I have had this drill for some time, even used one like it in my early working days.  Has a special purpose.  Is not marked although some of the parts appear to be Millers Falls.  Over the years have not seen but two others.

Pipe? or round stock?

You are correct here also skip-skip.  It clamps on a hot water or steam pipe (when not in use) and drills a hole for a petcock to drain off water or air depending on the need.  The correct bit has both a drill and threads.  Thus, it drills and then threads the hole in one operation.  So far I haven't been able to come up with the correct drill.

Very cool tool !!!! ---- a tool for every job

Thanks for posting and good luck on finding the special drill/ tap

Joe B

Hello, Coolford. Is it missing a chuck? Or would the bit thread on to the shaft?

It has a chuck, but it needs a drill with a 3/8" shaft to fit and tighten it correctly.  I did see one on another drill a long time ago but not since.

If you got really creative with your tool grinding skills, a combination drill bit / 1/8 NPT tap could be made from a standard 1/8 NPT tap.

Joe B

While you're close on the application it was actually used to drill holes for sprinkler heads on irrigation pipes. The first one I had didn't have a chuck. Just a hole in the end for the combination drill/tap and a square head set screw to hold it in. I can't remember what I did with the second one.

I had it at the Flywheelers Antique Engine Show several times and got tired of explaining how it worked so I made up some pipes so I could hang it upside down so people could see how it worked.

I think you can buy the drill/tap's commercially. We used to use similar ones when I was working at Buick.

It was patented in 1908 by G W Skinner. No. 893,667.

https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/b6/fd/76/cd8786b98a90d4/US893667.pdf

Mike

Thanks Mike & Joe---I wondered why the level seemed to be in the wrong place, but understand that they were drilling holes in the bottom of the pipe for misters.  I my youth I drilled holes in the top of hot water pipes in greenhouses so we could put in a petcock to let off air.

Was at a tool meet one time, fellow had brought in a half dozen different bench mount Millers Falls drills.  Some pretty big, all restored.  Looked like some of them could have used the hand crank or other bits from this one.