Old blue diamond

[gary tool and die]

When cleaning out my dads barn after he died, I came across a drill I used as a kid. Could any one tell me anything about it, its age and if it is worth anything? It is a Blue Dimond 1/4 model p-120,Pioneer GEN-E-MOTOR CORP. 1.6amps 1600rpm,Thank you,Gary

[John Newman, Jr.]

Pioneer Gen-E-Motor of Chicago, IL started out in 1932. They made motors & generators plus combination units with a motor driven generator to supply power for Govt (military) radios. A lot of these would have 12VDC input and outputs of 400 - 600 VDC. I have one that takes 12VDC @ 17 A in and puts out 115 VAC @ 1.5 A. After the war they started making small 1-1/2 hp gasoline engines - called Pincor and used these on lawnmowers and small light plants They made some larger plants using Briggs & Stratton, Tecumseh & Wisconsin engines. I have also seen some of their gen units on 6 cylinder Ford engines putting out 35 KW and others made to run from a tractor PTO.
Around the mid '50s they started making a line of power hand tools - drills & saws - under the Blue Diamond name. Another of their popular products that came out shortly after the war was their electric hedge trimmer. These were produced into the '60s.