One Archimedean tool that has me baffled is the Grave

One Archimedean tool that's origin has me baffled is the Grave's Drill. It first shows up in the 1878 Millers Falls tool catalog. It is pictured twice, once as on the page shown here (1), and again as part of a bracket set for fret saw work. The drill was touted as a "new invention".

The early Millers Falls Manufacturing Co. achieved its growth by purchasing patent rights (such as the Rose and Barber brace patents) and by acting as a sales agent for other manufactured tools (Langdon miter boxes etc). As much as I have searched no patent turns up for this drill. The 1878 ad shown here is repeated in the 1886/1887 Millers Falls catalog.(2) An actual picture of this vintage drill is shown to the left. (Courtesy of Cliff Fales)(3) The drill has a removable top to access and enable assembly of the inner mechanism. The bits were actually housed in a cylindrical rosewood box.

The 1896 Millers Falls catalog shows the Graves drill and mentions " the number 2 is a larger size, with hollow handle and includes a set of 8 drill points."(3) This depiction is of a tool with storage in the handle. The bits are no longer housed in a separate box.

The assumption is that the tool in the catalog cut is the No. 2. My understanding is that the same catalog also offered the No.1 drill.

To the right is a photo of the actual drill. (5)

Here is a picture of the drill magazine for this drill.

The 1898 Orr and Lockett Hardware catalog reprint (6) offers the Graves drill. To my knowledge this is the only non Millers Falls Company catalog offering of the Graves drill. Orr and Lockett featured many other Millers Falls tools so it is probable that they (Millers Falls) always were the exclusive agent for the drill and one of Orr and Lockett's larger suppliers.

To the left is a photo of the same drill. (7) It is curious that this drill is also a No.2 and is referred to as "a large size". It does not contain any provision for on board storage of bits. Did the drill change that much in two years? Certainly the change was a lowering in quality and features.

The Graves drill is still being sold in the 1908 Millers Falls catalog. Both the No. 1 and No.2 are pictured. The catalog offering of the No. 1 is much like the 1878 catalog. By the circa 1912 M.F. catalog #32 the Grave's drill did not exist. (8) By that time Millers Falls had developed their own Archimedean drills and drivers. It appears to me that they had also integrated the patented spiral drills of William Johnson into their line. I will continue searching for Graves. Perhaps he was an employee of Millers Falls? Maybe a machinist inventor in New York City discovered by Millers Falls sales office there? Maybe Graves is just around the next corner! If you have any information that would help please contact me.

RETURN TO ARCHIMEDEAN DRILLS

Acknowledgements

(1) Page from 1878 Millers Falls catalog reprint. With permission from Phil Whitby, the publisher of that reprint. Buy this and other reprints at The New Boston Tool Room and yes, those tools are for sale!!

(2) Millers Falls Company 1886/1887 catalog reprint from Ken Roberts.

(3) Edited photo courtesy of Cliff Fales. See Cliff's great spiral drill and driver info at: Spiral Screwdriver Patents

(4) Scan from 1896 Millers Falls catalog courtesy of Randy Roeder. See the best old tool website at "A Millers Falls Home Page"

(5) Edited photo courtesy of Cliff Fales.

(6) 1898 Orr and Lockett Hardware Catalog Reprint. I am unsure who published this.

(7) Edited photo courtesy of Cliff Fales.

(8) Randy Roeder gave me this information based upon observation of catalogs in his possession.