Leonard Davis Patent #621401

                    Patent #621,401 of  March 21st, 1899  was issued to Leonard M. Davis of Erving, Massachusetts. He assigned the patent to Millers Falls Company of Millers Falls, Massachusetts. The patent was for the ratcheting mechanism and the double spiral shaft which were unique. Davis made one spiral groove deeper than the other to relieve wear at the juncture of the spirals.  The tool was sold by Millers Falls from the turn of the century to the 1920's. It was Model No 41 and No. 42. Model 41 was described as having a "locking device to hold bits in the chuck" It came with 3 screwdriver bits, 2 with double ends. Model 42 was the same as Model 41 except it had an auxiliary chuck and eight drill bits.  This patent expanded Millers Falls drill line when competition was heating up from North Brothers and Goodell-Pratt. This larger drill driver was 17" long fully opened.

The patent was witnessed by George Nims and William H. McCoy. McCoy himself was the holder of at least two patents which were assigned to Miller Falls Company. Patent 118,039 was for a change in the way the brace handle or "wrist" was held on a brace. The patent drawing pictured an artists rendering of an early MF Barber brace. Patent 421,420 was for chuck or tool holder jaws.

RETURN TO ARCHIMEDEAN DRILLS

From Patent #621,041

                                                                                     Millers Falls #41