Vise Drill

[GaryD]

I have several of these old drills and assume they were used by blacksmiths.  Would they have been held by a vise?  No markings on this one other than "Pat applied for".  Any info on how they were used would be appreciated.

[oldgoaly]

Looks more like a clamp? when you crank the handle the screw goes in? the "shoe end" looks a lot like some wood clamps I have. not a great pic of the clamps but they work well. a old 1937 RCA console radio being glued back together.

[GaryD]

It does look a lot like a wood clamp, especially the shoe end.  The skrew does move in and is held by the round wheel.  Seems like an awkward thing to use.  Looks very old 1800's maybe.  Maybe they didn't catch on!

[jdjax]

My guess is that it is some type of rivet spinner. When you turn the crank does it just spin and not advance?

[oldgoaly]

If the drill end doesn't advance? could it be a early valve grinder?

[GaryD]

It does advance if you push in on the shaft as you turn, and then can hold it by advancing the ring.  Has a square hole for receiving a drill bit.

[jdjax]

I change my guess to a horizontal drill press. Scroll down on this link and there are some similar looking items like yours.

https://www.ebay.com/b/Antique-Drill-Press/13872/bn_55187133

[GaryD]

I think you may be correct about the horizontal drill press.  Also saw one described as a wagon  Maker's tool.

[jdjax]

Sometime in the past I read that they were often used to drill a hole in the end of a shaft or axle and that is why the table is "U" shaped.

[lptools]

Hello, Here are a couple photos from a 1904-1918 Blacksmith Supplies Catalog. The description reads; The drill is a standard horizontal drill, screw feed, and is furnished to take drills having square shanks. I believe the Stearns drill is a Spoke Tenoning Machine. Regards, Lou

[Bill Houghton]

The successors to this drill type were sold into the 1970s.  Some farmers owned them for doing field repairs, say, when the tractor broke down on the far side of that big field in the upper 40.  Cordless drills and affordable gas-powered generators kind of knocked the market out.  I see them rarely, but never at a price I'm willing to pay for something I'd likely never use.