Millers Falls No. 1 drill

[Half-fast eddie]

I think i just got a MF No 1 hand drill, welcoming comments. Looking at this diagram and description, it’s close: frame looks right, length is right, but the diagram shows a solid handle. It does have the “adjustable equalizer bearing”. I looked for “mccoys springless chuck and found confirmation on that, and some nice pictures.




Here is a link to an interesting page on the chuck … https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjt-9H2oO36AhXoF1kFHY_rDxUQFnoECBgQAQ&url=http://www.wktools.com/y_MillersFalls/tools/chucks/tools-chucks-McCoy/springLessChuck1.asp&usg=AOvVaw2_j5oS72IgWNciTPnAh2Hm

On mine, pretty sure the crank handle is not original, for two reasons: it has no markings at all, and it has a goofy washer to keep it aligned.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

 

[four.cycle]

I sent an inquiry to one of the stewards at datamp.org, which says that your CHUCK showing a patent date of Sep 29 1896 corresponds to a Millers Falls No. 2 eggbeater drill. No idea when or if they'll get back to me.

I know nothing about hand drills, and even less about Millers Falls.

I have to wonder: Is it possible the chuck was changed out by a previous owner? Is it possible that other components may have been replaced over the course of the last century?

 

[Half-fast eddie]

I have to wonder: Is it possible the chuck was changed out by a previous owner? Is it possible that other components may have been replaced over the course of the last century?

Possible. The frame on mine looks like a No 1, definitely different than a No 2.

 

[WisJim]

The info that was posted above from Randy's Millers Falls site is for the #01, not #1, and there were lots of variations over the years.

Millers Falls drills unnumbered through 1C

A study of the Millers Falls Company's hand drills unnumbered through 1C

oldtoolheaven.com

 

[RTM]

The info that was posted above from Randy's Millers Falls site is for the #01, not #1, and there were lots of variations over the years.

Millers Falls drills unnumbered through 1C

A study of the Millers Falls Company's hand drills unnumbered through 1C

oldtoolheaven.com

Thanks Jim i was thinking the same thing, but the sun was too bright to look harder.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

So the descriptions on the OTH pages for the No 01 talk about different colors than mine. It says the drive gear is grey with a red stripe, or red.

Further down the page, the 12-1/2” No 1 is described as black enamel. My size matches, as does the color. My gear is almost fully enameled, and there are traces of black on the frame.