Over 40,000 Power Tools Built By Our Grandfathers: The Story of Gilliom “Gil-Bilt”
In the golden era of postwar do-it-yourself ingenuity, thousands of hobbyists and craftsmen built their own power tools at home. At the heart of this movement was Gilliom Power Tools, based in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded by Lyle Gilliom, the company empowered everyday makers to construct their own machinery from a combination of locally sourced materials and factory-supplied parts.
A Company Built on Plans and Ingenuity
Gilliom advertised hand-drawn plans in popular magazines of the time, offering woodworkers the choice to either buy individual parts, complete kits, or simply follow the plans with materials on hand. With this model, more than 40,000 power tools were built across the country.
The lineup included a 12-inch bandsaw, an 18-inch bandsaw, a 6-inch belt sander, and a 10-inch tilting arbor table saw. Each design shared parts and concepts, making the tools not only economical to build but also clever in their adaptability.
Spotlight: A Lathe That Doubles as a Drill Press
The tool featured in the video is a remarkable example of Gilliom’s approach—a lathe that transforms into a drill press.
• Lathe Functionality: The tailstock features a quill that extends and locks in place with a small hex wrench, reminiscent of Shopsmith tools. The headstock carries a 5/8-inch threaded shaft with a flat for accessories. Gilliom even manufactured their own cast faceplates, interchangeable with Shopsmith accessories. With adapters, users could also mount modern chucks.
• Drill Press Functionality: By tilting the headstock and motor upright, the lathe converts into a drill press. Unlike standard drill presses where the bit moves, this design raises and lowers the workpiece into the stationary drill bit. Precision jewelers and watchmakers used a similar approach, prized for its alignment accuracy.
This dual-purpose system reflected Gilliom’s philosophy of maximizing function while minimizing the number of unique parts.
A Design Ahead of Its Time
One of the cleverest aspects of Gilliom’s philosophy was reusing components across multiple machines. The same castings and assemblies appeared in bandsaws, sanders, and the multi-purpose tool, echoing how larger manufacturers like Shopsmith also engineered interoperability into their product lines.
This strategy meant that a builder could recognize and repurpose parts, creating consistency across the workshop.
What Happened to Gilliom?
After Lyle Gilliom passed away, the company was sold to a man named Roger Thompson. Remarkably, Mr. Thompson was still answering calls for parts and support decades later, though the company never established an online presence. Eventually, operations faded, and the business disappeared completely.
The Legacy Lives On
The particular multi-purpose tool in the video is in rough shape today. It needs a complete rewiring and rebuild, but it still runs, proof of the durability of its design. Though the original instructions for this model are missing, the plans for other Gilliom machines live on among collectors and enthusiasts.
Gilliom’s tools stand as a testament to an era when creativity, thrift, and craftsmanship intersected. They remind us of a time when the satisfaction of building extended not just to furniture or projects, but to the very machines that made them possible.
👉 Have you ever seen or used a Gil-Bilt tool in person? Share your stories in the comments—I’d love to hear them.
