The history of No. 1 model is going back as far as the history of Millers Falls company.  Over the years Millers Falls Company released numerous No. 1 drill variations.  Some of them are a subject of this presentation.  Whenever possible I use verbatim description from available catalogs.

The earliest description of this drill I am in possession of is from reprint of the Millers Falls Catalog dated 1878.  The catalog lists four variations of this early model:

Hand Drill No. 1

1. Hand Drill No. 1 - Single Gear, holds 1/32 to 1/8 Drills.
2. Hand Drill No. 1A - Single Gear, hollow handle, nickel plated.
3. Hand Drill No. 1B - Double Gear, same chuck.
4. Hand Drill No. 1C - Double Gear, hollow handle, plated.

Six Drill Points with each of the above Drill Stocks

These Drill Stocks are made of malleable iron, with steel spindle and rosewood head and handle.  The jaws are forged steel and will hold perfectly any size Drills named above.  They are the only Drill Chucks in use which will hold such a variety of Morse Twist Drills.

In 1899 the Central Electric Company from Chicago, Il. released a General Catalog with various tools for electricians.  Among them the Millers Falls No. 1 hand drill is listed with different chuck.

By 1903 new design was introduced that completely departed from original seen above.  In later years several minor changes were introduced throughout the years but basic design however, introduced around 1903 stayed the same.

From 1903 catalog:

"These Drills are provided with Chucks having three jaws resting in solid socket.  There are no springs to get out of place or out of order.  The chucks are nickel-plated and the handles made in Cocobolo.  They hold drills from 0 to 3/16.  A side handle, as shown in cut, is furnished with this drill.

Price per dozen, including 8 fluted points in hollow handle ...... $15.00"

First, the frame was completely redesigned.  It was made of malleable iron with massive compartment to hold Ball Thrust Bearing at the end of the spindle.  There is no clear statement in 1903 catalog about this distinguishing feature and I base this statement on my own detailed study of many specimens of No. 1 hand drill - "model 1903", including disassembling drills to the smallest components.  In all instances the drills had a ball bearings consisting of 2 round plates and 4 steel balls between them. 

I also reviewed all available catalogs, including editions from 1878, 1886, 1887, 1903, 1915 and later.  It is true that the first mention of Ball Thrust Bearing appears in catalog No. 35 from 1915.  However, available catalogs can not be treated as an ultimate and solid source of information about the design and features of Millers Falls tools.  There are too many inconsistencies, omissions and vague statements.

The other distinguishing feature was employment of an equalizing friction screw with a lock nut instead of second pinion used on models No. 1B and No. 1C prior to 1903.  The catalog from 1903 shows this new element, but no comment is included in the description.  This important design feature survived in all consecutive editions of No. 1 hand drill known to me.

The last significant element introduced in this design was a Spring-less Chuck patented by William H. McCoy.  The patent was issued on September 29, 1896 with number 568,539.  The patent and production rights were assigned to Millers Falls Company.  All No. 1 drills examined for this presentation and produced before 1925 are equipped with this chuck.  By 1925 new spring chuck was introduced on most of the Millers Falls drills.  This new chuck was designed and patented by Henry A. Ryther.  The patent was issued on October 9, 1923 with a number 1,470,197.  The patent and production rights were assigned to Millers Falls Company.

The production of this model continued into 1940s.