This is a drill.

This is my drill.

If it looks old, that's because it is. It belonged to my grandfather, a man that I never knew because he died when I was three, back in the days when we were still sending manned missions to the moon. After he died, this antique lay undisturbed in my grandmother's basement for 30+ years until I found it one day and took it home.

It still works, and it works well. It's big and heavy and maybe a bit slow, but it turns a bit like nothing else short of a drill press. Since I've had it, I've used it to repair my deck, install masonry lag bolts, and complete numerous smaller wood projects. Today I used it to drill holes for my newest reloading press. (More on the press later.) It drilled the mounting holes for my last press six years ago, too.

During all of these jobs, this old drill has never faltered once. I doubt that my grandfather had any idea when he bought this drill that it would still be going strong so many years later. I wish that he could see it today, and I wish that I could tell him "thanks".

Apparently the Ram Tool Corporation of Chicago, Illinois has gone the way of my grandfather as I can't find any listing for it today. Pity. They sure made good drills.