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Home   Blog   Keene Rim Drill

Keene Rim Drill

January 08, 2014 6 Comments

In April I bragged about an amazing tool discovered at an Oregon metal scrap yard. By June, the tool was disassembled and restoration underway. Six months later, it is back together and ready to show off.

 

Mounted to weathered maple, much as 100 years ago.

 

You can see a manually powered drill at the right. You can't see the mechanism to advance towards a rim. A pair of handles on the other side are squeezed together by your right hand as you turn the drill bit with your left. The rim is held on a very crafty fixture that grips with four arms that are gear-driven outward, fixing the rim in place.

 

Intricate iron casting in the drill. Minimalist design, as if a bicycle. Artistic, yet light.

 

Another view of the drill. Hard for me to take eyes off it or stop wondering how much effort and passion went into its creation.

 

Handsome from any angle.

 

One of its cleverest features is an auto-indexing system for hole count: 24, 28, 32, 36, or 40 hole. A spring loaded lever is moved to the appropriate slot so its other end will index the correct circumferential set of stops.

 

Hole number selector. Notice clever Ric-made spring (from a 14g spoke volunteer).

 

Time to demonstrate the function. There's no way to appreciate this system except to watch it used. Here, I do my best!

A close look at the rim support.

 

Elegance and function. Like a musical instrument or bicycle!

 

I'm serious about learning more about this machine, the designer and foundry in Keene, New Hampshire where it was made, how many were produced, for how long, how much did it cost, what type of rims were drilled, and details about operation. There are tricks yet to discover. Anything learned I'll surely share with you.

When I sleep tonight, can you can guess what I'll be dreaming?

 

I hear a Jim Morrison tune...

 

 



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6 Responses

Jon Morris
Jon Morris

November 02, 2021

Ric,
Thanks for saving a piece of history. More info here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=o5Q-AQAAMAAJ&lpg=RA1-PA56&ots=Rqr4NDmV22&dq=new%20england%20cycle%20co%20semi-automatic%20rim%20drill&pg=RA1-PA56#v=onepage&q=new%20england%20cycle%20co%20semi-automatic%20rim%20drill&f=false

cam
cam

November 02, 2021

awesome! if only everything was built with as much care and passion!

Michael Maki
Michael Maki

November 02, 2021

In 1898 Harry T. Kingsbury established the New England Cycle
Co. in conjunction with his Wilkins Toy Co. Kingsbury invented and
patented many devices for the use of cycle repairers, makers, and dealers.
These various devices and machines included the semi-automatic
rim drill, the Keene universal repair jack, the wheel assembling chuck,
the Keene frame straightener, the Keene crank and axle straightener,
and the Apollo home trainer.

Michael Maki
Michael Maki

November 02, 2021

Hi Ric,

I think the manufacturer/distributor might have been New England Cycle Supply in Keene New Hampshire. I have a vintage wheel truing stand that is made of cast iron, and beautifully crafted like this product. It has New England Cycle Supply, Keene NH on the left support arm of the stand.

Donald Dickson
Donald Dickson

November 02, 2021

Hi Ric – thanks for sharing that marvelous machine with us. That’s one to take to the Antiques Roadshow when it passes through – if nothing else, to see if they can figure out what it is . . .

Happy 2014 to you and your family,
Donald

bob
bob

November 02, 2021

maybe a machine to install eyelets would be a nice complement?
you’re superb Ric!

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