"Vintage" Tool Collections

How does the table raise and lower on that drill press? It looks a lot like mine, just a more deluxe model. I have to loosen the clamp on the table and wrestle it up or down. I see there is a threaded hole by where the post clamp is. It looks like there is something there on yours.
I'll have to take some more photos, the ones posted previously are from my first digital camera, not very good quality.

Mine, you just loosen the clamp and it slides, there was an option for the Screw drive up/down for the table, but this one didn't have it. Heres the original ad for it. MIne has the Vari-Slo speed control.

Alright I'm going to have to post some more tools now after seeing all these fine tools pics to come!

Can you give me some advice on buying a joiner ? I believe that is what I need . I want to be able to groove one piece of wood and make the other fit in that slot to make a cedar chest, table and so on and I want a vintage one as well. Am I looking for the right tool?

I think what you need to make tongue and groove wood pieces is a 'wood shaper'. It's like a very heavy duty router mounted in a table, and the wood is guided through the cutter alongside a fence, like a table saw.

there might be router bits that will cut the tongue and groove as well.

A typical joiner trims the thickness and flatten or square edges of wood pieces..

Greg L

A shaper is usually a bit more heavy duty than a Router Table, they both pretty much do the same thing, but the shapers usually take CUTTERS (more expensive) and are more Horsepower (like 2-3HP) for larger panels, and more industrial or commercial use, depending on what you are doing.

A dedicated shaper will cost a lot more than router and table.

Just joined your forum. Most of the tools I see are some kind of old power tools but I do have three full sets of modern craftsman (mostly) tools that I used to work with but now retired and they are all at home now. I did however get my grandads old handtools. I never knew him but was really glad when my mom's old uncle offered me my GD's tools that he had had for many years. there are 5 or 6 of the old square jawed monkey wrenches, an old cresent pipe wrench and several spoke shaves/draw knives, couple of adz's, couple of hand saws, hammers etc, and some other misc. tools.
PS the reason I have three sets of hand tools is that I had a set at work, a set in my truck and a set at home. Always had tool that I might need with me.

I am x NAVY electronics tech, USS AMERICA, 65-68, live in east cent alabama, (phenix city) just west of columbus ga and ft benning.

Welcome to the FORUM sgd, lots of coal burning info here. I did one Med cruise back in 66 before I DD'd out. Had a few months left when I got back from my 2nd tour in the NAM so the USS Saratoga is where they put me. Navy Corpsman (FMT) Thanx for your service my friend.

freetown fred wrote:Welcome to the FORUM sgd, lots of coal burning info here. I did one Med cruise back in 66 before I DD'd out. Had a few months left when I got back from my 2nd tour in the NAM so the USS Saratoga is where they put me. Navy Corpsman (FMT) Thanx for your service my friend.

Great bunch of hand tools you got from your GF

Here's a tool that got handed down to me from my grandfather. He bought this Miller Falls breast drill for $5 in 1923 in White Plains NY. I do not have the original receipt but I do have a hand written letter to my father that tells the story. At that time $5 was a weeks a days pay for an electrician. Grandpa said he became an electrician because he "saw electricity and said to Grandma 'if I learn this,I will have work. People are going to want this in their homes". His foresight was correct. He became an electrician and not only had work during the depression, he made a darn fine living. This drill made many a passage for wires to allow for not only homes to become electrified but to electrify the Empire State Building.

The drill itself looks similar to many breast drills, but was actually quite sophisticated compared to all others. From the Miller-Falls website: "The tool depicted is the No. 97 breast drill—certainly one of the most sophisticated drills the company ever produced. The No. 97, a two-speed unit, featured an adjuster knob on its crank that allowed a user to shift from low to high gear without pulling the drive gear in order to reposition it. The drill was also equipped with a ratchet that enabled a worker to bore a hole without completing a full rotation of the handle. The No. 97's ratchet mechanism was so advanced that the company referred to the tool as a "continuous motion" drill. Adjustable to any one of five positions, the ratchet could be locked, set to rotate to the right, set to rotate to the left, (and the part I enjoy) set to rotate to the right without regard to the direction of the crank rotation, and set to rotate to the left without regard to the direction of the crank rotation.

I have a breast drill very similar to that one, Freddy. I don't quite know exactly where it is right now, I think it's out in the shed in a box of other stuff. I'll have to try and find it.

Fred, You not only have a cherished piece of family history but a wonderful example of industrial art at it's finest.If I could only learn how to post pictures i could join the "old iron" party.Thanks for posting it. Mike

Stopped at an old farm house where a sale was going on. Surprised at how charming these old houses can be. I could live there happily except for the heating and maintenance. Looked to be from the 1800s and like many, with additions added later. Steam heat with radiator designs from the 1920s. Naturally I was looking for old stoves and there were two. One in the kitchen probably from the 1930s, narrow one burner with white porcelain sheet metal sides. The other was a low cook stove installed in the living room fireplace.

Saw two tools of interest. In the picture of the cook stove you can see it on the hearth. Looks to me like a vise to hold a saw while sharpening. All cast iron and nicely built with a ball joint to adjust angle.

The other is very old and I can't guess what it is for. Looks like you sit on it and using the left foot adjust a tall vise to hold something which would be close to eye level.

I love the innovation: fill a huge fireplace with a cook stove..

The wooden vise contraption is a leather holding vise I think, for saddle makers, Tack repairs and maybe shoes and boots..
However I might be wrong.. it could be for something else.

Greg L

The box behind that tool has shoe making tools, so you could be right.

The wife found some old screwdrivers, a compass, a 2 man buck saw for me at antique mall a couple weekends ago. I just picked up and old Baily/Stanley long wooden block plane....cleaned it up, works perfectly.