NOS Millers Falls 1912

[My Old Tools]

I have bought, sold, collected, and traded tools for many years. I have had literally hundreds of boring machines, but this is the first one still packed in the original factory crate and packing material. Millers Falls boring machine circa 1912. Still nailed into the original crate with 3 new boring bits. Packed in wood shavings and newspaper.

 

[RStewart]

That is sweet and in its original box. Where and how did you find that?

 

[ganymede]

What an incredible find. No one factor could be responsible for its preservation.
It must have spent the last century in a dry climate, + wood chips and newspaper as packing, minimal disturbance...
Wow!

 

[woody 73]

I for one would have never opened the box, but I must say the wow factor is over the top; antique at over 105 years old.

This is what the vintage tool section is all about good job op.

 

[crguy]

That's a cool find! Congratulations!

 

[crguy]

I for one would have never opened the box,

Of Course the box should be opened. If that had gotten wet it could have just been a piece of rusty junk.

 

[woody 73]

Of Course the box should be opened. If that had gotten wet it could have just been a piece of rusty junk.

Au contraire to a true collector you would never open that box.

But I agree if it had gotten wet it would become a rusty hunk of junk.

 

[dutchgray]

So are you going to use it?
When I buy NOS I buy to use, tools that dont get used are pointless IMO.
105 years in a box is incredible though.

 

[davethorik]

So are you going to use it?
When I buy NOS I buy to use, tools that dont get used are pointless IMO.

This is the vintage tools section, I don't think a whole lot of people that post here use them. More collectors than anything else.

 

[My Old Tools]

I have dozens, so no, this one won't get used by me. I value it as a reference machine. I have restored dozens of these and seldom are two in the same configuration after being used for 100 years. Pieces break, screws and washers get lost. With this one we know exactly how the factory assembled them, what screws and washers go where, what finishes were on what (before somebody spray painted it), etc. I was really interested to see how they were packed. All the old catalogs said one to a case. Now I know what they meant.

I actually have a quite large clientele of users of these machines. I have shipped them all over the US and all over the world, including Sweden, France, South Africa, Costa Rica, etc.

I'll be doing a type study of boring machines soon. This one will be included of course along with the 100's of others I have handled. It will be my Blood and Gore much like Patrick did on the Stanley planes. There are many variations of the Millers Falls machines and then many other mechanisms by other makers over the years.

 

[Corndoggeh]

At this point and condition and completeness, that should be destined for a museum!

 

[woody 73]

At this point and condition and completeness, that should be destined for a museum!

My thinking exactly.

 

[woody 73]

Do you realize that was three months after the Titanic sank on April 15th 1912.

 

[My Old Tools]

That is sweet and in its original box. Where and how did you find that?

I was contacted by the children of the owner. When you Google Millers Falls boring machines I usually come up first. This was sitting on a shelf in Grandma's basement when they cleaned out the house after her death. It was in North Carolina.

 

[M_George]

I agree, diffidently museum quality. This would keep it as is for generations.

 

[My Old Tools]

I of course saved every scrap of packing material.

 

[larry4406]

Cool as ****!

Now show us one in use and what it does. This place is a disease as now we all need one.

 

[My Old Tools]

Timbers are too big to take to a machine, so the machine has to go to the timber. Picture from my first timber framing class at Fox Maple School in Maine...

 

[Bdgjr215]

Really cool,I would be torn on what to do with it though

 

[dirt_dobber]

this is so awesome - what an amazing story. So glad it went to someone who is so knowledgeable about them.

 

[nine4gmc]

That is amazing, thanks for posting!

 

[Zeeman]

Dang. That is a great find. Do you plan to clean it up? Please post pictures and tell us what you do to it.

 

[My Old Tools]

I don't think I'll do anything to it. It is coated with an oxidized oil that is the darkening on the bright parts. I'm sure it is pristine under that coating but I don't plan to remove it. It will get re-packed exactly like it was for now.

 

[crguy]

Au contraire to a true collector you would never open that box.

BS - I've spent a Lot of money on tools, etc. in the box and I can assure you I knew Exactly what was in the box.

 

[pendragon1998]

This is the vintage tools section, I don't think a whole lot of people that post here use them. More collectors than anything else.

Beg to differ.

 

[gungatim]

Is it weird to want to know what it smelled like when you first opened the box?

 

[My Old Tools]

musty

 

[RStewart]

Is it weird to want to know what it smelled like when you first opened the box?

Haha. I was thinking that too, but thought I was weird. Thanks

 

[bluebolt]

I use practically all of my "collector" tools.

And I too would have opened the box!