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

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; cocobolo handles; adjustable breast plate; ball thrust bearing; level attached to frame; Master chuck with Leland's universal jaws. 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.

No. 019

Two-speed breast drill.

1. 1914 — rod-type frame; loosening knurled nut allows speed change without removing drill from work; stained hardwood handles; 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. 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.

No. 029

Two-speed breast drill.

1. 1914 — rod-type frame; loosening knurled nut allows speed change without removing drill from work; stained hardwood handles; 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. 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.

No. 0477

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.

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

Illustration from 1938 catalog.

No. 6A

Goodell-Pratt two-speed breast drill.

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

Manufactured by Millers Falls as of 1931.

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

No. 7

Goodell-Pratt two-speed breast drill.

Malleable iron frame; speed changed by turning shifter knob at side of frame; hardwood handles; ball thrust bearing; two-jaw, spring type chuck adjustable from 1/8 to 1/2 inch. 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.

No. 10

Two-speed breast drill.

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

Optional D-type handle available 1903-1929.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

No. 10A

Two-speed breast drill.

1. 1912 — rod-type frame; extendable crank; cocobolo handles; ball thrust bearing; level attached to frame; adjustable breast plate; Barber Improved chuck with spring-type alligator jaws.
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.

No. 11

Two-speed breast drill.

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. Drive gear painted black; underside of breast plate painted red; bright arts are nickel plated.
1. ca. 1887 — as above, but offset crank is no longer cast as part of main gear
2. 1897 — as above, but cocobolo handles; McCoy's springless chuck adjustable from 0 to 17/64 inch.
3. ca. 1904 — level attached to frame; adjustable breast plate.
4. 1905 — as above, but Parsons' spring-type chuck adjustable 0 to 3/8 inch.
5. 1907 — as above, but ball thrust bearing.
6. 1914 — as above, but tropical hardwood handles.
7. 1917 — as above, but stained hardwood handles and breast plate painted red.

Optional D-type handle available 1903-1922.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

No. 12

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; hardwood handles; non-adjustable breast plate; Goodell's chuck of July 1873. Drive gear and breast plate are painted green; bright parts are nickel plated. (Photo of this early drill)
2. ca. 1881 — as above, but rosewood handles; Barber Improved chuck with Amidon's jaws.
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; cocobolo handles; auxiliary side handle is now positioned below, rather than above, the drive gear.
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.
15. 1931 — as above, but trademark displays Greenfield, rather than Millers Falls location.

Optional D-type handle available 1903-1929.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

No. 12A

Two-speed breast drill.

1. 1912 — malleable iron frame; drive gear held in place by slotted screw; idler roll to equalize bearings; extendable crank; cocobolo handles; ball thrust bearing; level attached to frame; Barber Improved chuck with spring-type alligator jaws. 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.

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

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

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