Millers Falls Braces 0 through 63

Much of this listing has been developed from information found in Millers Falls catalogs. The features listed for each brace may differ from actual examples. While the company typically stressed new features in its catalogs, it seldom mentioned the disappearance of a feature or a feature that had become so commonly accepted that it was no longer noteworthy. Then too, production practices varied from catalog copy and illustrations were slow to be updated. By 1960, catalog copy had become so vague that a detailed description of features is not possible.

Nos. 0 - 4 (Barber Imp'd)

Barber Improved Brace, non-ratcheting

A wrought iron frame; handle formed by a thickening of the sweep; lignum vitae head; Amidon's jaws.

Illustration from 1878 catalog.

No. 0-4 (Goodell)

Goodell Patent Brace

1. ca. 1868 — a wrought iron brace with handle formed by thickening of the sweep; metallic head; Goodell's chuck.
2. ca. 1871 — as above, but lignam vitae head.

The brace pictured here is an extremely early example and may have been manufactured by Albert and Henry Goodell at their factory in Buckland, Massachusetts. Millers Falls Mfg. acquired the patent for the Goodell brace ca. 1870. For a similar brace, see Nos. 10-14 (Goodell).

More information on the Goodell brace is available. Author's photo of ca. 1868 brace.

Nos. 0 - 5 (Rose)

Rose Patent Brace

1. 1868 — wrought iron frame; metallic head; Rose pattern sweep handle (rosewood); Rose patent chuck.
2. ca. 1873 — as above, but lignum vitae head; rotating sweep handle; brass rings in sweep handle to prevent splitting.

Originally manufactured by the Bit Stock Company of Greenfield, Mass., the Millers Falls Company began producing the braces ca. 1870.

More information on the Rose brace is available. Author's photo of ca. 1868 brace manufactured by the Bit Stock Company.

No. 040

Car Shop & Ship-Carpenters Brace

Massive, 16 inch sweep of 5/8 inch diameter steel; head rides on ball bearings; heavy duty chuck with Barber's jaws.

A brute of a brace, built to withstand extreme strain without becoming sprung. This may be the brace referred to by employee Ray Bartlett when speaking of a special government order "for braces with a 16-inch sweep used in ship building together with big ship augers—two to three inches in diameter and 48 inches long."

"Ray Bartlett Knows the History of Many Early MF Tools." In special supplement: A Century of Experience: Millers Falls Company. In: Greenfield Record, Gazette and Courier, August 13, 1968.

Illustration from 1910 catalog.

Nos. 1 - 2 (Lynam)

Lynam Patent Ratchet Brace

A wrought iron frame; handle formed by a thickening of the sweep; lignum vitae head; ratchet activated by a thumbscrew that moves a flat spring allowing for clockwise or counterclockwise rotation.

When the company's ring shifter/ratchet dog models became predominant, the Lynam brace disappeared from the line. Featured in the 1878 catalog; patented on December 5, 1871 by John T. Lynam of Jefferson, Indiana.

More information on the Lynam brace is available. Illustration from 1878 catalog.

Nos. 1 - 3 (Barber)

Barber Brace, non-ratcheting

A wrought iron frame; handle formed by a thickening of the sweep; lignum vitae head; Barber's jaws.

This is the original Barber brace.

More information on the original Barber brace is available.

Illustration from ca. 1867 A.J. Wilkinson & Co. catalog. The ca. 1867 listing for this brace in A.J. Wilkinson & Co. catalog confuses the terms 'throw' and 'sweep.'

Nos. 1-3 (Eyebolt)

Amidon Patent Eyebolt Brace

1. 1867 — wrought iron frame; handle formed by a thickening of the sweep; hardwood head; eyebolt/wingnut assembly holds bit in place.
2. ca. 1871 — as above, but lignum vitae head.
3. by 1875— as above, but maple head and sweep handle.

More information on the Amidon eyebolt brace is available. Author's photo of ca. 1867 brace.

Nos. 10 - 14 (Goodell)

Goodell Patent Brace

Wrought iron frame, lignum vitae head; rosewood sweep handle; brass rings in sweep handle to prevent splitting; Goodell's chuck.

Millers Falls Mfg. acquired the patent for Goodell brace ca. 1870. Prior to this time it may have been by Albert and Henry Goodell in Buckland, Massachusetts. For a similar version, see No. 0-4 (Goodell).

More information on the Goodell brace is available. Author's photo of ca. 1875 brace.

Nos. 10 - 16; 10A-15A

Barber Improved Brace, non-ratcheting

(Model nos. designated 'A' were equipped with a steel clad, ball bearing head.)

1. ca. 1872 — wrought iron frame; lignum vitae head; with Rose pattern sweep handle (rosewood); Amidon's jaws. (Illustration of this early brace).
2. 1878 — as above, but steel frame; McCoy's rotating sweep handle; brass rings in sweep handle to prevent splitting; nickel plating.
3. 1890 — as above, but McCoy's jaws.
4. by 1895 — as above, but rosewood head rides on ball bearings.
5. by 1903 — as above, but spring-type alligator jaws.
6. 1905 — as above, but cocobola head and handle.
7. 1910 — as above, but sweep handle rides on adjustable bearings.
8. 1912 — as above, but steel rings in sweep handle prevent splitting.
9. 1914 — as above, but head and handle are tropical hardwood.
10. 1915 — as above, but sweep handle lacks adjustable bearings.
11. 1917 — as above, but head and handle are native hardwood.
12. 1922 — as above, but head and handle are again cocobola.

Nos. 15, 15A, and 16 were never offered with ball bearing heads. No. 16 was equipped with the small chuck that the company used for adjustable tool holders and was intended for piano makers.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

Nos. 11 - 13 (Hildreth)

Hildreth Brace, ratcheting

A wrought iron frame; Hildreth ratchet, rotating Rose pattern sweep handle; lignum vitae head; steel jaws.

The brace illustrated here appears to have no relationship to the quick-release brace patented by Royal S. Hildreth on February 1, 1870, and manufactured at Athol Depot. There is some similarity in appearance to bit stock patented by Albert D. Goodell on June 10, 1873.

Illustration from ca. 1874 catalog.

Nos. 20 - 24

Barber Improved Brace, non-ratcheting

1. ca. 1872 — wrought iron frame; hard maple head and handle; sweep handle is bulbous shaped; polished steel parts; Amidon's jaws. (Photo of this early brace)
2. Note: out of production by 1878 and re-introduced by 1885.
3. by 1885 — steel frame; ebonized hardwood head and handle; sweep handle no longer bulbous shaped.
4. 1897 — as above, but stained hardwood head and handle.
5. 1905 — as above, but ball bearing head; McCoy's jaws.
6. 1912 — as above, but spring-type alligator jaws.
7. 1917 — as above, but anti-friction washer in head.
8. 1922 — as above, but metallic rings in sweep handle prevent splitting.

A mid-priced brace, it could be ordered with an octagonal chuck shell, 1912-1915.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

Nos. 30 - 34; 30A - 34A

• Barber Ratchet Brace in 1874
• A Barber Improved Ratchet Brace by 1885

(Model nos. designated 'A' were equipped with a steel clad, ball bearing head.)

1. 1874— wrought iron frame; a half-boxed ratchet; lignum vitae head; rosewood sweep handle; Barber's jaws.
2. by 1878 — as above, but steel frame; brass rings in sweep handle to prevent splitting; nickel plating.
3. by 1885 — as above, but Amidon's jaws.
4. 1890 — as above, but McCoy's jaws.
5. by 1895 — as above, but rosewood head rides on ball bearings; steel washer between ratchet and chuck sockets.
6. by 1903 — as above, but spring-type alligator jaws.
7. 1905 — as above, but fully boxed ratchet, cocobola head and handle.
8. 1910 — as above, but sweep handle rides on adjustable bearings.
9. 1912 — as above, but steel rings in sweep handle prevent splitting.
10. 1914 — as above, but head and handle of tropical hardwood.
11. 1915 — as above, but sweep handle lacks adjustable bearings.
12. 1917 — as above, but cocobola head and handles.
13. 1935 — as above, but head and handle of tropical hardwood; all models with a steel clad, ball bearing head.
14. 1949 — as above, but 'toothless' alligator jaws.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

Nos. 40 - 44

Barber Brace, non-ratcheting

1. 1879 — a lignum vitae head; rosewood sweep handle; brass rings in rotating sweep handle prevent splitting; nickel plating; Barber's jaws.
2. 1880 — Stevens' sleeve added to Barber's jaws.
3. by 1895 — as above, but rosewood head rides on ball bearings.
4. 1905 — as above, but cocobola head and handle.
5. 1914 — as above, but tropical hardwood head and handle.

Unwilling to commission new art work, the Millers Falls Company used an outdated woodcut dating from the early 1870s to represent this brace in its catalogs through at least 1887. The woodcut illustration bore no resemblance to the actual tool.

Author's photo of ca. 1880 brace.

No. 50 (chain drill)

Combination Ratchet Brace and Chain Drill

1. 1905 — fully boxed ratchet; cocobola head and handle; ball bearing head; brass rings in sweep handle to prevent splitting; nickel plating; spring-type alligator jaws. Includes chain.
2. 1910 — as above, but sweep handle rides on adjustable bearings; Master Chuck with Leland's universal jaws.
3. 1912 — as above, but catalog notes that the unit includes four feet of chain.

The No. 50 featured a removable chuck. The chuck could be removed, a chain drill attachment substituted, and the chuck then inserted into the chain drill attachment. Also included was a simple bushing-type socket, with a square opening, that could be substituted for the chuck.

The popularity of individually sold chain drill attachments doomed the No. 50. Although less elegant in that most of them required the use of two chucks (one to hold the chain drill attachment and another the bit), they were easily inserted into any number of braces.

Illustration from 1908 catalog.

Nos. 50 - 54 (Barber)

Barber Brace, non-ratcheting

1. 1878— a lignum vitae head; Rosewood sweep handle; brass rings in sweep handle (rosewood) prevent splitting; Barber's jaws.
2. 1880 — Stevens' sleeve added to Barber's jaws.

Unwilling to commission new art work, the Millers Falls Company used an outdated woodcut dating from the early 1870s to represent this brace in its catalogs through at least 1887. The woodcut bore no resemblance to the actual tool.

Note: An example of a No. 53 marked The Stoughton Brace has been reported by Jerry Davis. The designation is stamped on the shell of the chuck. Edward P. Stoughton worked as sales manager for the firm's New York office and later became company president. His role in the development or marketing of the brace is unclear. A rubbing of the mark and a photo of the brace have been provided courtesy of Jerry Davis. The patent date seen on the rubbing is that for William Barber's chuck. Other examples of the Stoughton brace have turned up since the Davis report.

Author's photo of ca. 1880 brace.

Nos. 61 - 63

Barber Ratchet Brace

1. 1879— a half-boxed ratchet; lignum vitae head; rosewood handle; brass rings in sweep handle to prevent splitting; nickel plating; Barber's jaws.
2. 1880 — Stevens' sleeve added to Barber's jaws.
3. by 1895— as above, but rosewood head rides on ball bearings; steel washer between ratchet and chuck sockets.
4. 1905 — as above, but cocobola head and handle.
5. 1914 — as above, but head and handle of tropical hardwood.
6. 1917 — as above, but native hardwood head and handle.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

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