Millers Falls Breast Hand Drill

[Levaughn]

I found this Millers Falls Drill at a Yard Sale over the weekend. The plate covering the leveler says Patent Jan 21st, but the year is faded.

 

[drivesitfar]

Lev: it's called I think a breast drill because you put the part that looks sort of like a shoe on your breast/chest and start drilling. sounds like you might have already know that though.

my guess is early 1900's, but that is only a guess. you might take a rag with some simple green and use some elbow grease to maybe clean up the date of the patent so you can more information on it. also once you do that if you can post some close up pictures some of us might be able to help you more.

nice find and any drill bits come with the drill??

 

[Levaughn]

Thanks. No it didn't come with Drill Bits. I paid $15 for it. Something to clean up and tinker with. I did clean it up and looked under a lighted magnifying glass, but the year is too badly faded. it fades very badly where the date starts. I even took some paper and rubbed a pencil across it but it's just too faded. The first two numbers appear to be 18 but I could be wrong. I posted a picture of the date:

 

[PFSard]

- I like that drill. It reminds me of an old egg beater.

- After trying drivesitfar's suggestion for Simple Green to accent the date .... I'm wondering if there is something that can be applied to accent the writing. Of course, something readily removable.

 

[chrismenke]

Sure looks 1883 when I see it on screen.

 

[Alan Douglas]

Mine has no patent date there. However patents were always issued on Tuesday, and according to my perpetual calendar that would have to be 1879, 1890, 1902, 1913, 1919, 1930.

Edit: I forgot leap years. Could also be 1896, 1908.

 

[Milton Shaw]

I don't know if you noticed but that is a two speed drill. The handle moves into the other hole and the speed is much slower for large bits. I have one similar to that one. Truly a cordless drill with enough power to actually drill.

 

[sometoyotaguy]

Take a look online for them. You can probably narrow down the model, and rough year. That one looks to be 20's vintage or so.

http://oldtoolheaven.com/breast_drills/breast_drill4.htm

 

[F124C]

I don't know if you noticed but that is a two speed drill. The handle moves into the other hole and the speed is much slower for large bits. I have one similar to that one. Truly a cordless drill with enough power to actually drill.

I've got a Stanley one very similar. When I was about 9 years old I managed to break a decent 1/4 in. HSS drill bit when using the low speed!

Al.

 

[Levaughn]

Lol!!!