Millers Falls Braces 71 through 192

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. 71 - 73

Barber Improved Brace, non-ratcheting

1. 1885 — hard maple head and handle; tumbled steel parts (not polished); Amidon's jaws.
2. 1897 — as above, but stained hardwood head and handle.
3. 1905 — as above, but head rides on a bolster attached to the sweep; economy-type jaws.

This is the non-ratcheting version of Nos. 82-83.

Illustration from 1908 catalog.

Nos. 82 - 83

Barber Improved Ratchet Brace

1. 1885 — half-boxed ratchet; hard maple head and handle; tumbled steel parts (not polished); Amidon's jaws.
2. 1897 — as above, but stained hardwood head and handle.
3. 1905 — as above, but head rides on a bolster attached to the sweep; economy-type jaws.

This is the ratcheting version of Nos. 72-73.

Illustration from 1908 catalog.

Nos. 92 - 93

Brace with thumb screw chuck, non-ratcheting

Hardwood head and handle; equipped with Goodell's self-cutting thumb screw.

Similar to Nos. 102-103 save for thumb screw, the series was second from the bottom of the line in 1887.

Illustration from 1887 catalog.

No. 97

Barber Improved Ratchet Brace with adjustable sweep

Fully boxed ratchet; Barber Improved chuck; thumbscrew adjustment of the handle allows for an 8, 10, or 12 inch sweep; nickel plated.

In addition to reducing the number of braces a workman might carry, the No. 97 can be disassembled and stored in a smaller space than needed for a standard brace.

Illustration from 1897 catalog.

Nos. 102 - 103

Barber Improved Brace, non ratcheting

Unstained hardwood head and handle; tumbled steel parts (not polished); economy-type jaws.

This is the non-ratcheting version of nos. 202-203 was the bottom of the line in 1905.

Illustration from 1908 catalog.

No. 103 (thumb screw)

Brace with thumb screw chuck, non-ratcheting

Hardwood head and handle; equipped with a 'plain' thumb screw.

The very bottom of the line in 1887, these braces cost 23 cents each when purchased in quantities of a dozen or more.

Illustration from 1887 catalog.

Nos. 117 - 119

Bartholomew Brace

Hardwood head and handle; Bartholomew's jaws.

An inexpensive brace manufactured by the H.S. Bartholomew Company of Bristol, Connecticut, and sold by the Millers Falls Company.

Illustration from 1878 catalog.

Nos. 120 - 124

Barber Improved Ratchet Brace

1. 1885 — a half-boxed ratchet; ebonized hardwood head and handle; polished steel parts; no washer between frame and chuck socket; Amidon's jaws.
2. by 1895 — steel washer between ratchet and chuck sockets.
3. 1896 — as above, but stained hardwood head and handle;
4. 1905 — as above, but fully boxed ratchet; ball bearing head; spring-type alligator jaws.
5. 1917 — as above, but sweep handle with inserted metal rings to prevent splitting, anti-friction washer in head.

This is the ratcheting version of Nos. 20-24, and was considered a mid-priced when introduced. It could be ordered with an octagonal chuck shell, 1912-ca. 1917.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

Nos. 130 - 134; 130A - 134A

Barber Improved Ratchet Brace

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

1. 1912 — concealed ratchet; cocobola head and handle; ball bearing head; sweep handle rides on adjustable bearings and steel rings prevent splitting; nickel plated; spring-type alligator jaws.
2. 1914 — as above, but head and handle of tropical hardwood.
3. 1915 — as above, but sweep handle lacks adjustable bearings.
4. 1917 — as above, but cocobola head and handle.

Identical to Nos. 30-34 except for the concealed ratchet.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

No. 140

Ratchet corner borer

1. 1903 — stained hardwood head and handle; extra fine teeth on ratchet wheel; nickel plated; alligator jaws.
2. 1910 — catalog illustrates what appears to be either a Master or a Holdall Chuck with Leland's Jaws.
3. 1912 — catalog again illustrates a standard chuck with alligator jaws.

The removable short handle is used to steady the tool, while the long handle is used to power the bit. For boring in corners, between joists, etc.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

Nos. 141 - 143

Barber Improved Brace, non-ratcheting

1. 1912 — stained hardwood head and handle; polished steel parts; Amidon's jaws.
2. 1914 — as above, but springless alligator jaws.
3. 1917 — as above, catalog emphasizes light weight construction.
4. 1938 — as above, but ball bearing head.

This series was marketed as part of the Mohawk line of economy braces ca. 1917. (Not to be confused with the later Mohawk-Shelburne braces.) The bottom of the line from 1912 until its demise, this is the non-ratcheting equivalent of Nos. 161-163.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

Nos. 161 - 163

Barber Improved Ratchet Brace

1. 1912 — a half-boxed ratchet; stained hardwood head and handle; polished steel parts; Amidon's jaws.
2. 1914 — as above, but springless alligator jaws.
3. 1917 — as above, catalog emphasizes lightweight construction.
4. 1922 — as above, but sweep handle with inserted metal rings to prevent splitting.

This series was marketed as part of the Mohawk line of economy braces ca. 1917. (Not to be confused with the later Mohawk-Shelburne braces.) The ratcheting version of Nos. 141-143, it represented the company's lowest priced series of ratchet braces 1912-1917.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

No. 182

Ratcheting Drill Brace

1. ca. 1881 — half-boxed ratchet with ring-type shifter; lignum vitae head; rosewood handle; brass rings in sweep handle to prevent splitting; drill assembly held in place by means wing nut located above ratchet mechanism; large gear equipped with extendable handle.
2. by 1885 — as above, but two sets of forged steel jaws (second set to allow for round bits less than 1/8 inch in diameter).
3. 1890 — as above, but one set of McCoy's jaws.
4. by 1895 — as above, but ball bearing head.
5. by 1903 — as above, but half-boxed ratchet no longer adjusted by ring-type shifter, drill assembly now attached by screw passing through large gear; large gear no longer features with extendable handle; spring-type alligator jaws.
6. 1905 — as above, but cocobola head and handle.
7. 1910 — as above, but Master Chuck with Leland's universal jaws.
8. 1922 — as above, but stained hardwood head and handle.

Patented by Wallace Lyon on Dec. 13, 1881, the drilling assembly is detachable to allow for use as a traditional brace.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

No. 192

Ratcheting Drill Brace

Fully boxed ratchet; cocobola head and handle; ball bearing head; shiny parts nickel plated; Master Chuck with Leland's universal jaws.

The drilling assembly is detachable to allow for use as a traditional brace. It can also be swiveled into any one of three positions illustrated here, allowing the crank to be used in a variety of ways. The extra flexibility was intended to remedy one of the primary disadvantages in the use of a drill brace—that of finding the free space needed to rotate the drill crank when working in a restricted area.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

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