Let's see your vintage drill bit indices

[don long]

Don,
You win the drill bit contest, for sure! I've managed to find a couple more but mine pale by comparison.
-Don

Thanks 42Jeep
Only because of this thread have I found an interest in Drill indices and then got lucky in running across them.
I'm intrigued by the many different styles. I remember the one my dad used in the basement when I was a kid.

 

[nine4gmc]

I REALLY want a set of those drill bit drawers. I have plenty of stock for them...

The I would just need a suitable something for the > 1/2" bits...

I finally got around to sorting 50+lbs of bits last night that I've been collecting when it hit me there was no spaces for 1/2"+ bits in these indexes. Turns out I only have 8 letter bits, 14 number bits and multiples of every size fractional. I'm sure some of the fractional could me number and letter, I was sorting fast with a cheap plastic fractional only bit sizer and below 3/32" everything looks the same. The bulk of the weight was bits larger than 1/2" though and there were a handful of wood and mortar bits in the box as well, now I need to make some storage for those.

 

[Outlawmws]

I've been thinking about using one of those small metal organizers that are roughly 6X6X6 or so. I'l shoot for a test and pics tonight or this weekend.

The hard ones are the "gun barrel" bits - 12" long...

 

[54stude]

Huot in Saint Paul mn is still going strong!

 

[nine4gmc]

I REALLY want a set of those drill bit drawers. I have plenty of stock for them...

The I would just need a suitable something for the > 1/2" bits...

Check Amazon, I just now went through a few pages and now I REALLY want some of the ones I don't have. They make them for 33/64-63/64 and taps/dies, long length bits, metric, tapered etc, all kinds of different layouts in the same enclosure.

 

[d42jeep]

I keep picking up bits to fill my indices. They're getting closer.
-Don

 

[Rileysan]

I found this Cleveland wooden drill bit index in a toolbox full of misc plumbing supplies at a local thrift store. Paid $6.95 for the entire box. No bits were present.

Brian

 

[akalian]

I got this many years ago, because it was striking in appearance and craftsmanship in both the exterior box and the index itself. The Index is metal, non magnetic, so I'm just guessing it's aluminum. But it is very heavy, and I think there is a lead or metal weight cast into the underside. Seems way too heavy to be just aluminum.

 

[d42jeep]

I'm not sure that this counts as an index but it's close enough. I picked it up at an estate sale over the weekend.
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

Haha! Sure! Why not!

 

[don long]

I just found another numbers index

 

[Justanoldguy]

 

[Outlawmws]

I just found another numbers index

The picture doesn't come up???

Pic works fine for me Don.

Nice find!

 

[Outlawmws]

I picked this one up last weekend; made by General. It has some nice cast holders for the racks. Even empty, it feels full, so it's pretty substantial! I'd like to find the equivalent Letter and Fractional boxes!

The medallion has "General" in the center, "General Hardware MFG CO." above that, and "Pat Applied for", "New York, NY", and "USA" below.

 

[markbugno]

Not as much an index as an old store counter display. It was for sale on eBay for MONTHS. Finally made a low offer and got it. Has a chipped piece of wood that I'll fix someday... For now it's character.

Mark


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[d42jeep]

This thread has started me picking up every one I see at estate sales. Here is one from last Friday, partially filled with sharpened bits.
-Don

 

[Davefr]

I'll add this one to the thread:

 

[Username already in use]

Here's a MAC index that I picked up over the weekend. The vendor threw it in for free with another purchase
I'm not sure how old it is, or if it qualifies as vintage for this thread, but it's in great shape and looks like an older MAC logo/box.

 

[d42jeep]

Like username's post above, I'm not sure of the vintage of the two I picked up at the flea last weekend. One is a Hanson and the other is a Craftsman Tap & Bit set.
-Don

 

[d.mcfarland]

Beautiful!

 

[Outlawmws]

That is COOL!

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

So many beautiful indices in this thread. I've always been hopeful I would find one or two of these. Here is one I did find recently at a swap meet from S.T.D. Co. of Syracuse. It was and still is pretty filthy but when I started cleaning it I realized it is copper or brass plated so I slowed down. I haven't looked close enough to decide which, probably like a penny and mostly zinc. I didn't see any quite like this in the thread and a quick internet search didn't turn it up so here it is. Ed.

 

[Outlawmws]

"Somethng" Tool and Die?


Hmmm Syracuse Tool and Die, but nothing on google...

 

[kvkmahesh1969]

You got a treasure save it

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[twertsy]

I am not an English major but I think indexes doesn't sound right.

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That's pretty funny............plural of Mongoose?

 

[Davefr]

So many beautiful indices in this thread. I've always been hopeful I would find one or two of these. Here is one I did find recently at a swap meet from S.T.D. Co. of Syracuse. It was and still is pretty filthy but when I started cleaning it I realized it is copper or brass plated so I slowed down. I haven't looked close enough to decide which, probably like a penny and mostly zinc. I didn't see any quite like this in the thread and a quick internet search didn't turn it up so here it is. Ed.

That's a great one!! I've never seen that one either.

 

[schor]

Here is one made by AJAX I picked up a few years back. I had forgotten about it until now.

I have the same one, need to dig it out and get some pics.

 

[Al Bundy]

There was a Syracuse tool company. It's mentioned on AA.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

I think it may be the Syracuse Twist Drill co. Most searches for STD's in NY were yielding undesirable results. Ed.

 

[firworks]

I don't know how old it is but I imagine somewhat at least.

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No idea if the bits inside are Snap-On or just whatever replaced over the years. Got it in a flat of tools from an auction. Still kinda cool little index.

 

[Ing3018]

Seeing this thread reminded me that I had a couple of these stuffed in a box. They came from an estate sale of a patternmaker about 12 years ago. I like the detailing that was put on these.

Paul

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[d42jeep]

I picked this up at the Tahoe flea yesterday. It is a cool index but does anybody have any idea of what the items are inside it? They look like they came with it.
-Don

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Looks like a transfer punch set in a nice vintage index. Ed.

 

[lilredex]

They are "Drill Blanks" used for various gauging duties around a shop.

http://www.carbideanddiamondtooling...h.Speed.Steel.Fractional.Letter.Number.Metric

 

[Outlawmws]

Before looking closer, I was going to one plus ORC. the transfer pinches would have a center punch at one end and be flat on the other...

Good eyes lilredex!

 

[Outlawmws]

Hmmm, will a transfer set fit in an index... Have to give the small ones a try, probably too long...

 

[Mintgrun]

I use a folding index for my transfer punch set. No issues with the small ones fitting, with the box I have; although indexes probably vary.

 

[lilredex]

May not qualify as Vintage but has been around a bit. I found this guy out on garbage day a few years back. I thought it might be a nice addition to my shop, but found it took up too much space.

I had it on Kijiji for the better part of a year with no takers, then finally got $10 for it, third time try, at a garage sale.

This one:

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Before looking closer, I was going to one plus ORC. the transfer pinches would have a center punch at one end and be flat on the other...

Good eyes lilredex!

Looks to me like about half of them have points albeit in various stages of dull. I figured the other half were just put away upside down...of course I could be wrong and they are drill rods,some with points. Ed.

 

[Outlawmws]

ORC, if you look close those don't have the typical center-punch points found on transfer punches (Although it does look like someone tried to use them for that...):

Typicla transfer punches: