Anyone know who might have made this Brace and when? I can find no markings, and guess about 100 years old. The jaws threaded rods use a reverse thread on one side for easy clamping, pre-rust. I have seen a "Brace wrench" before, but these jaws are grooved on a taper to accept a standard Bit. I am tempted to bead blast it, but don't know if that would ruin any value it may have to a collector.
collector.http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd236/arborigine/100_0291.jpghttp://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd236/arborigine/100_0292.jpg The brace has been on a long journey for a long time. I would take it apart, soak off the rust in vinegar and beadblast as necessary to make it look nice.
Bob AZ
Could be older than you think. Known by various names but bit brace wrench is fairly generic. Check out US patent 275341 @
Maybe so. Vinegar is great for stuff like this, but probably hard on the wood. BTW, Vinegar or any other acid process is a bad idea for anything structural, like automobile suspension. "Hydrogen Embrittlement" can allow the remaining steel to snap.
I have certainly seen braces with standard screw chucks that were more then 100 years old so I'd say your's is either older then that or designed for some special purpose.
I'll give you one piece of advise though. "Get that greasy old piece of junk off that clean table cloth!" :-(
*Bruce-in-Bangkok (correct email address for reply)
I've GOT braces that are more than 100 years old with screw chucks. Before screw chucks, they used a tapered square hole in the brace to fit the bit end. I've never seen one like that. My vote is a one-off by a village blacksmith, a low-production patented item or a specialty tool. Interesting item. Clean it carefully and see if there are any patent or makers marks on it. Time for the old oil and fine steel wool treatment.
Stan
I found an 1878 patent date after bead blasting. I don't collect woodworking tools, so its now on Ebay. Check out the detail pic of the jaws. pretty neat.
the probability is that the bead blasting cost you 80% of its value, but the final results on the auction will reveal if that is true.
** Posted from
That's why I asked that question on a few forums recieving no real answers
Here is one of the patents concerning this item (for May 18,
1880; patent number 227686):
I would have agreed with Bill until after the OP blasted it and discovered some dates that he hadn't seen before.
Since the auction just ended & it went for $333.00, I think the OP probably made some money by blasting it.
Nice sale.
Jim
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