Goodell-Pratt Bit Braces

This listing has been developed from information found in Goodell Brothers and Goodell-Pratt Company catalogs. The features listed for each drill may differ from actual examples. While the company typically stressed new features in its catalogs, it seldom mentioned the disappearance of a feature or the addition of 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.

No. 83

Universal Ratchet Handle

1. 1905 — lignum vitae ball bearing head; set screw to fix attachments to socket; japanned crank handle; polished socket.
2. 1920 — as above, but hardwood head.

Socket has square, tapered hole and set screw for fastening a bit, screwdriver, or nut wrench. Manufactured by the Millers Falls company from 1931.

Illustration from 1911 catalog.

Model	Sweep	Start Date	End Date
No. 83	ca. 8 inches	1905	1933

No. 84

Universal Ratchet Handle

1. 1907 — lignum vitae ball bearing head; shell-type, two-jaw chuck with curved profile; japanned crank handle; bright parts nickel plated.
2. 1909 — as above, but chuck profile now straight-sided.
3. 1920 — as above, but hardwood head.

For square shank bits. Manufactured by the Millers Falls company from 1931.

Illustration from 1911 catalog.

Model	Sweep	Start Date	End Date
No. 84	ca. 8 inches	1907	1933

No. 85

Universal Ratchet Handle

1. 1907 — lignum vitae ball bearing head; three-jaw chuck is adjustable from 0 to 1/2 inch; japanned crank handle; bright parts nickel plated.
2. 1920 — as above, but hardwood head.

For round shank drills. Manufactured by the Millers Falls company from 1931.

Illustration from 1911 catalog.

Model	Sweep	Start Date	End Date
No. 85	ca. 8 inches	1907	1935

Nos. 208 - 214

Goodell Brace

1. ca. 1896 — lignum vitae head and cocobolo handle; ball bearing head; sweep handle runs on adjustable steel collars; nickel plated.
2. 1917 — as above, but steel-clad, roller bearing head.
3. 1920 — as above, but head and handle finished with mahogany enamel.

Illustration from 1911 catalog.

Model	Sweep	Start Date	End Date
No. 208	8 inches	ca. 1896	1930
No. 210	10 inches	ca. 1896	1931
No. 212	12 inches	ca. 1896	1930
No. 214	14 inches	ca. 1896	1930

No. 215

Universal Corner Brace

1. 1905 — hardwood handles; steadying handle adjustable to eight different positions; two-position adjustable crank, enclosed drive gears; two-jaw chuck; japanned surfaces with bright parts nickel plated.
2. 1920 — as above, iron parts are finished with red and black enamel.

Especially useful for electricians, this brace was patented by A. D. Goodell in 1905. (United States Letters Patent No. 789536).

Illustration from 1911 catalog.

Model	Sweep	Start Date	End Date
No. 215	n/a	1905	1931

Nos. 260 - 262

Whimble Brace

1. 1909 — ball bearing head; sweep handle runs on adjustable steel collars; nickel plated.
2. 1915 — as above, but steel-clad, ball bearing head.
3. 1917 — as above, but steel-clad, roller bearing head.

For boring in heavy timbers and hard woods. Manufactured by the Millers Falls company from 1931.

Illustration from 1926 catalog.

 

Model	Sweep	Start Date	End Date
No. 260	10 inches	1909	1933
No. 262	12 inches	1909	1933

No. 345

Angular Brace

Main casting is japanned; setting mechanism prevents slipping; bright parts are nickel plated.

Used with bit brace or breast drill as an extension or angular borer.

Illustration from 1925 catalog.

Model	Sweep	Start Date	End Date
No. 345	n/a	1915	1931

Nos. 408 -414

Goodell Ratchet Brace

1. 1892 — Albert Goodell's lever-controlled ratchet; Albert Goodell's clothespin jaws; lignum vitae head and cocobolo handle; ball bearing head; sweep handle runs on adjustable steel collars; nickel plated.
2. 1905 — as above, but ratchet controlled by eye-hook lever.
3. 1913 — as above, but steel-clad, ball bearing head.
4. 1917 — as above, but steel-clad, roller bearing head.
5. 1920 — as above, but rosewood head and handle.
6. 1930 — as above, but tropical hardwood head and handle.

The brace patented by A. D. Goodell in 1892. (United States Letters Patent No. 488691). Manufactured by the Millers Falls company from 1931.

Illustration from 1926 catalog.

Model	Sweep	Start Date	End Date
No. 408	8 inches	1892	1930
No. 410	10 inches	1892	1931
No. 412	12 inches	1892	1933
No. 414	14 inches	1892	1930

Nos. 1308 - 1314

Goodell-Hay Ratchet Brace

1. ca. 1896 — Albert Goodell's lever-controlled ratchet; lignum vitae head and cocobolo handle; ball bearing head; sweep handle runs on adjustable steel collars; Hay patent quick-action chuck requires only a half turn to tighten or loosen bit; nickel plated.
2. 1911 — as above, but ratchet controlled by eye-hook lever.
3. 1913 — as above, but steel-clad, ball bearing head.
4. 1917 — as above, but steel-clad, roller bearing head.
5. 1920 — as above, but rosewood head and handle.

Features Francis M. Hay's quick action chuck (United States Letters Patent No. 526314).

Illustration from 1911 catalog.

Model	Sweep	Start Date	End Date
No. 1308	8 inches	ca. 1896	1930
No. 1310	10 inches	ca. 1896	1930
No. 1312	12 inches	ca. 1896	1930
No. 1314	14 inches	ca. 1896	1930

Nos. 2508 - 2512

Brace

1. 1926 — concealed ratchet; ratchet controlled by knurled dial on end of chuck shank; rosewood head and handle; steel-clad, roller bearing head; universal chuck with Lloyd L. Miller's spring-type jaws; chuck shell with black oil finish; red-enameled forged steel socket; other steel parts nickel plated.
2. 1930 — as above, but tropical hardwood head and handle.
3. 1935 — as above, but steel-clad, ball bearing head.

Features Fred E. Farley's universal chuck and ratchet mechanism, a design covered by United States Letters Patent No. 1,508,512. Lloyd L. Miller's jaws were covered by United States Letters Patent No. 1,593,908.

Incorporated into the Millers Falls Company's offerings as a premium, heavy-duty brace at the time of the 1931 merger. Lloyd L. Miller's jaws were soon replaced by the company's standard-issue universal jaws and the brace's roller bearing head by a ball bearing head.

Illustration from 1926 catalog.

Model	Sweep	Start Date	End Date
No. 2508	8 inches	1930	1931
No. 2510	10 inches	1926	1938
No. 2512	12 inches	1926	1938

Nos. 6006 - 6014

Ratchet Brace

1. 1916 — fully boxed ratchet; ring shifter ratchet adjustment; cocobolo head and handle; steel-clad, roller bearing head; sweep handle runs on adjustable steel collars; nickel plated.
2. 1920 — as above, but hardwood head and handle finished with mahogany enamel.

Illustration from 1926 catalog.

Model	Sweep	Start Date	End Date
6006	6 inches	1926	1930
6008	8 inches	1916	1930
6010	10 inches	1916	1930
6012	12 inches	1916	1930
6014	14 inches	1916	1930

Nos. 7006 - 7014

Ratchet Brace

1. 1917 — fully boxed ratchet; ring shifter ratchet adjustment; hardwood head and handle finished with ebony-colored rubber enamel; steel-clad, roller bearing head; sweep handle runs on adjustable steel collars; nickel plated.
2. 1930 — as above, but hardwood head and handle finished with mahogany enamel.
3. 1935 — as above, but steel washer between ratchet and chuck sockets; steel-clad, ball bearing head; metal rings inserted in wrist handle to prevent splitting; forged steel alligator jaws.

Incorporated into the Millers Falls offerings as it was the most popular series produced by Goodell-Pratt at the time of the 1931 merger. The Millers Falls Company re-designed the brace replacing the roller bearing head with a ball bearing head and replacing the Goodell-Pratt version of a fully boxed ratchet with its own.

Illustration from 1923 catalog.

Model	Sweep	Start Date	End Date
7006	6 inches	1930	1942
7008	8 inches	1917	1942
7010	10 inches	1917	1942
7012	12 inches	1917	1942
7014	14 inches	1917	1942

Nos. 8010 - 8012

Ratchet Brace

1. Fully boxed ratchet; ring shifter ratchet adjustment; hardwood head and handle finished with black enamel; steel-clad, roller bearing head; sweep handle runs on adjustable steel collars; metallic parts polished.

Not pictured in the company catalog. Save for finishes, similar to the Nos. 7010-7012.

Model	Sweep	Start Date	End Date
No. 8010	10 inches	1930	1931
No. 8012	12 inches	1930	1931

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