Thread: Finding Cast Parts for an old Post Drill

I don't recognize the post drill, but I very much doubt they've been in production for at least 70 years. As such, there are no new spare parts to be had.

I see you're missing the self-feed arm as well as the pawl. You could search online sites for someone parting one out, or for an incomplete machine that has the parts you want. But being an obscure brand your chances aren't good.

I'd be looking to make the parts.

Sorry I can't be more positive.

Cheers, Vann (owner of a dozen post drills)

As Vann said, making the parts might be your best bet. If the shaft is a weird diameter, you would need to have it turned up, but there's a good chance it's a standard (Imperial) size and you could use the unthreaded part of a longish bolt or something similar (though it's highly likely the end will need turning down to locate & retain the pawl). If the pawl is anything like the one on the old drill we had on the farm, it would not be hard to make from a bit of mild steel. There'd be a deal of hack-sawing & filing to be done, and it would take me a while to figure out the shape and length required to properly engage the driver cog (& several wooden mock-ups, no doubt). IIRC, the pawl has to be biased to one side so gravity pulls it back into the next tooth on the cog.

The one on the farm had a single feed rate that never seemed to match what was being drilled, so we did what most folks did; disabled it & wound the quill down with one hand whilst cranking with t'other. That's how I learnt, at the age of 12 or 13, that it's a very good idea to clamp pieces of metal firmly to the table when drilling them....

Been a very long time since I last used one of these things. It was a real boon in the days before the 'lecktrickery grid reached us, but one of the first stationary tools I acquired when I set up my own workshop was a powered drill-press. Having both hands free while electrons do the work is essential for some operations on my DP (most of which I probably shouldn't be doing with a DP!)....

Cheers,

I have a couple of friends with extensive post drill collections, I can ask, but probably the first thing to do is positively identify the maker.
I assume the 1 3/4 IN is the diameter of the table support column?

Cheers,
Geoff.

Originally Posted by Boringgeoff

...probably the first thing to do is positively identify the maker.
I assume the 1 3/4 IN is the diameter of the table support column?

It has many similarities with some 'Burnham' post drills.

Burnham.jpg

Burnham made a No.1 1/2 post drill - I don't know about a No.1 3/4. Can we get a few more pictures from other angles please?

Cheers, Vann.

Thanks Geoff,
Yes, that s right, that is the support column.
There looks to be a welded section at the base . I will upload some more photos shortly.
I am pretty sure now it is not a 'Yost' so I hope that some sleuthing can shed some light...
cheers
Nick

Absolutely, thanks for looking into this Vann and Geoff...
More photos....Post Drill 9a.jpgPost Drill 8a.jpgPost Drill 7a.jpgPost Drill 5a.jpgPost Drill 02b.jpgPost Drill 4a.jpg

- - - Updated - - -

Forgive me if they are not clear, there is only a little bit of space to maneuver

And here are some different parts

The curved taper above the column features on several manufacturers post drills - especially The Silver Manufacturing Co., but also on at least one Canedy-Otto post drill and a couple of Boynton & Plummer models.

But the bendy flat 'bar' just behind the curved taper is distinctive on Burnham post drills and I can't think of any other manufacturer that has that feature (not that I'm familiar with all other manufacturers).

D1.jpg

Less exclusive, but another detail that features on Burnham post drills is the shape of the rim of the flywheel. Note the flat outer edge - but not quite flat due to that slightly raised centre portion.

D2.jpg

So I'm putting my money on this being manufactured by George Burnham Co. or the company who took them over (and continued to market these as 'Burnham') Francis Reed Co., both of Worcester, Mass. USA.

Pity they hadn't cast their name into the frame, as many others did. I'll give my two friends a call today and see how we go.

Cheers,
Geoff.

That is fantastic information, thank you Vann, it narrows the field down that's for sure. This is an avenue at least I can explore.

Thanks Geoff, I will follow up you information too.

Really appreciate your guys help, much appreciated.

- Nick