Historical information

The invention of a hand drill is credited to Arthur James Arnot and William Blanch Brain of Melbourne, Australia who patented the electric drill in 1889. In 1895, the first portable handheld drill was created by brothers Wilhem & Carl Fein of Stuttgart, Germany.
Hand-powered devices have been used for millennia. However, during the last quarter of the 19th century a radically improved generation of tools appeared.
These tools took advantage of modern mass production machinery and processes (like interchangeable parts) and an increased availability in superior material (metal instead of wood). One of the outcomes included an array of new drilling machines. These human-powered tools were a vast improvement over earlier tools.

Significance

This item is an example of a commonly used domestic tool - pre power tools.

Physical description

A Stanley hand drill with two wooden handles. The red wheel is painted metal.

Inscriptions & markings

On red wheel - STANLEY ENGLAND