Drill Bit Set with no manufacturer's marking

[stars719]

My Father recently passed away and among many, many types of tools, I found a set of 29 drill bits (1/16 - 1/2 x 1/64) in an orange metal case with no markings of who manufactured them.  Each drill bit has the size and the word AUSTRIA imprinted above it, that's all I can find.  I'm pretty sure they're old (20+ yrs) as most of his tools were, although many were never used, as these look. (He was a bricklayer for 40+ years, but he just liked collecting tools apparently !)

If anyone is familiar with them and can tell me who made them and approximate cost, I'd greatly appreciate it, thank you.

[amecks]

Welcome to ToolTalk.  Sounds like a nice drill set.  We all like pictures!.  Check the "Posting Photos" topic in the General Discussion board.

[stars719]

Hi, sorry I haven't gotten back sooner, I'm not usually this airhead-ish (what a description,eh ?) ... the phone pics I've taken are too big to post here, so I'm trying to get my digital camera (that I dropped) to work, and hope that will fit within the guidelines, thanks! !~

[stars719]

Here we go, this should work !

[amecks]

Well, I don't know what you have but it looks like a nice set of standard bits with only one used bit.  The index or holder looks pretty nice.

[gibsontool]

Nice looking set, I've never seen one like that,is the inside a different color than the outside or is that different lighting? Seems a little unusual that the top row bits on the left don't decrease in length as the rest do.

[p_toad]

The back row may be sitting on a ramp like the front row...  don't have any idea.   None of the larger bits are marked either?   weird.   but nice.   

There used to be an image resize utility available for windows 7...it went end of life yesterday and you can't get it any more.  There is no comparable utility in win 10 from what i've read.   If you're on a windows system, you can download Irfanview and it's pretty easy to use that to resize images.

[Bill Houghton]

Might this be chinese or taiwanese?

[lptools]

Hello, Bill. I say yes to either , or, both, regarding your question. The case with the stamped drill bit & fractions makes me think knock-off or import.Thanks, Lou

[stars719]

Nice looking set, I've never seen one like that,is the inside a different color than the outside or is that different lighting? Seems a little unusual that the top row bits on the left don't decrease in length as the rest do.

It's just lighting ... they actually do decrease in length, it's just the base they sit on.

[stars719]

Well, I don't know what you have but it looks like a nice set of standard bits with only one used bit.  The index or holder looks pretty nice.

Actually none have been used, I took another look at the pic, and then looked at the bit itself, just had some dust/residue from something ... wiped it and it's the same as the rest.

[stars719]

Hello, Bill. I say yes to either , or, both, regarding your question. The case with the stamped drill bit & fractions makes me think knock-off or import.Thanks, Lou

Actually, the AUSTRIA stamped on each bit intrigued me, so I've continued to research and found an Austrian company called ALPEN that has a catalog of products very similar to this one (I know mine is old, as many of my other bit sets from SK Tools have been verified, as well) ... I have an email into them inquiring if this could be a part of their line from years back.

[stars719]

Bingo !   The set was made by SALZBURGER SPIRALBOHRERFABRIK (an Austrian company) approximately 35-40 years ago, the company now named ALPEN-MAYKESTAG, which no longer does business in the USA.  They are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year and would like this set for their museum ... they are in turn sending me a new HSS set as a thank you.

Thanks all.

[lptools]

Hello, stars719. Great job on the research, and for returning the drill bits to their former home. Regards, Lou

[p_toad]

That's great finding out about them.   hard enough to do with tools manufactured here...