The Original "Cordless" Drills

[Old tool guy]

Spoon augers? What were they used for, and what is the purpose of the hole in the shaft. Looks like a set screw hole, but i don’t see what its for.

 

[Eric Brown]

Spoon augers? What were they used for, and what is the purpose of the hole in the shaft. Looks like a set screw hole, but i don’t see what its for.

From the Tools for Working Wood site:

The design is ancient, going back to Roman times. Spoon bits have even been found in Viking excavations. Spoon bits are the traditional boring tools used with a brace for making chairs - never use them with a power drill of any kind. Their two key advantages over regular brace bits and power drill bits is that you can adjust the angle of the hole as you drill, and that that they allow you to drill nearly to the thickness of the material with no issues of going through. (A benefit of not having a spur.) You can also rough out waste and not have to leave material for the spur.

The ability to work at an angle is very important in chairmaking, because all the angles are usually eyeballed. Without a lead screw, you can drill successfully a chair leg nearly all the way without having the lead screw peek out the other side.

The Gramercy Tools Spoon Bits are designed and made entirely in our Brooklyn workshop (just behind the showroom). We know that that there is a demand for this type of bit, especially from chairmakers, spoon makers and wood artists, but unless the bits are made properly and arrive sharp they won't work well. A great spoon bit cuts a tight spiral shavings. We wanted to make something that would compete with the best of the ones of the past. In order to do that, we had to figure out how to machine some very complex geometry, learn how to harden the bits without warping, and finally sharpen them. This is one of most technically challenging projects we have ever done.

The holes may be used for hanging, but I really don't know.

Added: The holes may have been used in the heat treat process.

 

[Eric Brown]

While updating my Auger Makers list, I found a couple of Russell Jennings screwdrivers. Well one is anyway. The other takes the Perfection type bits. Both rare. Would not want to bore a hole more than about 1/2". Top marked on shaft. Lower marked on chuck.

 

[Eric Brown]

Updated the list again. Up to 301 pages. Will add auger extensions soon and that will probably one of the last updates.

See the list here (click on Eric Brown Auger List to see): https://oldtoolheaven.com/auger-bits/openerimg/AugerMakerReference.pdf

Randy Roeder told me that the list has been visited over 500 time so far. I'm happy people find it useful.

 

[WisJim]

@Eric Brown , I'm anxious to see your list of auger extensions--that's one of the things that I have ended up collecting, and I always like to see what's out there and what has been manufactured over the years.

 

[Eric Brown]

@Eric Brown , I'm anxious to see your list of auger extensions--that's one of the things that I have ended up collecting, and I always like to see what's out there and what has been manufactured over the years.

Will try and get done soon. Think I have 17 now. There are some I know about but don't have. Got one more today.

 

[WisJim]

While updating my Auger Makers list, I found a couple of Russell Jennings screwdrivers. Well one is anyway. The other takes the Perfection type bits. Both rare. Would not want to bore a hole more than about 1/2". Top marked on shaft. Lower marked on chuck.

I think I have bits that mount like those in the Russell Jennings tool handle, and the brace to fit them, in a nice cased set, and another brace besides, but I didn't realize that there might be a tool handle like that too.

 

[Eric Brown]

I think I have bits that mount like those in the Russell Jennings tool handle, and the brace to fit them, in a nice cased set, and another brace besides, but I didn't realize that there might be a tool handle like that too.

That's one of the reasons for my post. They are pretty rare. Would like to have a whole set, but that's probably not possible without paying a lot because they most likely are in a collection, if they exist at all. Will put into my list soon.

 

[WisJim]

Will try and get done soon. Think I have 17 now. There are some I know about but don't have. Got one more today.

Here are some of mine. I sorted out most of the duplicates so these all have some variation from any from the same maker.

 

[WisJim]

Here's my Russell Jennings set with the bits and also another brace that only accepts those special bits.

 

[Eric Brown]

Here are some of mine. I sorted out most of the duplicates so these all have some variation from any from the same maker.

You have more than I. You should write about them.

 

[Eric Brown]

Here's my Russell Jennings set with the bits and also another brace that only accepts those special bits.

Nice set. Looks complete. If I remember correctly, the bottom brace can also handle the square tapered tangs in addition to the Precision ones while the upper one can only the Precision type.

 

[WisJim]

Nice set. Looks complete. If I remember correctly, the bottom brace can also handle the square tapered tangs in addition to the Precision ones while the upper one can only the Precision type.

Yes, that's right. I found the upper one cheap on eBay years ago, with one bit. It's the only one I've ever noticed, but they aren't obvious at a glance to the average person. The set is missing a countersink, and the bit extension has a minor problem.
I may do a write up on bit extensions if I ever get my shop organized so I can figure out just what I have, and when I get time to do more research on them and their manufacturers.

 

[Eric Brown]

Something a little different. It's not often you see a brace and bit in a music video. This is Monster Mash sung by a very deep voiced man. He sings all the parts. (He also does some other amazing low voice videos.) Enjoy

 

[LesserSon]

As a little kid in my grandfather’s cellar workshop, I was fascinated by the hurdy-gurdy / eggbeater drill he let me use (black&orange Goodell-Pratt No655). As an adult, I’ve acquired a few others.
A few years ago, I picked up two similar breast drills in bad shape. Yesterday, moving some stuff around, I uncovered them and figured I’d see if I could get them apart.
The lower one has a broken breast plate, which is peened onto the shaft i stead of held by a set screw, and broken teeth on the driven gear where they engage in low speed position (achieved by driving out and moving the retaining pin!). The upper one is missing most of the brace bit holder, which is also badly rusted (photo after overnight soak in MetalRescue). I thought at first to just swap the other onto it, but despite a resemblance, the shaft is a different diameter and length, and the threads are also different.
Interestingly, most of the pins of the upper example are blind, while they are mostly through on the lower one.

At first I thought both were Stanley No732 or close relatives, but then spotted the 1911 John S Fray catalog showing model No6. I have not found a mfg stamp (on crank bar or elsewhere) yet.
I’m inclined to think the lower example is a knockoff, but with the improvement of the small roller that bears on a track inside the drive gear, reducing wobble. At the business end, it also has some kind of selector I have not yet explored.

 

[LesserSon]

I found a clue while cleaning the chuck sleeve of the lower drill. “Millers Falls Co Pat Dec 13 1887.” Not a selector, but a tightening element. My lower breast drill example does share some elements with a No12 featured in (1904) Millers Falls Catalog B, but is not identical.

Looking online, I found some dating help on

Millers Falls Early Breast Drills

A study of the Millers Falls Company's 19th-century breast drills.

oldtoolheaven.com

The author’s notes lead me to a early-to-mid 1890s mfg date. I’ll zero in as I compare specic features (does have idler roller, doesn’t have thumbscrew gear pin, nor setscrew breastplate).
I also looked through my crate of ten bit-braces, trying to find a fine-thread chuck like what’s missing on my upper drill. No luck.

 

[Beerhippie]

Jeez, you guys with all your new-falutin' modern cordless drills!

This is the original "cordless drill":



in fact, it's the original drill. The one pictured is being used as a fire drill, but with a stone or shell point, it drilled holes.

Here the new, improved version:



for those not content with "the way we've always done it."

 

[genog]

I recently picked up this pouch of Russell Jennings for my cordless drill

 

[Old tool guy]

I recently picked up this pouch of Russell Jennings for my cordless drill

Wow. Expensive?

 

[TheRealZeus]

Patent 12,318

Great writeup on him in OldToolHaven. Beautiful set!

 

[genog]

Wow. Expensive?

No, only a few bucks...
Bought them from a dude getting rid of stuff
.....I guess I couldn't say no

 

[Mintgrun]

Here are some photos from a local sale happening today and tomorrow. The drills look like they're priced to sell. My drill drawer is already full and way too heavy, so I'm not going to go. It looks like there are some nice examples though. Here's a soon-to-be-dead link to the sale.

EGG BEATER DRILLS, TOOLS, AND MISCELLANEOUS - garage & moving sales - yard estate sale - craigslist

Sale on Friday and Saturday April 18th-19th 9am till 3pm Cash Only NO EARLY BIRDS 1210 SE Oak Road, Port Orchard, 98367

seattle.craigslist.org

Tom

 

[d42jeep]

I found this one at an estate sale yesterday.
And cleaned it up a little.
It seems to be a Stanley 100 Plus #610.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I found this Stanley eggbeater a week ago and cleaned it up some. It came with a good selection of bits.

Yesterday afternoon we swung by the site of Saturday’s yard sale and checked out the free table on the street. I grabbed all of the braces that I had passed on the day before. I haven’t really had a chance to check them out but I noticed a couple of Stanleys and a Millers Falls plus one from the UK.
-Don

 

[WisJim]

@d42jeep -- Don, the one on the left with tape on the handle is the one I would check out first--looks like a Pexto (Peck, Stow & Wilcox) with their top of the line "Samson" chuck. The one in the middle far right with varnished wood and the "interlocking" jaws, is also a keeper. The rest of them are probably good usable tools, so you did well.

 

[d42jeep]

Good spotting on the early PEXTO brace. The date matches exactly.

https://www.georgesbasement.com/braces02/PextoAltwein321/PextoNo1201AltweinPatent.htm#:~:text=PS&W%20No.,for%20its%20ball%20bearing%20chuck.

-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here are the three Stanley Handyman braces
-Don
Blue Handles
Third one

 

[d42jeep]

Here is the Made in England brace with a deteriorating handle.
Removed most of the red paint.
This brace has no markings that I could find. Does anyone recognize it?
Here is a Millers Falls brace.

-Don

 

[Beerhippie]

These:



are the "original" cordless drills (except they have cords, so I guess a hand drill--a shaft spun between the palms--would really be the OG cordless).

Primitive Drilling Devices

 

[TheRealZeus]

semantics. Those are probably encompassed. Just because Jesus was a carpenter, doesn’t mean you have to borrow his tools!

Seriously tho... The bow drilling is insanely hard to get down pat… the center pic, pump drilling is what I learned while in cub scouts and really liked.

 

[Beerhippie]

semantics. Those are probably encompassed. Just because Jesus was a carpenter, doesn’t mean you have to borrow his tools!

Seriously tho... The bow drilling is insanely hard to get down pat… the center pic, pump drilling is what I learned while in cub scouts and really liked.

I've used them all in primitive survival skills classes--including the hand twist drill, which you pretty much have to use to make any of the others. We also used them to start friction fires--there's a skill.

The bow drill takes a good rhythm to get working right. We used the ankle bone (astragalus) from an ungulate for the hand socket of the bow drill.

 

[Beerhippie]

semantics. Those are probably encompassed. Just because Jesus was a carpenter, doesn’t mean you have to borrow his tools!

Seriously tho... The bow drilling is insanely hard to get down pat… the center pic, pump drilling is what I learned while in cub scouts and really liked.

The third one in the pics is one I've never seen and can't quite wrap my head around. Seems it would take three hands to use--unless you use your teeth like Nanook there.

 

[TheRealZeus]

Just a mouth held rest, in lieu of a palm rest.

 

[TheRealZeus]

naw.. I can’t believe I gotta say it it in this context.. but no teeth.

 

[TheRealZeus]

 

[nadogail]

Another old gimlet, about 5" overall in length and in nice condition. One my late father originally found and saved.

Are the terms Gimlet and Auger interchangeable? Or are Gimlets just small Augers?

 

[Beerhippie]

Are the terms Gimlet and Auger interchangeable? Or are Gimlets just small Augers?

Gimlets cut a tapered bore for a wood screw. Augers cut a straight (more or less) sided bore for something to pass through. In my book, anyway.

 

[TheRealZeus]

i always defaulted differentiation by gimlets one-handed t-handled drill, augers usually two-handed t-handled drill.

 

[TheRealZeus]

https://woodworkersinstitute.com/gimlets-galore/

 

[TheRealZeus]

Roughly translated:
“hath a Worm at the end of its Bitt. Its Office is to make a round hole in those places of your work where the Stock of the Piercer [i.e. brace or bit-stock] by reason of its own Sholder, or a Sholder, or Butting out upon the work will not turn about….”

Means: ‘Works great in tight spaces.’