Let's see your vintage drill bit indices

[crguy]

Here's another Cleveland #5. I cleaned it up and finished it on a sander with a 3M scotchbrite type belt. Sharpied the raised numbers to give my old eyes a break reading them. I didn't buy this because it's cool or vintage, I bought it beacause it's well thought out. The racetrack design lets you easily get two fingers on a bit. The drill numbers face upward instead of sideways, I don't have to tilt it or bend over to read them.

Standard Tool Co.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Here's another Cleveland #5. I cleaned it up and finished it on a sander with a 3M scotchbrite type belt. Sharpied the raised numbers to give my old eyes a break reading them. I didn't buy this because it's cool or vintage, I bought it beacause it's well thought out. The racetrack design lets you easily get two fingers on a bit. The drill numbers face upward instead of sideways, I don't have to tilt it or bend over to read them.

I like it. And that design means a lot trying to pick out what you are looking for. Great.

 

[RMERR]

Standard Tool Co.

Thanks crguy, it is Standard tool, MADE in Cleveland. My bad...

 

[Davefr]

One of you guys should pick up this one. (kind of unique). It won't be me.

Vintage Locking MATCO TOOLS Drill Bit Index Case w/ 2 Keys NO DRILL BITS | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage Locking MATCO TOOLS Drill Bit Index Case w/ 2 Keys NO DRILL BITS at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[Davefr]

Here's a really cool index up on Ebay. (except for the starting bid)

Vintage C E Jennings Pyramid Drill Bit Stand 6" x 6" x 2" for 17 Bits | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage C E Jennings Pyramid Drill Bit Stand 6" x 6" x 2" for 17 Bits at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[crguy]

Here's a really cool index up on Ebay. (except for the starting bid)

Vintage C E Jennings Pyramid Drill Bit Stand 6" x 6" x 2" for 17 Bits | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage C E Jennings Pyramid Drill Bit Stand 6" x 6" x 2" for 17 Bits at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Those are pretty scarce.

 

[four.cycle]

hey well he probably figured if you can afford a nice set of Russell Jennings auger bits, $320 is chump change, right?

while we're on ebay drill indices, anybody recognize this one? maker? sure looks familiar, doesn't it?

 

[crguy]

hey well he probably figured if you can afford a nice set of Russell Jennings auger bits, $320 is chump change, right?

while we're on ebay drill indices, anybody recognize this one? maker? sure looks familiar, doesn't it?

I have seen that maker before, as well as similar ones by Morse and Ajax.

 

[four.cycle]

^ looks exactly like the Morse, but it's got a different name on it.... right after I just posted that I wondered if perhaps "Acorn" was a second line of Morse? (Like Thorsen/Action)

 

[MadeByMiller]

Hope this is alright to add here. I designed this fixture table stop holder heavily influenced by some of the great vintage drill indexes here (the iconic Cleveland one especially). It's 3D printed from Bambu PLA Metal which has a metallic look to it. I designed it for my friend/customer Genuine Metalworks and he sells them on his website.

Here are some images from my model:




And some photos of the actual printed part:

 

[Squez]

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Love the wooden Morse, @Squez. @Outlawmws and @d42jeep have wooden Morse drill blocks, but theirs are square, and for smaller drill sets, with paper labels. I think this, from the 1915 catalog, might could be yours, or close to it. The pattern is right. I admire the designer for mirroring the shape of the logo.

Here's a really cool index up on Ebay. (except for the starting bid)

I see that it ended unsold, Dave. I have sold a few C.E. Jennings flea market finds for triple digit figures, including this nested saw set, and more recently, this No. 60 'Little Wonder' toolkit box, so I was watching with curiosity.

 

[Nutria]

Folding Ajax, similar to four.cycle's Acorn above.

 

[JohnPa]

I believe those were plated, sort of an antique brass color - not solid brass or painted.
Yours has just darkened with age.

I recently picked up one of these and saw on E-Bay and other sites that they were made of solid brass. The one I have did not seem to be brass so I tried a magnet on it and it stuck - I am thinking maybe cast iron?

 

[four.cycle]

@Nutria - that "Acorn" index isn't mine - that was a photo I found perusing ebay listings. Still dont know who made it, and I have NO clue on your "Ajax" - that's a new one for me. BK

 

[crguy]

I recently picked up one of these and saw on E-Bay and other sites that they were made of solid brass. The one I have did not seem to be brass so I tried a magnet on it and it stuck - I am thinking maybe cast iron?

Some people see the brass color and think it's solid brass. I've owned a bunch of indexes and very few were brass. Most are non magnetic pot metal and a few are cast iron (magnetic).

 

[RTM]

Some people see the brass color and think it's solid brass. I've owned a bunch of indexes and very few were brass. Most are non magnetic pot metal and a few are cast iron (magnetic).

I always think of brass tools as home made, or patternmaker's copies, unless it's something weird like leatherwork tools, certain machinist hammers, etc.

Like my last one here.

 

[crguy]

I always think of brass tools as home made, or patternmaker's copies, unless it's something weird like leatherwork tools, certain machinist hammers, etc.

Like my last one here.

Brass was easier to cast, and that's why people making their own tools generally used it.

 

[Davefr]

One of you guys should go after this one.

VINTAGE UNION TWIST DRILL CO STEEL SPINNING DRILL BIT INDEX CABINET BOX CAROUSEL | eBay

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;">Vintage Steel Spinning Drill Bit Index Tool Organizer Cabinet Box Carousel. SIZE 12" X 12" X 12". VERY HEAVY 35LBS.</p> <br> <p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;">VERY GOOD CONDITION. NO PREVIOUS OWNER MARKS. ALL DRAWERS OPEN...

www.ebay.com

 

[FrankLee]

One of you guys should go after this one.

That's also on marketplace in Kalamazoo... and cheaper... currently at $175.

Facebook

www.facebook.com

 

[Squez]

Today I was making room and rearranging one of my tool boxes that hold my drill bits bought the box last year with the bits in it.. anyway I came across this small index I didn’t no was in there

 

[don long]

I scored this old box the other day and after cleaning it up a bit Thought of this thread

 

[Outlawmws]

That's cool Don, is it branded?

 

[four.cycle]

^ It's an old Ace Hanson and it is exactly the same twist drill display cabinet they had down at Lincoln Hardware that I bought drill bits out of for over 30 years.

 

[d42jeep]

Don consistently finds great stuff!
I found this Index at a recent estate sale and grabbed it because it contained so many bits in decent condition.
I transferred the bits to a Japanese made copy while I cleaned up my new one.
I cleaned up the bits, sharpened a few, added a few
and transferred them back.
BK had sent me this empty TRW Service Line box a while back and I finally figured out that it would be perfect for storing sharpened bits.
Now I just need to add my sharpened bits which are currently on loan.
-Don

 

[RTM]

Hey all, while kicking around PDX area last Saturday, I found a Huot drill bit index, in fractional sizes. Was quite pleased, cuz I think I have three in numbered sizes, and I don't need that many. Not terribly spectacular in this thread, either by shape or manufacturer, or maybe even not very vintage.



But the real find, and probably a failure on my part, was this fun looking number bit holder. Once I saw numbers and the price of stuff around it, I knew I didn't need it. If I could have gotten it for the price of the Huot above, it would have come home with me. Looks to be a Morrow Ingersoll, not previously seen on this thread by name (did not look at all the pics). Sorry for the perspective, but I've cropped and rotated the picture to make it readable. 1924 - 37 It appears. If anyone is interested, I can share details of where it can be acquired.

 

[crguy]

Hey all, while kicking around PDX area last Saturday, I found a Huot drill bit index, in fractional sizes. Was quite pleased, cuz I think I have three in numbered sizes, and I don't need that many. Not terribly spectacular in this thread, either by shape or manufacturer, or maybe even not very vintage.



But the real find, and probably a failure on my part, was this fun looking number bit holder. Once I saw numbers and the price of stuff around it, I knew I didn't need it. If I could have gotten it for the price of the Huot above, it would have come home with me. Looks to be a Morrow Ingersoll, not previously seen on this thread by name (did not look at all the pics). Sorry for the perspective, but I've cropped and rotated the picture to make it readable. 1924 - 37 It appears. If anyone is interested, I can share details of where it can be acquired.

That Morrow index is uncommon.

 

[d42jeep]

I would have had a hard time leaving that one behind unless it was really expensive.
-Don

 

[Patrickm82]

@RTM What was he asking $ wise if you don’t mind? Cause like d42 said that would of been a tough leave

 

[RTM]

@RTM What was he asking $ wise if you don’t mind? Cause like d42 said that would of been a tough leave

I was guessing it was about $25, based on things nearby.

 

[Davefr]

Huge thanks to member RTM for sharing the lead on that Morrow index!! I picked it up and it's really unique. No, it wasn't cheap ($69) but antique stores never are.

 

[crguy]

Huge thanks to member RTM for sharing the lead on that Morrow index!! I picked it up and it's really unique. No, it wasn't cheap ($69) but antique stores never are.

Good catch. I think that was a very reasonable price. If you're a serious collector, you have to step up and buy.

 

[RTM]

Huge thanks to member RTM for sharing the lead on that Morrow index!! I picked it up and it's really unique. No, it wasn't cheap ($69) but antique stores never are.

Wow, your picture looks so much better than mine. Nice to see it released from prison.

 

[GaryM909]

I have one made from Bakelite which does work well but not sure if it will pass a drop test. Also a couple Huot ones but I am not sure of their age. And a Dormer one with bits that I got back in 1977. They are still my favourite drill bits. I have one other one with no brand name on it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I was elated to find this Morse indexed case at the flea market this morning. The No. 8-A, according to the 1915 catalog, for # 1 - # 60 wire gauge drills. Handsome piece. The patent date (June 24, 1902) marked on the cover refers to 702,904, granted to Thomas Abraham. @Davefr has three of them posted here. When you turn the top to be aligned to the desired drill, marked by numbers around the outside of the top, lift that spring-fed knob, and rotate it to one of the other positions in that scalloped slot, it opens up the correct port hole.

 

[Outlawmws]

That's a nice find Lugz!

 

[Outlawmws]

I found another "Folding Triangle" Index - AJAX this time, but Fractional like my Morse - As found:

 

[ecotec]

I was elated to find this Morse indexed case at the flea market this morning. The No. 8-A, according to the 1915 catalog, for # 1 - # 60 wire gauge drills. Handsome piece. The patent date (June 24, 1902) marked on the cover refers to 702,904, granted to Thomas Abraham. @Davefr has three of them posted here. When you turn the top to be aligned to the desired drill, marked by numbers around the outside of the top, lift that spring-fed knob, and rotate it to one of the other positions in that scalloped slot, it opens up the correct port hole.

Is it Bakelite?

 

[crguy]

Is it Bakelite?

Those are wood.

 

[d42jeep]

I found this unremarkable index at a recent estate sale. The drill bits looked new as did the box. Unfortunately all of the bits in the second rack were missing and I felt it would be my duty to fill them up.
-Don