Black and Decker Special 1/2" Electric Drill

[PossumJr]

Managed to pull this bad boy out of the bottom of a pile of older power tools:

This certainly feels like a well designed drill if I've ever seen one, but I'm from the plastic age anyways. Nice and and solid aluminum body designed with more curves than a '60 Cadillac. Still runs too with no arcing, it spools up with no immediate urgency and never gets to very high rpms, but I assume it must have some great torque considering how large the internals must be. Anyone have an idea of when these were produced, I'm assuming somewhere around the early to mid 40s?

(Sorry for iffy pictures, couldn't get my hands to be steady)

 

[Two Sheds]

Here is the page from the 1923 Black & Decker Catalogue. These were very high quality tools. I recently picked up the 1/4 inch model, in really good condition. These stayed in production for many years.

 

[acdeucey]

Possum, I have an earlier version of this drill--like the one shown in the picture Two Sheds posted. My drill is from the early 20s. I also have the matching drill stand.

Your drill is a later version. (Note the difference in the trigger guard.) The "Special" went into production around the mid/late 20s. I have a picture of an ad from 1927 that shows your drill.

Clean it up and display it. Or use it too... if you dare.

Don

 

[drivesitfar]

Possom: I've got several old B & D tools and i use them whenever i can. that drill is pure awesomeness and every piece of it has a special look.

AC: is the use it if you dare warning because it might break your arm or wrist if you catch it at the end of drilling a hole? or are you thinking their might be a shock involved?

 

[PossumJr]

Possom: I've got several old B & D tools and i use them whenever i can. that drill is pure awesomeness and every piece of it has a special look.

AC: is the use it if you dare warning because it might break your arm or wrist if you catch it at the end of drilling a hole? or are you thinking their might be a shock involved?

I haven't tried drilling any holes with that one yet, but I don't even have to know it can do some work. I am slightly worried about shock myself because the man who owned all the tools I was searching through didn't believe in grounding prongs, only one old Milwaukee had the prong attached out of 10 or so old power tools, most of the others had 'em clipped off or a aftermarket plug spliced on. Apparently he never bothered to buy any three prong extension cords, but who needs 'em anyways . Just gives me a reason to do some rehab work including replacing brushes on some other ones and figuring out why the chuck on the B&D is so damn stiff.

And jeebus $100 in '23 is about $1390 today.

 

[drivesitfar]

Possum: a power cord from an old PC (computer) or printer will do wonders for curing any shocking issues once you ground it to the case. also to loosen up the chuck I've had great success with Triflow lubricant so maybe a couple squirts will help. here's the link

http://www.triflowlubricants.com/

you can order online or most hardware or bike shops have some.

just remember to drill any hole absolutely straight if going full power because the broken wrist and arm is really a possibility.

cheers

 

[kunkernator]

This is one of those drills that will rip your arm off if your bit snags, right?

 

[PossumJr]

Awesome, nothing like 75+ year old drill that can send 120v thorugh me while simultaneously breaking my wrist

On a side note, does anyone have a suggestions for cleaning up the name/info plates on it? Looks like copper or brass, tried a moist cloth to no avail, I'd quite like to put new black background fill paint(if that doesn't hurt the value/originality too much) and get the stampings so that they are clean and legible.