Never been much of a Black & Decker man, but...

That Man's Mustache · Jun 3, 2014

Saw this at a garage sale, but I didn't want to pay the $35 they were asking. Emailed them Sunday night to see if it sold. It didn't, so I stopped back by the next day and offered $20. They took it. So know I'm the proud owner of this!

The only blemish on the box, no rust no dents!

Drawer for bit storage. I was told by an older buddy there was a cardboard insert that organized the bits and whatnot.

And now for the shiny goodness!

Not too beat up.

Sweet Jacobs chuck to boot.

One speed, no reverse, no messing around! I'll take it apart, give it a good cleaning, replace the cord and use it once and a while.

The city code on the case makes it before 1963, but anyone have an idea what years this was produced? I'll bust out the Google-Fu and see what I come up with.

97nismo · Jun 3, 2014

I like that box wanna sell it?...

Hogtown · Jun 3, 2014

I would have paid twice that just for the box.

Farmall450 · Jun 3, 2014

I think at $20 you ****!

That Man's Mustache · Jun 3, 2014

97nismo said:
I like that box wanna sell it?...

I like it too! That's what caught my eye. I'm gonna hang on to it for a while, but if I decide to sell it you're first in line.

Hogtown said:
I would have paid twice that just for the box.

I couldn't believe the condition. I also bought a Kennedy machinist's toolbox from the nice lady as well, all were her deceased husbands. It was green, not the usual brown. Had a ton of spade bits in it plus some odds and ends. She said he was a finish carpenter and also made furniture.

Farmall450 said:
I think at $20 you ****!

Thanks Farmall, that's high praise!

drcliff · Jun 3, 2014

You have to back a few decades to find a B&D tool worth having. That big grinder is the only B&D tool I own. It's next to a 'regular' 4-1/2" angle grinder for comparison. They call 'em oilfield grinders along the Gulf Coast, and they're indestructible.

Outlawmws · Jun 3, 2014

I saw one at a yard sale a couple of weeks ago. not nearly as nice of condition. lets just say they wanted it more than I did...

Nice score!

Scout Driver · Jun 3, 2014

The box alone is really cool!

Scott

97nismo · Jun 3, 2014

Awesome box lol

Stuart in MN · Jun 3, 2014

Very nice! I found a B&D box with a similar logo that supposedly dates to 1952: https://www.etsy.com/listing/160802403/vintage-1950s-black-and-decker-metal Looking around there were similar boxes from the 1950-1955 era.

JohnX14 · Jun 3, 2014

Old Black & Decker were good tools. They made a right angle drill with a clutch 30 - 40 years ago that was killer. DeWalt now makes a similar one. Milwaukee copied it in principle with the SuperHawg.

That Man's Mustache · Jun 3, 2014

Outlawmws said:
I saw one at a yard sale a couple of weeks ago. not nearly as nice of condition. lets just say they wanted it more than I did...

Nice score!

Thanks! It seems like I find one 'gem' at most sales I stop at. Picked up a 60s vintage leather doctor's bag at one, but missed out on a double-barreled 16 ga shotgun at another. Guy only wanted $35, but cash just changed hands. If not, I would have started a bidding war!

PFSard · Jun 3, 2014

<< Never been much of a Black & Decker man >>

I've never been a fan, but you have made me a believer. That setup is a thing of beauty. Great hit.

That Man's Mustache · Jun 3, 2014

Just looked up the patent number on the tag. Granted in 1949 for the switch assembly.http://www.google.com/patents/US2487011

WWIIjeep · Jun 4, 2014

Here's what the kit originally included:

1956 list price for the kit was $65.95 ($557.73 in 2013 dollars).

For the U-15 drill alone, $39.95.

The Utility line was Black & Decker's standard-duty line. They had two heavier-duty levels above that, and another even heavier-duty level above those for their 1/2" and larger drills.

The Black & Decker name meant quality in those days.

Nice find. :thumbup:

Old Steamer · Jun 4, 2014

Sweet! Nice score, I like it!

That Man's Mustache · Jun 4, 2014

WWIIjeep said:
Here's what the kit originally included:

1956 list price for the kit was $65.95 ($557.73 in 2013 dollars).

For the U-15 drill alone, $39.95.

The Utility line was Black & Decker's standard-duty line. They had two heavier-duty levels above that, and another even heavier-duty level above those for their 1/2" and larger drills.

The Black & Decker name meant quality in those days.

Nice find.

Thanks for finding the ad! Looks like all I'm missing is the second divider on the top shelf. I bet if you bought that back in the day you felt like you were drilling like a Boss! Now to find some vintage bits to complete the set... That's right, I'm just as sick as the rest of you fellas.

GortonsFisherman · Jun 4, 2014

JohnX14 said:
Old Black & Decker were good tools. They made a right angle drill with a clutch 30 - 40 years ago that was killer. DeWalt now makes a similar one. Milwaukee copied it in principle with the SuperHawg.

The Timberwolf. I have the DeWalt version, DW124, that I bought in the mid 90's and still use almost every day. DeWalt is a subsidiary of Black & Decker. In 1992, they re-branded B&D's professional and industrial lines over to DeWalt.

That Man's Mustache · Jul 3, 2014

Found another one. This time off CL.

Box is in great shape!

This one's a 1/4" chuck. Very small drill, I could only use 3 fingers on the grip. Love the 'hand warmer' holes. It's missing a stand to use the drill as a stationary buffer or grinder. Still has the polishing mandrel.

Close up of the name plate.

Built in drill index.

Love the grounding plug!

There was a bonus Radnor index inside.

I found a circular saw with the same style box as my first find I hope to get in a week or two. Never thought I would collect this stuff but like I told the missus, "Dammit Honey, I'm preserving history!"

cheechi · Jul 3, 2014

Hogtown said:
I would have paid twice that just for the box.

First thing I thought of when I saw the photos.

exmaxima1 · Jul 3, 2014

That Man's Mustache said:
Found another one. This time off CL.

This one's a 1/4" chuck. Very small drill, I could only use 3 fingers on the grip. Love the 'hand warmer' holes.

My dad had the exact same drill when I was growing up. But his originally came with a simpler chuck (tightened with a hex key) that he replaced with a 3/8" Jacobs. Looked like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Bla...695?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ad7e71d6f

I used that drill for many years, and YES, that grip got hot. In fact, the whole drill used to get so hot that I had to wear gloves or a rag to hold onto it!

The drill finally seized up and was replaced with a similar model that had the plastic grip---I think it cost about $6 at the time!!

rice rocket · Jul 3, 2014

That's a really cool box (and drill)!

Imagine if every power tool came in a box like that, talk about sheetmetal box overload.

timbitca · Jul 5, 2014

I just found a 1/4" drill in my garage yesterday really similar to yours that I forgot I had. Not a Black & Decker though, I'll have to check back on the brand, but I think it was More-Power or something like that. No cool box though

Andrew LB · Jul 5, 2014

I recently bought a brand I swore to myself I'd never even consider. I was looking for a heat gun and while I wanted the $120 bosch, i just couldn't bring myself to blow that kind of cash for a glorified hair dryer. My one requirement was that it needed a proper cool-down setting.
So I put on a hat and dark sunglasses and drove to NOT my regular home depot, and shamefully bought a Wagner heat gun. lol. To my amazement... the thing works great! It doesn't get hot as fast as high end heat guns, but it eventually gets there. And best of all, when you power it off it automatically runs the fan till it's cool. This will definitely extend the life of the thing IMO.

What's funny is I still keep it tucked away in a non-tool cabinet so my friends don't see it.

jeffmoss26 · Jul 5, 2014

I was at a sale last month where they wanted 75 bucks for a 1/4" drill
http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums...6-5191-4E5A-ADB6-F10C803D037E_zpsvvmgofa6.jpg

7th Kahuna · Jul 5, 2014

Those are great boxes, I love the graphics.

I never had much use for Black and Decker either, given their complete lack of quality during my lifetime, then I bumped into some NASA documents that included a copy of the contract issued to Black and Decker for the drills that the Apollo astronauts hauled to the moon. That kind of put things in a new perspective for me. Old Tools, Old Tools, Old Tools :willy_nil

Garage sales have never been the same. Why Black and Decker sold their name for use on cheap tools, toasters and similar infomercial fare I will never fully understand.

77thor · Jul 5, 2014

Old drills like that aren't worth anything(our local ReStore has a few of them)....
But that box is a different story. Cool!
Nice score.

Brunel · Jul 6, 2014

Andrew LB said:
I recently bought a brand I swore to myself I'd never even consider. I was looking for a heat gun and while I wanted the $120 bosch, i just couldn't bring myself to blow that kind of cash for a glorified hair dryer. My one requirement was that it needed a proper cool-down setting.

I have a Bosch GHG660 heat gun (bought on ebay). It's actually made by Steinel. Even Bosch rebadges some items.

I did buy a Black and Decker Professional heat gun new in the late 1980s/early 90s. It was well made and I now wonder why I sold it.

My experiences of Black and Decker Professional power tools from that era were very positive. The tools were good, but they didn't sell well because B&D had such a bad reputation from their useless consumer products. That's why they relaunched DeWalt as a brand. It was untainted and has obviously become a big name.

DXN1EL · Jul 6, 2014

drcliff said:
You have to back a few decades to find a B&D tool worth having. That big grinder is the only B&D tool I own. It's next to a 'regular' 4-1/2" angle grinder for comparison. They call 'em oilfield grinders along the Gulf Coast, and they're indestructible.

They also called "WIDOW-MAKER"
I saw one at the flea market I wanted that thing bad!.... But not for $150

That Man's Mustache · Jul 7, 2014

jeffmoss26 said:
I was at a sale last month where they wanted 75 bucks for a 1/4" drill

7th Kahuna said:
Those are great boxes, I love the graphics.

I never had much use for Black and Decker either, given their complete lack of quality during my lifetime, then I bumped into some NASA documents that included a copy of the contract issued to Black and Decker for the drills that the Apollo astronauts hauled to the moon. That kind of put things in a new perspective for me. Old Tools, Old Tools, Old Tools Garage sales have never been the same. Why Black and Decker sold their name for use on cheap tools, toasters and similar infomercial fare I will never fully understand.

77thor said:
Old drills like that aren't worth anything(our local ReStore has a few of them)....
But that box is a different story. Cool!
Nice score.

That's why my limit is $20! And in 25 years my wife will probably be selling them for the same.

I love that 50's styling and how well they're made. I like to take them apart, give a good cleaning and maybe replace the cords. I would like to use them on occasion just for the fun of it. How cool would it be to find one of the Apollo models in a garage sale!!!

Never been much of a Black & Decker man, but...

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