Is this a rare or common old hand drill?

[moparthug]

I've never come across a big beastie like this before, 19 inches tall and it works... but the angles look all wrong to me. What I'm thinking should be the top wooden handle is not, nothing lines up. Is it a two person drill? There may be a makers name on it but as of now it's still oily and grungy. Any ideas?

[mikeswrenches]

It is a brace used for drilling close to a wall or floor.mthey were usually called corner braces since the construction would allow you to drill a hole in a corner.

That one looks like a Fray, based on the way the chuck is made.

Pretend you're going to drill a hole in a corner by two walls and you can see how your hands go. The round pad that you would normally use, just holds things together, as far as I can tell.
Miller's Falls and Boker also made one as, well as Stanley.  I think I have 5 or 6 in various stages of being cleaned.

You are right about most people having never seen one, even though they aren't rare by any means.

Here is a DATAMP link to my favorite...the McClellan.

http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=585531&typeCode=0

Mike

[lptools]

Hello, Moparthug. Think of the shaft, or, frame of the drill that is in line with the chuck. In use , it would be held vertical, for drilling up or down, between studs, or held horizontal, to drill between studs, or joists. Regards, Lou

[moparthug]

Ah... now I see it. For drilling against walls and between braces, of course.
Thanks guys!

[Yadda]

Corner braces are neat.

[wvtools]

They are not super common, nor particularly rare.  I usually get 25-50 for those, mostly depending on condition.  Yours is missing one of the cover plates over the gears.