Let's see your vintage drill bit indices

d42jeep · Aug 24, 2016

I looked at them closely yesterday and they are definitely not punches. None have ever been hammered on. Some of them have rounded ends and others have flat ends. It doesn't look like they were ever out of the set.
-Don

don long · Sep 6, 2016

I was looking through my (just got) machinist tool box and discovered a couple of drill indexes. I didn't know that you could get a drill this small

Even smaller drills

Blue Frog · Nov 18, 2016

I expect delivery of this one today.

Blue Frog

d42jeep · Nov 18, 2016

That Alemite index is a nice one. Thanks to this thread my drill doctor is almost worn out. I managed to pass on a small bit set yesterday. I may have reached my limit!
-Don

tombell572 · Nov 18, 2016

Don, numbered drills actually go through #80-would be used in something like a Dumore sensitive drill press. Generally numbered drill sets are sold a Number 1-60.

Tom B.

Outlawmws · Nov 18, 2016

BF, that index is COOL!

D42, You aren't done 'cause your now HOOKED and will continue to buy them as you find them... (Drills ARE a consumable... At least, that is my excuse...)

paddy1 · Nov 19, 2016

Don, We had a glue nozzle that we would "drill out" that was a #80, had a special pin vise type hand drill. I can tell you they break easily.

Outlawmws · Nov 19, 2016

Yeah, the little stuff is a whole lotta fun that way...

pendragon1998 · Dec 4, 2016

I thought I would share this store display I saw in an antique store today. I was alreadybuying a steel cabinet so I passed on this. It was in rough shape and missing the plate glass lid over the front, which lifted to dispense the bits. Nice price, though.

Outlawmws · Dec 4, 2016

What did they want for the mod. 228 lantern next to it?

pendragon1998 · Dec 5, 2016

Sorry, I didn't look. I don't know anything about them. Are they collectable or good users?

Outlawmws · Dec 5, 2016

A gas lantern in good repair is always a good user. I like the 228 for its wide "brim" that one looks to be in decent shape, especially the enameled top vent from this angle. The collar has a little ding at the edge, but that's no big deal.

If the tank (AKA Fount) is not rusted to uselessness, and the price is fair, probably worth getting. Everyone should have an emergency lantern IMO, and a gallon of Coleman fuel (It keeps virtually forever).

Probably not at the high end for collectability, seems to be a more recent vintage. (There are dates or date codes on the bottom of the Founts of Coleman lanterns.)

d42jeep · Dec 5, 2016

Outlawmws said:
BF, that index is COOL!

D42, You aren't done 'cause your now HOOKED and will continue to buy them as you find them... (Drills ARE a consumable... At least, that is my excuse...)

Apparently Outlaw was right because I was unable to pass on this nice Huot small index at a garage sale yesterday.
-Don

Outlawmws · Dec 5, 2016

See!

Username already in use · Feb 5, 2017

I was rooting through a not so old Craftsman stack at the flea yesterday. Tagged at $250 for the box and tools. The owner reluctantly let me cherry pick a few things out. So for $10, I got a hand full of wrenches, including a large Bonney DBE that I posted in the DBE thread, and this Cleveland Twist drill bit index. I've been admiring these but had never found one at a reasonable price. So, needless to say, this one followed me home.

Will look great on my new to me Craftsman 100 drill press.

d42jeep · Feb 5, 2017

Nice. Let me know if you need any of the medium bits and I'll send them with your screwdriver. I had attempted to swear off picking them up but this empty Hanson one caught my eye. I've started filling it up.
-Don

BobsurUncle · Feb 5, 2017

An older Huot I gave a new lease on life. A friend was going to toss it.

bluebolt · Feb 6, 2017

BobsurUncle said:
An older Huot I gave a new lease on life. A friend was going to toss it.

Nice restore job Bob!

Outlawmws · Feb 6, 2017

BobsurUncle said:
An older Huot I gave a new lease on life. A friend was going to toss it.

d42jeep · Mar 5, 2017

I had been doing well at ignoring indices at extate sales, but yesterday this small, sad one caught my eye so I picked it up. It must have had a plastic lens at one time but it's fine without it. Anybody recognize the brand?
-Don

Outlawmws · Mar 5, 2017

If I recall, JSB is Japan Steel something... I've seen that before; IIR it was marked Made in Japan - yes on small anvils (1 lb...)

d42jeep · Mar 10, 2017

Here is one that I couldn't pass up yesterday. It's a smaller version of some of my others. This one is designed for number bits. It will be a little more of a challenge to fill up. I like that it even had the box.
-Don

d42jeep · Apr 1, 2017

As Outlaw said upthread, I guess I'm hooked. I saw this old looking Morse and another small index on Thursday and brought them home with me.
-Don

M_George · Apr 1, 2017

So many really cool indexes here. So I thought I should add my humble little old one to the mix.

paulm12 · May 26, 2017

picked up recently. I looked up the patent, was issued in 1932 to Great Lakes Pressed Steel Corp., which is what is stamped on the bottom.

d42jeep · May 28, 2017

paulm12 said:
picked up recently. I looked up the patent, was issued in 1932 to Great Lakes Pressed Steel Corp., which is what is stamped on the bottom.

That one looks identical to the one I posted above with the original box.
I found another number drill index recently, and best of all it was mostly full!
-Don

paulm12 · May 28, 2017

yep Don, appears to be the same. You're welcome to this one if you want it.

d42jeep · May 28, 2017

Thanks for the offer, but I'm trying to cut back. Unsuccessfully. Picked this up today, don't ask me why.
-Don

tym · May 28, 2017

Here's my entry. I couldn't pass up this little Huot Drilldex for $3 (mostly empty, spent a whopping $5 for more bits to fill it up). As a bonus is a Millers Falls drill that was another $5 find.

btrnuthatch · Jul 2, 2017

I'm not a Snap-on or Drill Index guy but I bought this regardless. Having tried unsuccessfully to find another like it or info on the web, I thought it might be of interest to you experts. It's a smaller size for drill bit sizes 1 - 60.

arielnh56 · Sep 12, 2017

This isn't mine, but it was a high spot of my recent vacation. It's in the shop at the railroad in Ely Nevada. They let you wander around the shop unsupervised.

I want bigger tools.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XS5emqef38cWsQWn1

Outlawmws · Nov 4, 2017

I picked up an interesting one today; A "New Process" fractional index in cast iron. Semi hollow base and interesting "graphics":

Oregon rock crusher · Nov 4, 2017

Nice find there Outlaw. That is very cool. I don't think I've ever heard of the New Process twist drill co. Ed.

Outlawmws · Nov 4, 2017

Thanks Ed. Found a bit of info on the company:

New Process Twist Drill Company is a Massachusetts Domestic Profit Corporation filed on December 1, 1888. The company's filing status is listed as Involuntary Dissolution and its File Number is 041667210. The company's principal address is (was) 34 Court St, Taunton, MA 02780.

Address is now a parking lot. It once was "riverfront" property, but I think that is now under ground?

twertsy · Nov 4, 2017

You guys ****. I've intentionally been seeking these out and have only found 1 in the last year.

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

don long · Nov 4, 2017

Outlaw
I'd have to polish it up and make those letters and fractions jump off that wheel
Very nice find

Don

crguy · Nov 4, 2017

I didn't think it was a hard one to find.

Motorman55 · Nov 4, 2017

I'd have to hang that New Process index on the wall after I cleaned it up.

d42jeep · Nov 5, 2017

I went to the estate sale of a woodworker last Friday and couldn't leave this homemade one behind. Brought it home and filled it up.
-Don

don long · Feb 18, 2018

Nice grab Don.

I just picked these up off the internet today

IMG_2700 by don long, on Flickr

IMG_2699 by don long, on Flickr

They will go well with the others I have on display in the party garage

Let's see your vintage drill bit indices

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