bright parts nickel plated.
Manufactured by Millers Falls as of 1931.
When the Millers Falls Company added the No. 1515 to its catalog, it used an illustration of the No. 1616 to depict both drills. I have done so as well. Illustration from 1936 catalog.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 1/2 inches | single pinion | hollow head | acquired 1931 | 1938 |
No. 1616
Goodell-Pratt single-speed hand drill.
Die cast frame which encloses pinion; tropical hardwood head and mahogany-stained side and crank handles; detachable chef's cap side handle; ball bearing spindle; non-adjustable gear guide; three- jaw chuck adjustable 0 to 3/8 inch. Frame enameled black and large solid gear red; bright parts nickel plated.
Manufactured by Millers Falls as of 1931. Identical to No. 1515 except for solid head and shipped without drill points.
Illustration from 1936 catalog.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 inches | single pinion | solid head | acquired 1931 | 1938 |
No. 1980
Ratcheting two-speed hand drill.
- 1914 — malleable iron frame; stained hardwood head and handles; head with mushroom-shaped top may be detached by loosening check nut and pressing on plunger to provide access to bit storage; detachable side handle; ball thrust bearing on spindle; bent adjustable gear guide; Parsons' spring-type chuck adjustable 0 to 3/8 inch. Speed change controlled by knurled ring shifter; ratchet controlled by rotating the cap to a small boss on the crank handle; pinions and shifting device are enclosed. Frame enameled black and drive gear gray with red stripe; star-type trademark on crank; bright parts nickel plated.
- 1915 — as above, but drive gear enameled red.
- 1921 — as above, but adjustable gear guide replaced by unenclosed idler pinion; bit storage in head now via traditional screw top cap; triangular trademark.
- 1922 — as above, but Ryther's chuck
- 1925 — as above, but bit storage in head eliminated.
- 1931 — as above, but trademarks display Greenfield, rather than Millers Falls location.
Illustration from 1915 catalog.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 3/4 inches |
|
|
1914 | 1944 |
No. 1981
Ratcheting two-speed hand drill.
- 1914 — malleable iron frame; stained hardwood head and handles; head may be detached by loosening check nut and pressing on plunger to provide access to bit storage; detachable breast plate; detachable side handle; ball thrust bearing on spindle; bent adjustable gear guide; Parsons' spring-type chuck adjustable 0 to 3/8 inch. Speed change controlled by knurled ring shifter; ratchet controlled by rotating the cap to a small boss on the crank handle; pinions and shifting device are enclosed. Frame enameled black and drive gear gray with red stripe; bright parts nickel plated.
- 1915 — as above, but drive gear enameled red.
Illustration from 1915 catalog.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 1/4 inches | two pinions | hollow | 1914 | 1917 |
No. 2500
Single-speed hand drill.
Steel frame; black-finished hardwood head and crank handle; solid drive gear is cast iron finished in red enamel; three-jaw chuck adjustable 0 to 1/4 inch.
Formerly model no. 2500C.
Illustration from 1967 catalog.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 1/2 inches | single pinion | solid head | 1964 | 1976 |
No. 2500B
Single-speed hand drill.
Steel frame; mahogany-finished hardwood head and crank handle; solid drive gear is die cast and finished in red enamel; three-jaw chuck adjustable 0 to 1/4 inch.
The successor to No. 2500 M-S, but drive gear is solid, rather than pierced.
Illustration from 1949 catalog.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 5/8 inches | single pinion | solid head | 1948 | 1956 |
No. 2500C
Single-speed hand drill.
- 1956 — steel frame; red-finished hardwood head and crank handle; solid drive gear is cast and finished in red enamel; three-jaw chuck adjustable 0 to 1/4 inch.
- 1960 — as above, but head and crank handle finished black.
Formerly model no. 2500B. Shipped as a V-line (Value Line) product from 1956 to 1960.
Illustration from 1960 catalog.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 1/2 inches | single pinion | solid head | 1956 | 1964 |
No. 2500 M-S
Mohawk-Shelburne single-speed hand drill.
Steel frame; mahogany-finished hardwood head and crank handle; three-jaw chuck adjustable 0 to 1/4 inch. Drive gear painted red; bright parts nickel plated.
Illustration from 1938 catalog.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 5/8 inches | single pinion | solid head | 1931 | 1948 |
No. 3200 M-S; 3200A M-S
Mohawk-Shelburne single-speed hand drill.
Steel frame; mahogany-finished hardwood head and handles; detachable side handle; three-jaw chuck adjustable 0 to 1/4 inch. Die cast drive gear painted red; bright parts nickel plated.
Introduced as No. 3200 M-S. Re-numbered 3200A M-S by 1938. No illustration of the No. 3200 M-S has been located.
Illustration of No. 3200A M-S from 1938 catalog.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 5/8 inches | single pinion | hollow head | 1935 | 1942 |
No. 506121
Single-speed hand drill.
Die cast frame; wooden head and detachable side handle painted black; plastic crank handle; three-jaw chuck adjustable 0 to 1/4 inch. Die cast drive gear painted red.
Manufactured in West Germany.
Illustration from 1979 catalog.
| Length | Pinion Gear(s) | Head | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 1/2 inches | double pinion | solid head | 1977 | 1981 |