Breast Drill

BREAST DRILL

A breast drill was used when circumstances called for applying greater pressure to the auger bit, by pressing the breast bone against the metal plate at the top of the drill.  Most of these tools permitted a choice of two speeds.

This particular tool was patented in 1930 and made by Millers Falls Tools at their Shelburne, Massachusetts plant.  In 1931, Millers Falls acquired the Goodell-Pratt Company, a very large tool-making concern that was decimated by the stock market crash of 1929.   About 1935, Millers Falls introduced a line of low priced, economy grade tools under the Mohawk-Shelburne brand name. Geared to the occasional user, costs were minimized through the use of less expensive materials and production methods.