A drill and a jigsaw

[greenstar]

An enjoyable car boot this morning after nearly two months worth had been rained off! I found a pair of 110v tools, a McGraw-Edison drill and a jigsaw with the brand label rubbed off. Very nicely made and comfortable to hold. The drill chuck closes precisely, and will hold very small bits. The jigsaw is smaller and lighter than usual, and both will be useful for small work. Fortunately I have a site transformer.

[The Philpott]

Certainly look reasonably ergonomic, and probably salvable!
Dave

[paulsherwin]

If they are 110V then that probably means they are pro tools. On the one hand that suggests they are decent quality, but on the other they may have led a hard life.

[usradcoll1]

Originally Posted by paulsherwin

If they are 110V then that probably means they are pro tools. On the one hand that suggests they are decent quality, but on the other they may have led a hard life.

The drill looks to be the less expensive line of power tools made for the home handy-man.
The jig saw, I refer to it as a "Sabre Saw", seems to be an earlier model of the same quality. The newer models, all have a handle! They have a trigger switch and most are variable speed. More pleasant to use.
They probably were brought from the US.
Dave, USradcoll1

[Lucien Nunes]

The wiring colours might indicate the origin. I suspect these pre-date the general use of 110V on construction sites.

@Dave you might already be familiar with the UK practice but we have a rule that prohibits normal 230V equipment on building sites. Everything must be 110V fed from a 55-0-55V centre-tap-grounded site transformer, so that nothing is more than 55V to ground (or 63.5V if 3-phase.) So most pro UK tools are available as 110V by default sometimes with an option for a 230V version, but DIY-grade tools are 230V by default, sometimes with a 110V option.

[greenstar]

Hi Dave and thanks, although if less expensive they are certainly nicely made, as is usual for items then from the USA. Here is an image of the remains of the sabre saw label, which I can't make out. It is odd the label is just a transfer - nearly everything then had an engraved and stamped metal plate, so maybe it was a budget item. I need now to find some US size mains connectors and make up a panel socket and extension, but will wait for some to turn up - something in me revolts over paying many times over for them what I paid for the tools!

[M0FYA Andy]

To me a 'sabre saw' is one where the reciprocating blade protrudes from the end of the tool rather than through a flat plate beneath the tool.
I would call this one a 'jigsaw'.

Andy

[paulsherwin]

The label certainly has an American look to it.

The saw would certainly be called a jigsaw in British English. I thought I was pretty much bilingual in British and American English, but you still come across unexpected differences now and then.

[usradcoll1]

Originally Posted by Lucien Nunes

The wiring colours might indicate the origin. I suspect these pre-date the general use of 110V on construction sites.

@Dave you might already be familiar with the UK practice but we have a rule that prohibits normal 230V equipment on building sites. Everything must be 110V fed from a 55-0-55V centre-tap-grounded site transformer, so that nothing is more than 55V to ground (or 63.5V if 3-phase.) So most pro UK tools are available as 110V by default sometimes with an option for a 230V version, but DIY-grade tools are 230V by default, sometimes with a 110V option.

I read about it and have a idea of UK practices.
In the US, all building sites use an earth fault detector and all portable tools are 120 V. Even the portable generators have one.
It seems that mains operated tools are rapidly falling out of favor! Since they're making brushless tools using longer lasting Lithium batteries, you don't see mains operated tools used as much.
Dave, USradcoll1

[usradcoll1]

Originally Posted by M0FYA Andy

To me a 'sabre saw' is one where the reciprocating blade protrudes from the end of the tool rather than through a flat plate beneath the tool.
I would call this one a 'jigsaw'.

Andy

The kind of saw you're referring to is a reciprocating saw. Many use the term "Sawzall" which is a copyrighted name of Milwaukee Electric Tool Company.
The kind in question is sometimes called a "Sabre-jig" saw.
Dave, USradcoll1, as usual!

[Tractorfan]

Hi,
On the saw label can be see 'CONN,' which I think is short for Connecticut, maybe the state where the factory is/was.
Cheers, Pete.

[roffe]

https://archive.org/details/forsberg-mfg-co-1958