Vintage Drill Scores!

[Lightyear]

Greetings all! Been scouring both eBay and local sources for restorable power drills within my price range. While I’m a self professed Milwaukee fanboy, a found a couple of equally cool drills. All are functional but all need new cords except the cordless one lol.

My thanks to JHuston for his shared knowledge and willingness to reach out to me offering his expertise.

I did some internet sleuthing and found some details about the Milwaukee, Dunlap, Van Dorn and Power House drills.

Had no idea that the Power House was made in my home state, Vermont, at least according to the data plate.

I welcome however any details about these drills based on the serial/models if someone has a chart on when the items were made.

The history of these drills (and some cool wrenches I bought) is as important as mechanically bringing these sturdy drills back to life.

Can’t wait to dive in, one by one as my retirement draws closer!

 

[Drill Sergeant Arc]

I love the smell of ozone when I drill in the morning!

- Lieutenant Colonel William "Bill" Kilgore

 

[slowtwitch73]

Keep your face away from those...

 

[Lightyear]

Anyone in particular lol

 

[bonneyman]

Not vintage like yours but a 60's brand that is gone. Shopcraft, 1/4" and 3/8". The 3/8" is barely bigger then the 1/4"er.

 

[Lightyear]

Those are really cool. I definitely consider drills from the 60’s as vintage. I’m torn between the modern and high tech (plastic bodied) power tools and the metal bodied tools from long ago. You don’t see a fancy brass data plate on a 2023 drill but it’s cordless and talented! Thanks for sharing. And just to let you know, I just bought a Bonney wrench!

 

[JHuston]

Thank you for the kind words! Always glad to help a fellow appreciator.
I buy cords by the 100 count at work, but for smaller amounts I've been pleasantly surprised by the quality of Voltec cords, might be worth a look.
I wrote a pretty exhaustive history on Porter-Cable drills on owwm.org, but don't really delve into other brands very often. Needless to say, the Holeshooter is what put Milwaukee on the map,drills being the earliest Milwaukee products by far.
- James Huston

 

[Lightyear]

As usual, thanks to you. I’ll check out Voltec for sure. I was kind of hoping one drill didn’t work so I’d get some experience in troubleshooting and that would have probably required an email to you!

 

[Ricky Joe]

I’ve got a bunch of old drills you can have for the shipping of them, if you want them. Black and Decker, Craftsman, Shopcraft, etc. some work great, some have problems. Just ask.

 

[Debcrow]

don't attempt to use them when you have an arc fault breaker on the circuit. False trips

 

[Lightyear]

I’ve got a bunch of old drills you can have for the shipping of them, if you want them. Black and Decker, Craftsman, Shopcraft, etc. some work great, some have problems. Just ask.

Thank you, Ricky! I’ll reach out!

 

[Lightyear]

don't attempt to use them when you have an arc fault breaker on the circuit. False trips

Are you referring to GFI or GFCI?

 

[bonneyman]

Not vintage like yours but a 60's brand that is gone. Shopcraft, 1/4" and 3/8". The 3/8" is barely bigger then the 1/4"er.

I read a story somewhere where the guy talked about using a Shopcraft drill for years installing flooring early in his career. Said it never failed, and was still working. And he added - No, it is not for sale! Right there I figured it was a brand to get.

 

[Debcrow]

Are you referring to GFI or GFCI?

AFCI

 

[LSU]

I may have a zenith brand drill. Metal case. Have you ever heard of that brand? I think it runs. 1/4”. It was my F-I-L’s.

any interest? I’m looking for a good home for it.

 

[RTM]

Zenith was a house brand of Marshall Wells, a midwest small chain version of Sears or Penney’s, at least for hand tools like planes.

 

[Lightyear]

I may have a zenith brand drill. Metal case. Have you ever heard of that brand? I think it runs. 1/4”. It was my F-I-L’s.

any interest? I’m looking for a good home for it.

Interested in a pic, please

 

[NYBODYMAN]

There's a Black and Decker 3/4" that looks to be in restorable condition in the For Sale thread. It was posted by @Bighead38

Old Black & Decker 3/4” Electric Drill

To be honest I’m not sure what these are worth so I’ll just say $100 obo. If it’s way high just let me know. If it’s way low either you get lucky. The cord is messed up so I don’t know if it works or not. Pickup or meet locally only.

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Lightyear]

Can’t do pick up

 

[four.cycle]

Here's one not mentioned yet, if you're looking for more brands:

 

[LSU]

Zenith was a house brand of Marshall Wells, a midwest small chain version of Sears or Penney’s, at least for hand tools like planes.

Father in law probably bought it in either Montana, Minnesota or Michigan.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Lightyear]

Gilfillan? Hey if it’s got more DRIVING POWER I’m interested. Thanks for giving me something to research. Can’t wait to see that fancy label mentioned in the ad.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Gilfillan was one of the pioneers in electric hand tools. I doubt they were in it long - they went into ground control systems for aviation - much more money involved - and became a world leader in what was first known as "radar".

That tiny clip is the only one I've ever found.

Gilfillan / Gilfillan Bros. Inc., 1815 West 16th Street, Los Angeles, CA / automotive ignition hand tools (magneto wrench) / http://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hersteller_detail.cfm?company_id=2488 / http://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=164411 / https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITT-Gilfillan / http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=11769&tab=6 / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/gilfillan-bros-los-angeles-ca.489608/ /

 

[Lightyear]

This is awesome. eBay turned up zilch for drills but I’ll keep my eye out. Thanks for the knowledge drop.