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

Single-speed breast drill

1881 — rod-type frame; 6-inch drive gear; offset crank, rosewood handles; non-adjustable breast plate; Barber Improved chuck with Amidon's jaws. Drive gear painted red; underside of non-adjustable breast plate painted red; bright parts are nickel plated.
1. 1887 — as above, but Goodell's secondary grip.
2. 1897 — as above, but 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. 1903 — as above but crank is extendable.
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.
7. 1921 — as above, but decal on drive gear features triangular trademark.

Optional D-type handle available 1903-1929.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

No. 13A

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. 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.

No. 14

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.

No. 15

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; cocobolo handles; ball thrust bearing; level attached to frame; Barber Improved chuck with spring-type alligator jaws; equipped with adjustable D-type handle. 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.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

No. 15A

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; equipped with adjustable D-type handle. 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.

No. 16

Two-speed ratcheting breast drill

Collapsible, rod-type frame; rear part of frame may be attached at right angle if desired; 5 inch drive gear held in place by slotted screw; ratchet mechanism adjustment located on drive gear; extendable crank; adjustable breast plate; Barber Improved chuck with alligator jaws. Drive gear painted black with gilt edging; underside of breast plate painted black; bright parts are nickel plated.

Optional D-type handle available 1903-1910.

Illustration from 1905 catalog.

No.18

Two-speed breast drill

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

Continued by No. 118.

Optional D-type handle available 1903-1912.

Illustration from 1905 catalog.

No.19

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; stained hardwood handles; ball thrust bearing; level attached to frame; adjustable breast plate; Barber Improved chuck with spring-type alligator jaws. 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.

No. 19A

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; Barber Improved chuck with spring-type alligator jaws. 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.

No. 24

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

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

Illustration from 1907 catalog.

No. 25

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; cocobolo handles; ball thrust bearing; level attached to frame; adjustable breast plate; Barber Improved chuck with spring-type alligator jaws; includes chain. 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.
7. 1921 — as above, but decal on drive gear features triangular trademark.
8. 1925 — as above, but spring release buttons allow speed change without removing drill from work.

Optional D-type handle available 1905-1929. Basically a No. 12 with an integral chain drill.

Illustration from 1905 catalog.

No. 29

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; stained hardwood handles; ball thrust bearing; adjustable breast plate; Parsons' spring-type chuck adjustable from 0 to 1/2 inch. 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.

No. 29A

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. 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.

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