2018.024.009 [Holder, Drill Bit]

This item is an apron that was used to hold drill bits for woodworking. The apron is labeled with "Joyce Lumber Co. Since 1858" on the front and holds 17 drill bits. Bits were grooved metal tubes which could then be attached to mechanical drills for the purposes of carving out an even circular hole in wooden objects. The Joyce Lumber Co. began when David Joyce partnered with S.I. Smith in Clinton, IA in 1869. Joyce was originally from Massachusetts, where he operated a blast furnace machine shop. He moved to Iowa in 1854 and operated a series of business ventures before partnering with Smith. In 1873, he became the sole owner of Joyce Lumber Co. This content can be used with the following standards: SS 4.25: Technological Change Drill bits were very important pieces of the lumber and woodworking industries, particularly during the middle of the 19th century, when sophisticated industrial machinery had not yet been widely invented or introduced. Bits were valuable because of their durability and their various applications in woodworking. As technology evolved, bits became more standardized and specialized, which makes older mid-1800s drill bits important pieces of period technology. For any use other than instructional resources, please check with the organization that owns this item for any copyright restrictions.