Look what I found!

[2002p51]

My wife and I were reorganizing and cleaning up the garage and we found this drill motor.

The tag says it's a "Drill Mate". Anybody know how old it is or anything about it? And surprise, it works! I'm not going to sell it and we have several modern drills so I'm not going to use it, but it's cool and I think I'm going to display it in the garage. Just would like to know more about it.

 

[Mintgrun]

The tag says it's a "Drill Mate".

Are you sure it doesn't say "shop mate"? Perhaps you could post a photo of the tag. The Portable Electric Tools Co. in Chicago made Shop Mate tools. Here is a little information with dates from the Vintage Machinery site.

Portable Electric Tools, Inc. - History | VintageMachinery.org

Is that a 3/8" chuck? A lot of old drills had smaller chucks than they use today. They are also one speed and not reversible. I think the old aluminum bodied drills would be a fun thing to collect, but I have managed to resist the temptation to bring them home... for the most part. Be careful... they can tend to multiply!

 

[genog]

I think the old aluminum bodied drills would be a fun thing to collect, but I have managed to resist the temptation to bring them home... for the most part. Be careful... they can tend to multiply!

That's my chant:

I.....must.....resist
I....must...resist

But,...those old drills are so darn coooool
I find vintage drills frequently in my usual "Haunts", but....I just don't want them accumulating in the shop
Don't have the room

But, they're so darn coool!

 

[2002p51]

Are you sure it doesn't say "shop mate"? Perhaps you could post a photo of the tag. The Portable Electric Tools Co. in Chicago made Shop Mate tools. Here is a little information with dates from the Vintage Machinery site.

Portable Electric Tools, Inc. - History | VintageMachinery.org

Is that a 3/8" chuck? A lot of old drills had smaller chucks than they use today. They are also one speed and not reversible. I think the old aluminum bodied drills would be a fun thing to collect, but I have managed to resist the temptation to bring them home... for the most part. Be careful... they can tend to multiply!

My bad, it does say "Shop Mate" and Portable Electric Tools Co. The tag is pretty dirty and messed up so it's hard to read. Any idea how old it is?

 

[Mintgrun]

I tried googling around, but did not find much information for you. I'm guessing it is at least fifty years old, but cannot make an accurate guess. Does the tag tell you the rpm? Do you have a chuck key for it? Does it smell like an old train set when you run it?

 

[Shiftless]

I bet that case would take a high polish.

 

[Mintgrun]

The tag is pretty dirty and messed up so it's hard to read.

"Look what I found!" deserves more than one photo. Photos needn't be pretty. Dirt should wash off of your tag. Looking at the tags on other examples might help decipher yours.

The chuck on yours is larger than the 1/4" examples I see online (which is cool). I am guessing that might mean it is later. Or, possibly higher amperage. What is the model number on the tag? Have you gained any insight googling elsewhere?

Based on the shape/style, I'd guess early to mid sixties. (guessing) I picked up a '66 CRAFTSMAN drill, (in spite of trying to exercise restraint... but the logo matched the saw my grandpa gave me). It is quite similar looking.

Before that one, I grabbed a Skill-Drill that I couldn't resist. As soon as I picked it up I was thrilled and said SOLD!



The owner made sure the chuck key was always close at hand.



I believe the plug is original, because it is such a perfect match.



I looked at the Internet Archive site, to see if they had a catalog for the PET Co.. Nothing came up for Power Electric Tools Company.

I did find my drill in the 1947-48 Skil catalog ==

Skil Tools Made by Skilsaw, Inc. : Catalog No. 47 : Skilsaw, Inc. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

68 p., illus., 26.4 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

This drill cost $34 dollars then, which equates to $410 today. They offered it in multiple (single) speeds and custom speeds as well. I think the fact that it is so compact is what made it special. As well as the quality/type of bearings... and stuff.



The owner scratched AA in four places on this drill. The purplish dust matches some I found on a 10 inch bandsaw I'd purchased in the same store a week before. It's fun keeping two of AA's tools together. The bandsaw is a little bit older.

I try not to collect large things, like bandsaws, yet I have five now. They're all very different! Drills are tempting because they don't take up much room and they are typically cheap. I'll try to get a photo of the CRAFTSMAN drill.

Here's the other drill I recently found. Not nearly as old, but attractive in so many ways. 3/8" chuck, variable speed, reversible, and prretty. The reverse switch is at the bottom of the handle... which is as long as the other one is short. I like the old Makita plastics. I paid a full $10 for that one with no regrets. I did shine that one up a little, but will leave the Skil Drill looking old. I did clean the dust out of it though.



I'll stop there. I like old drills.

Tom

 

[Stillgottimefor1]

The old drills are a weakness of mine too,

 

[genog]

I did shine that one up a little, but will leave the Skil Drill looking old. I did clean the dust out of it though.
I'll stop there. I like old drills.

Tom

I agree with you. Keep the Patina! Your ole drill looks so cool and interesting
It's just me, but I like my old tools to look like old tools.

I am not a fan of how some "Priss Up" an old vise either. Well, unless it was horribly abused and rusted....

By the way, I have the same Makita drill. Bought it sometime in the early to mid 80's.

 

[Mintgrun]

It's always a judgement call, when it comes to cleaning up tools. This is the oldest drill I have. The patent is from 1913. The photo is a little funny, with a larger drill lined up behind it. (that drill has a 3/4" chuck! this one is 5/16")



It was covered in oily sawdust, when I pulled it out of the scrap bin; looking like it had been sitting on a shelf for fifty years. I cleaned it up and almost instantly regretted it. I felt as though I'd done damage. I wish I had taken a more delicate approach, but oh well. I stuck a plug on the stub of a cord and it works great. Cracked cords are enough to make them throw tools away... sometimes all it takes is dirt or rust for them to meet the same fate. One mans treasure is another's trash... as say they.

Tom

 

[2002p51]

I tried googling around, but did not find much information for you. I'm guessing it is at least fifty years old, but cannot make an accurate guess. Does the tag tell you the rpm? Do you have a chuck key for it? Does it smell like an old train set when you run it?

I also Googled this thing without much success. The tag says 500 rpm, yes I have a chuck key, and it does smell like an old Lionel train when I run it!

 

[Stillgottimefor1]