I originally came to this site because of a search hit for an old tool, so i thought i would add more info.  

I recently acquired this Goodell-Pratt 0316 chain drill, it’s in very good condition with just a little tarnish.  No idea on the age, but i think G-P was only in existence from about 1885 to 1931.  I disassembled the tool so i could clean it up, i was only planning on cleaning, removing the tarnish, and oiling.  Quite a bit of the original japan finish is still in place.  

Looking at the overall picture, the 3 rings just above the chuck … turns out they are a very basic ball bearing system.  The first and last washers are just flat washers, the middle one has a large center hole to make room for the balls.  As you can see, all the balls are in terrible shape, none were fully round, many were just hemispheres.  And the shaft is scored.  I was able to measure the balls, they were about 0.12+” … close to 1/8”.  The center washer measured a touch less than 0.12” which makes sense, that leaves a hair of space for the ball to make contact.  I ordered an assortment of ball bearings off amazon, something like 600 for $9.   Obviously not the best quality, but good enough to get this back in working order.  
 

Pretty cool Ed. Keep us updated on the rehab. @steven newmanhas one very similar. Not sure of the maker of his.

Goodell Pratt Co. for mine, as well....

May be a tad fancier?

Yours might be the self-feeding model.   From the 1926 catalog …

 

Edited October 3, 20232 yr by Ed-H

I've found 3 of them, I've never used them but they're all cleaned up in a cabinet with all my bits/braces and eggbeayers. Someday I may have to open it up and remind myself what have in there.

Edited October 10, 20232 yr by frenchwwr

Would appear to be, that mine is a No. 1080 version...

 

Right now, it is missing the small plate in the chuck that pushes the jaws forward...thinking MAYBE just a decently thick washer of the right diameter will work...we'll see, WHEN I'm allowed back into the shop....right now, the jaws will not move....

 

Maybe something like..

This is the chuck from the Post Drill...it had a disc shaped almost like a straw hat...hmmm...

 

Went to Wall E World, today....bought a package of washers....installed one into the chain drill's chuck....chuck now works a lot better...shell is a bit too rough on the inside...maybe take it back apart and dremel the insides smooth?    Sometime...

 

Noted:   The Goodell Pratt Breast Drill I also have in the shop  .....has the same chuck as the Goodell Pratt No. 1080 Chain Drill....Hmmm...and..it looks an awful lot like the chuck that is on the Post Drill?    Might be a replacement chuck?

Maybe not.  As described on this catalog page, the only difference between my 0316 and the 0307 is the chuck.  Have you looked through the old catalogs?   

 

https://archive.org/details/GoodellPrattCatalogNo161926/page/n181/mode/2up

 

Washer has been installed..

View #2..

Has a selector knob, to control how many rotations it will take to advance the bit...

 

Rather plain on this side...small drill bit, to check how the jaws are working..

Selector knob...supposed to be markings to set the number of rotation....1...1/1-2...2....tapered end seems to be a bit too long...?

Same chucks?   Just different Goodell Pratt Co. drills..

Both will hold up to 1/2" shank drill bits...but not really for the bits used in a brace..

.

Since they use these jaws...more for round shank Twist drill bits

Ok...issues with that washer inside the chuck...tore it back apart to find...

2 on the right, are a before and after...one on the left fit a lot better....time to set up a test drive?

Goodell Pratt Co. Brace...connected to..

The Goodell Pratt Co. No. 1080 Chain drill...and a 3/8" drill bit...

Wrap the chain around the post...Star wheel controls how many revs before it allows the bit to advance...

Kinky chains, on a Boring Job?

May just leave this set up as is..

Figure out how to stow that chain, first..

 

And that is one use for this contraption....

Wait … i didn’t see any sawdust in those pictures.  We need a report on how well it actually works.  Maybe clamp a scrap of 2x4 tonthat post and actually drill.  

So I broke down and broke out my collection

L-R 

Duff Machine Co. Lowell Mass.

 

?

 

Millers Falls

 

Goodell Pratt Pat date Aug 13 1895

Nearing an epidemic chain drill outbreak here. No vaccine for it either.

Ok..note what is on the floor..

A wee bit of concrete dust from the tap-con drill bit...and a lot of Pine curlies from the post drill..which was in use right above here...drilled in maybe an inch, just as a Test Drive...