Show your Millers Falls tools!
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A E Numan
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paulm12
Well-known member
baumgrenze
Member
Are these 2 drills made by Millers Falls? I do not see any maker's marks on them.
Are they more recent? To my eyes the closed red face looks more 'modern' than the spoked eggbeaters.
I've not seen any online images of the single speed drill with 2 pinion gears. Does the pinion closest to the large wooden handle serve any function other than as simply an upper bearing for the crank driven wheel.
The image for the 2-speed drill that I found online shows red paint on the underside of the breast or shoulder plate. This one is painted black? Do we know which one came first?
thanks,
baumgrenze
Are they more recent? To my eyes the closed red face looks more 'modern' than the spoked eggbeaters.
I've not seen any online images of the single speed drill with 2 pinion gears. Does the pinion closest to the large wooden handle serve any function other than as simply an upper bearing for the crank driven wheel.
The image for the 2-speed drill that I found online shows red paint on the underside of the breast or shoulder plate. This one is painted black? Do we know which one came first?
thanks,
baumgrenze
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Old Radar
Well-known member
They appear to be Millers Falls.
The eggbeater looks like a No.77 or 77A, 1938-1971
Look for the MF marking between the knurling bands of the chuck.
The breast drill looks like a 7740, 1931-1960
Makers mark should be on the main rod and the model number on the inside of the crank.
Old Tool Heaven is a very good resource for these types of Millers Falls hand tools.
http://oldtoolheaven.com/index.html
baumgrenze
Member
Thank you Old Radar!
I will look at the link soon, I hope.
Lotsa' alligators in my pond at the moment.
baumgrenze
I will look at the link soon, I hope.
Lotsa' alligators in my pond at the moment.
baumgrenze
Old Radar
Well-known member
Your welcome. Be sure to update us when you confirm or refute the info.
tombell572
Well-known member
A few of mine: No. 771 12" brace, No. 2 egg beater style drill, No. 47 coping saw.
Tom B.
Tom B.
Boringgeoff
Member
Millers Falls Drill Brace, two for the price of one. Use as a breast drill then remove the drive gear and converts to a brace. Later models of this tool were numbered 182 but I don't think this model was numbered. Crank handle length is adjustable.
Corner Brace No 502 a handy tool for boring close to the wall or floor.
Cheers,
Geoff.
Corner Brace No 502 a handy tool for boring close to the wall or floor.
Cheers,
Geoff.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
ALL: i'm not sure how I missed this thread, but I love the quality and look of millers falls so i'm sure I own more than a few of them. I almost bought a Millers Falls 1/2 hp grinder a few weeks ago and after asking about it over on the vintage grinder thread i'm disappointed that I didn't.
I think I have a Millers Falls old catalog somewhere i'll post along with the tools, but for now I wanted to get on this thread so I won't miss it again.
hope you all find something this weekend
I think I have a Millers Falls old catalog somewhere i'll post along with the tools, but for now I wanted to get on this thread so I won't miss it again.
hope you all find something this weekend
Boringgeoff
Member
Adjustable sweep brace No 97. The worlds first variable torque cordless drill, loosen the thumbscrews to adjust the sweep from 8 to 10 to 12 inches. Each arm has three dimples to locate the thumbscrews.
Whimble No 7312 used by bridge builders, railway fettlers and the like, this one has seen a lot of work with the wrist handle having been repaired at some time.
As mentioned by others http://oldtoolheaven.com/ is the go to site for Millers Falls information.
Cheers,
Geoff.
Whimble No 7312 used by bridge builders, railway fettlers and the like, this one has seen a lot of work with the wrist handle having been repaired at some time.
As mentioned by others http://oldtoolheaven.com/ is the go to site for Millers Falls information.
Cheers,
Geoff.
That is really cool. Nice piece.Adjustable sweep brace No 97. The worlds first variable torque cordless drill, loosen the thumbscrews to adjust the sweep from 8 to 10 to 12 inches. Each arm has three dimples to locate the thumbscrews.
Cheers,
Geoff.
Boringgeoff
Member
Thanks Leviton, when I put it on display at various events I attend it always gets a lot of interest. According to Oldtoolheaven it was only made from 1897 - 1899. You can fold it up as I've shown but as far as replacing two other braces goes, in its 8" format and in a tight spot, it would still be fairly cumbersome with the two shafts sticking up.
Cheers,
Geoff.
Cheers,
Geoff.
RTM
Well-known member
Here are some of my non-woodworking specific tools that were easily found.
An inside micrometer set (1218), a bunch of RA screwdrivers (including one stamped opposite), a RA punch (lowest ), 2 fixed blade utility knives, and a set of dividers.
There are braces, eggbeater drills, a breast drill, and a bunch of planes still to be corralled.
An inside micrometer set (1218), a bunch of RA screwdrivers (including one stamped opposite), a RA punch (lowest ), 2 fixed blade utility knives, and a set of dividers.
There are braces, eggbeater drills, a breast drill, and a bunch of planes still to be corralled.
Old Radar
Well-known member
Time to wake this thread up again!
On the last day of an estate sale, I found this Millers Falls 188A Push Drill but its handle was off and the spring was hanging out. It didn't want to screw back together easily and I didn't want to force it--therefore I guess no one was interested in paying the $4 sticker price. The tiny =Craftsman= screwdriver was tagged for $0.50. The guy minding the tools couldn't put the push drill back together so he wrote both of them up for a total of $1 and the cashier, of course, took 50% off the total. Out the door for $0.50!! All I did was clean the gunk out of the threads and it went smoothly back together. Seven of the eight drill points were safe inside the handle.
On the last day of an estate sale, I found this Millers Falls 188A Push Drill but its handle was off and the spring was hanging out. It didn't want to screw back together easily and I didn't want to force it--therefore I guess no one was interested in paying the $4 sticker price. The tiny =Craftsman= screwdriver was tagged for $0.50. The guy minding the tools couldn't put the push drill back together so he wrote both of them up for a total of $1 and the cashier, of course, took 50% off the total. Out the door for $0.50!! All I did was clean the gunk out of the threads and it went smoothly back together. Seven of the eight drill points were safe inside the handle.
It's worth waking up for showing that drill. Very nice. I am always looking but rarely find Millers Falls. Thank you.
When I was a cub I worked for a contractor that had some MF power tools. They were very heavy duty, professional grade power tools. I never really heard much about them again until I entered the vintage arena. I only have a modest few and my red acetate handled MF chisel is at my buddy's work getting the edge reground. It really was that bad (plus he does any of my edge grinding for free if I can do it in his time).
When I was a cub I worked for a contractor that had some MF power tools. They were very heavy duty, professional grade power tools. I never really heard much about them again until I entered the vintage arena. I only have a modest few and my red acetate handled MF chisel is at my buddy's work getting the edge reground. It really was that bad (plus he does any of my edge grinding for free if I can do it in his time).
Old Radar
Well-known member
Cool! I was just reading some of the MF history on oldtoolheaven.com. When I saw your post, it really put the picture to the 1000 words:
Solid high speed steel was used for the cutting part of hole saws. This steel came in molts 3x4 feet square. When these were cut up to be milled for hole saws, there was a lot of expensive waste material. Someone got the bright idea of using this material to make wood-cutting spade bits. The cutting bits were formed, ground and then fitted into a slotted shank. They were joined to the shank by a pellet of silver solder heated in an induction coil which also hardened and quenched the tool steel blade. These were very cheap to make and would cut most anything.
http://oldtoolheaven.com/history/history13.htm
Solid high speed steel was used for the cutting part of hole saws. This steel came in molts 3x4 feet square. When these were cut up to be milled for hole saws, there was a lot of expensive waste material. Someone got the bright idea of using this material to make wood-cutting spade bits. The cutting bits were formed, ground and then fitted into a slotted shank. They were joined to the shank by a pellet of silver solder heated in an induction coil which also hardened and quenched the tool steel blade. These were very cheap to make and would cut most anything.
http://oldtoolheaven.com/history/history13.htm
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Thanks for that, Old Radar. I handled that bit at an estate sale and couldn't read it in the dim garage. The guy running the garage was pretty jovial. He read it to me and I lit up. "How much?" Fifty cents was too good to pass. lol. I had never seen one made in two pieces that I can remember and your information explains that.
Corner Brace No 502 a handy tool for boring close to the wall or floor.
Cheers,
Geoff.
I saw a youtube video where a guy took a drill like this that was messed up and took it all apart and repaired it. Only one I've seen ever until I saw your posting.
RTM
Well-known member
Without a picture, very hard to help. But if you go to OldToolHeaven.com, that will be your best resource, as he walks through the changes for many tools, but focuses on Woodworking tools.
DwightS
Well-known member
Found this hacksaw cleaning out my father’s shop. Miller’s Falls No1414. Cast aluminum handle, tube frame. Heavy, but comfortable.
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
RTM
Well-known member
That vise won't be on oldtoolheaven. I figured mine out by checking out the various catalogs in the the International tool Catalog library at archive.org.
I'd start around 1934 and work newer from what I recall.
https://archive.org/details/internationaltoolcataloglibrary?and[]=millers+falls&sin=&sort=-date
Old Radar
Well-known member
Here's my latest:
No. 5A Hand Drill, made from 1957 to 1964. Triangle logo still on handle. Looks nearly unused--just some storage wear. Five of the eight fluted drill points were in the handle and look unused. A sixth small one was snapped off--maybe the PO decided he didn't like it and stopped using it. The grease in the gears looks original.
No. 5A Hand Drill, made from 1957 to 1964. Triangle logo still on handle. Looks nearly unused--just some storage wear. Five of the eight fluted drill points were in the handle and look unused. A sixth small one was snapped off--maybe the PO decided he didn't like it and stopped using it. The grease in the gears looks original.
RTM
Well-known member
The fat gear wheel on that is nice, some love that for the precise control they get when gripping on the wheel rim, vs the knob, for real small work. Nice get, in fantastic condition.
coljar
Well-known member
Here's my Mohawk 2 speed eggbeater. Bought it in a rural area of Ontario last year when we were at a friend's cabin above North Bay.
Bigblockyeti
Banned
Old Radar
Well-known member
It's great your 118 still has the level. My No.12 is missing it. 
Personally I've never been impressed much by ratcheting plastic body chucks. Always prefer metal sleeves and non ratcheting. Then again I'm a fan of keyed chucks and Albrecht keyless.
welderreview.com/detlev-pro-cordless-drill-driver
welderreview.com/detlev-pro-cordless-drill-driver
Old Radar
Well-known member
Welcome to the Millers Falls thread GavinY! Can you go into a little detail of how your post relates to Millers Falls?
Bigblockyeti
Banned
It's great your 118 still has the level. My No.12 is missing it.
Yeah I was happy to see that when it came up for sale but it had no side handle so I still need to turn one for it.
I have a Miller' Falls Dyno Mite drill in great shape that I need to photo.
Oregon rock crusher
Well-known member
Provincial
Well-known member
Bigblockyeti
Banned
As promised, my Millers Falls Dyno-Mite electric drill. Ordinarily this isn't the kind of thing I'd go after but having a no load speed of 3200rpm, looking like brand new (when I bought it) and costing less than $10 were all motivating factors.
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Old Radar
Well-known member
Picked up this Millers Falls #50BR today. It's an electric screwdriver. Archive.org has a 1930 catalog with an earlier version of this and a 1974 catalog with a later version (50R). There's a 1954 power tool excerpt from H. Channon Company but they apparently didn't carry it or there was a gap in the MF production. If anyone has access to a 1960's MF power tool catalog I'd really like to hear about it.
This has MF patented adjustable clutch under the black shield on the chuck and the drive doesn't engage until pressure is applied to the tip. Makes me think it might have been intended for drywall hanging.
I don't have any real use for this either, but it's Millers Falls! And it was only $3.
Here are the before and after pics:
I still need to change out the brittle 12' cord.
This has MF patented adjustable clutch under the black shield on the chuck and the drive doesn't engage until pressure is applied to the tip. Makes me think it might have been intended for drywall hanging.
I don't have any real use for this either, but it's Millers Falls! And it was only $3.
Here are the before and after pics:
I still need to change out the brittle 12' cord.
Bigblockyeti
Banned
Do you have any pictures of the top of that screwdriver? It looks to me like an assembly line screwdriver that would ideally be hung from a tool balancer. The cord pointed up with the bit pointed down and the trigger along side the narrow part of the gearcase looks fairly similar to what would be used today.
Old Radar
Well-known member
Bigblockyeti
Banned
I was expecting to see a hook of some sort to facilitate hanging. The nut holding the back tight to the body could certainly be replaced with one but I find it odd that it's not already there.
