Let's see your vintage drill bit indices

[Outlawmws]

Agreed nice indexes! I especially like the NOS one!

 

[454ragtop]

Got any other pics of the Wells Brothers? Looks like they hold a tap and a tap drill? Freestanding, or made to be mounted vertically? Inquiring minds need to know (and need to find some)!

 

[theamcguy]

Man where do you guys find these at. I have been looking for years and never see them for sale.

 

[d42jeep]

It’s apparently been a while since anybody’s found a interesting index, but I found one yesterday. It came with quite a few original unused bits, which surprised me.
-Don

 

[WagonHo!]

Its been a while since I've posted. Wanted to post a couple I have not seen represented yet. First is a Montgomery Wards, the second pic are 2 Wells Brothers (which are super early and very rare). The last picture is a NOS Union Card index. I have a metric Standard Tool Co that I'll have to remember to get a picture of so I can post it.

Design and build quality just superb examples of the craftsmanship of that era.

 

[Terry D]

Just found this index for sale on Ebay. I looked up the history for that decal and found it was used between 1935 to 1942. This is one of these posted by another member at the beginning of this thread. Its not the same color or the same decal, bit the same style only its for numbered bits. Searched the old tool catalogue's on vintage machinery, but found nothing. does anyone know the years that this was produced and is this the period correct color and decal, It also looks like there is ghosting around the bit sizes with gold paint.

Thanks
Terry

 

[d42jeep]

I spotted this as I was leaving a sale this morning and couldn’t leave it behind. I have a much newer Whitman & Barnes/Huot index but I like this one a lot more!
-Don

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Just found this index for sale on Ebay. I looked up the history for that decal and found it was used between 1935 to 1942. This is one of these posted by another member at the beginning of this thread. Its not the same color or the same decal, bit the same style only its for numbered bits. Searched the old tool catalogue's on vintage machinery, but found nothing. does anyone know the years that this was produced and is this the period correct color and decal, It also looks like there is ghosting around the bit sizes with gold paint.

Thanks
Terry

That index appears in the 42 catalog. I don't have access to catalogs immediately before and after that so really don't know when its run began or ended. By 48 that index is gone and most of their boxes and accessories are marked with the "new" Heritage logo. That is the correct paint and decal.

 

[Terry D]

That index appears in the 42 catalog. I don't have access to catalogs immediately before and after that so really don't know when its run began or ended. By 48 that index is gone and most of their boxes and accessories are marked with the "new" Heritage logo. That is the correct paint and decal.

Thanks for the information JoCo. What catalog did you find that in ? I looked in the 1942 power tool catalog on Vintage Machinery, but did not see it in there. In the mid 40's it looks like they came out with a different style which is stepped. Thanks Again

 

[d42jeep]

I stopped by a close to home estate sale on Sunday. I saw this box with a matching index inside but it was in several pieces, so I just grabbed the box. I have several matching indices already.
-Don

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

These wooden drill rolls aren't exactly indexes but they are kind of neat. They all have varying amounts of the original drills in them. Obviously all pretty small and I think the smallest size is #80. The guy I got them from said his great grandfather had a hardware store in the New England area and these had been handed down. I also bought some NOS Nicholson files from the same era in original packaging from him. Ed.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Those are cool, Ed!

I picked up a Huot drill index today at the flea. This is easily the most common drill index I see in the wild, with the Oct 17, 1933 patent number (1,930,617) embossed in it.

This one happens to be the tiniest example I have ever seen, though!

 

[Socket Pounder]

Huot indexes are still made in the US.

 

[outofbounds]

Found this old Morse index today. It was suggested by Private Lugnutz that I might like this thread, and he's right again. I do. Especially some of the Detroit made peaches hanging from D42Jeep tree.

 

[wtn1271]

Recent estate sale pick up. Dirty but otherwise very good condition. Cleaned corner with some mineral spirits as a test.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That is awesome. It's the shape of the entire logo.

 

[ecotec]

I found this one today for $5. It says Whitman and Barnes and Made in USA. I have not seen anything like it...

 

[ecotec]

Here are two more.

 

[ecotec]

Considering the design of the legs, I cannot imagine that many survived. I think that it is very old.

 

[Provincial]

Number drills. It does look old. Did it have any indication of an original finish? That old it would have been shellac or oil finish.

 

[ecotec]

It doesn’t look like it was shellacked. My goal has been to find as many Detroit area drill stands as I can. I wish that it said Detroit on it. I was bummed to find out they had factories in multiple cities. Every other Whitman & Barnes drill stand, that I have seen, has Detroit on it. I am still glad to have found it. I put an unused USA set in it and will display it with my other drill stands.

 

[ecotec]

I still have not found out much about my new stand. I found an SAE version of my stand on Etsy for $72. That is the only other example that I have found. I assume that some factory made them for a bunch of brands, but I could be wrong.

 

[r_olson_06]

Not sure if this counts but picked this up at an estate

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[d42jeep]

Not sure if this counts but picked this up at an estate

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

I think it counts for sure. I have one that I’ve been hanging onto but it’s different from yours.
-Don

 

[gearheadglen]

I picked up this J.R. Wood Supply Co. index which is brass and I would date to the 20s or early 30s. I have not seen another one and thought it should be represented here.

 

[gearheadglen]

The Standard Tool Co metric drill bit stand

 

[ecotec]

The Standard Tool Co metric drill bit stand

I want to find a metric one...

 

[Outlawmws]

Probably need to look on Eprey - EU

 

[dkroth]

Outlaw sent me over here:

UNION TWIST DRILL CO ATHOL, MASS USA

Wonderful texture in the casting.

.

 

[d42jeep]

That’s a great one. Congratulations!
-Don

 

[Zrxrunner]

Last estate, these 2 followed me....dont know if I can let em go on their own way!!!

 

[RTM]

Finally got around to getting all my drill indices cleaned up, reassembled, and filled.

This was my first exciting index, until I got to this thread, and there are like 6 already posted (yawn). Another New Process Twist Drill Company numbers index, been there, saw that.



The Cleveland (fractional) was a pleasant find, as seems like most are number drills. The other two are numbers (green, who paints something like that? Slow process opening them up again) and fractional (silver), both early finds, grabbed because cheap.



This is my favorite find, and I finally got it cleaned up and remounted. I can't find any before pictures, but it was mounted to an old ratty piece of something soft, like redwood or cedar, and it pretty much let a few drills fall through. I cleaned it up, actually polished it a bit, then started looking for fun contrasty woods to mount it. Turns out the plate is not flat, or square, so I had to change my plans a bit.





Now I just need to upgrade my drills from a cheap Chinese HSS set to something worthy of an out of square, out of flat, handmade chunk of brass from 1948.

 

[d42jeep]

I know that at least one like it has been posted upthread, but here is my tiny Huot. The last shot is a comparison.
-Don

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Nice design on this index found in the 1932 Sears catalog.

 

[Outlawmws]

Cool index! That's a keeper!

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Thanks Outlaw. If you check post #123 on this thread, there's one like this marked for Alemite.

 

[h~moto]

I had bought this hardware store display for a good price at a flea market. Thought it was kinda cool.

 

[macgee]

Do these count? This Hanson set has been my favorite and most used drill bits. I actually still keep them in this drill index case, it has a beautiful green hammered paint finish to them. I'll have to dig out my vintage drill index's, I have several of them but prefer to keep them protected inside drawers and cases out of the elements.

Also, a mini rotating lazy Susan index for my carbide & misc. burs. And using a old wood index drill bit case the were for a set of mini auger drill bits now holding my PB Swiss metric hex set.

 

[Outlawmws]

Macgee, the smaller round wood cans looks like the base for a Starrett set of drift punches. I have one about 1/2 full now

 

[RTM]

Some brace mounted twist drill bits came in similar cases. I have a Cleveland set hiding somewhere.

I have the short version.

https://archive.org/details/ClevelandTwistDrillCoCatalogue391919/page/n73/mode/2up