Hand drill, definitely

[john k]

This came in a box of ... well, junk.  Wasn't rusty.   Is a home brew item, as I can see the nicely ground weld that joined the drill bit to the shaft.  Old cast Tee-handle.  Just what would one have used an extended hand drive drill for?  Overall it is 11 inches, and the bit is 5/16.  Guesses?

[scottg]

I don't know, but I doubt it was a one shot use.
Somehow I suspect it had somethign to do with a steam engine scaling problem? Something that happened frequently and a mechanic got tired of doing it the hard way?
  yours Scott

[krusty the clown]

i dont know if its the intended purpose but it would be handy for cleaning carboned up egr passages.

[superzstuff]

That was first thing I thought of. cleaning out condensing tubes, but that is on a still and those are usually coils. ?????

[JohnD]

The old Jungers type fuel oil stoves have a tube running from the float control into the burner that tends to cake up with gunk. I have the same size bit with a simple 90 degree bent end for a handle that is perfect for cleaning it. Shut off fuel, remove a pipe plug at the T, ream away till bit goes all the way in to burner pot. I'm thinking this looks like a nicer made example, any signs of black soot on it?

[john k]

No sign of soot or anything.  It was obviously put away clean, the handle shows traces of shellac?   I can see cleaning lime from tubes on a boiler, as in behind pressure gauges and sight gauges.  Also once lived with an oil stove, but that used light oil, almost kerosene.  Thanks for the responses.

[Billman49]

Long handles gimlets, usually with a wooden handle, and a longer bit, were sold as 'bellhangers' gimlets' - for making holes through walls and floors to pass wires through to operate the bells (both mechanical and electric) - later also used by telephone engineers..

[1930]

I like that handle

[tucker]

years ago worked servicing hot water boilers,they had coffee & tea machines fitted to the
boiler.the tops scaled up very badly[in london]we made up drills exactly the same to drill
out the limescale.they were called "stills"after the maker.w.m. still.the boilers that is.
brian