Sher - Half Inch Heavy Duty

Photo Dieu Tan

Sher Drillmaster

Steven Scotti from Perth WA is the proud owner of this Sher Drillmaster in near mint condition.

KBC Power Chief

Black and Decker Special Drill

A Black and Decker Special Drill, not made in Australia (made in England), but a beautiful example of early electric drill design. This one has no provision for an auxillary handle so holding after long use may have become problematic, both because of the weight of the object and the heat created would have transfered directly to were your hand would be placed. Notice also the switch is not a trigger but a slide on the top of the handle.

Sher Powermate

Black and Decker Special Drill

Black and Decker Special Drill

Sher Snaplock Drill

Black and Decker Special Drill

Black and Decker U-500 Drill

This is the Black and Decker U-500 drill. This was the first drill to be completely manufactured in Australia at the Crodyon factory in Victoria.

Lightburn 1/2" Heavy Duty

Sher 1/2" Shermatic Drill

Black and Decker 552

 

This Black and Decker 10mm hammer drill is what I suspect as one of the last drills made in Australia, although i have no proof of this.

KBC

 

KBC was a manufacturing company that operated out of Woodlands, Adelaide, South Australia. KBC which stood for KEVIN BOWES and COMPANY, manufactured a variety of consumer goods including kitchen mixers. I suspect KBC was in operation as early as the 1950's.

Wolf

Wolf is a brand of power tools orginating in England. Wolf power tools are recorded as being available in Australia from least the mid 1950's. Anecdotal evidence suggested that for a short period Wolf set up a manufacturing plant in Sydney NSW. I managed to purchase this Wolf Safetymaster drill of Ebay because it clearly states on the label that it is Made in Australia.

This is an example of the first SHER drill to combine die cast aluminium with injection moulded plastic.

Sher Snaplock Drill

Sher 1/2" Shermatic Drill

This is a Black and Decker GD15 2 speed drill. Most of the brown paint finish has worn away. This model was on the market from 1963. This particular example was donated by Richard Musgrove.

If the Black and Decker CP2 of my grandfather's was the drill that got me started, it was discovering the SHER Drill Master that confirmed to me the importance of this study. A small all-resin drill (I suspect it is Bakelite), the drill has no 'trigger' switch, instead, an ON/OFF switch is located on the side of the body, curious as the resemblance to a pistol is uncanny. The Drill Master was first introduced to the Australian public in 1952, I am unsure as to when it was taken off the market. This particular example was purchased on Ebay from someone in Western Australia.