Millers Falls Braces 710 through 1324

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. 710 - 713; 710A - 713A

Holdall brace, non-ratcheting

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

1. 1912 — cocobola head and handle; ball bearing head; sweep handle rides on adjustable bearings and steel rings prevent splitting; nickel plated; Holdall chuck with Leland's universal jaws.
2. 1914 — as above, but head and handle of tropical hardwood.

Apparently, the company thought that there would be a demand for premium, non-ratcheting braces. A short-lived product, this is the non-ratcheting version of Nos. 730-733.

More information on the Holdall brace is available. Illustration from 1913 catalog.

Nos. 729 - 734; 729A - 734A

Holdall Ratchet Brace

The first series of 'A' models, 1907-1922, were equipped with a steel clad, ball bearing head. The second series of 'A' models, 1957-1964, were equipped with economy-type universal jaws. After the 'A' designation was dropped, the cheaper jaws remained.

1. 1907 — fully boxed ratchet; cocobola head and handle; ball bearing head; steel washer between ratchet and chuck sockets; nickel plated; Holdall chuck with Leland's universal jaws.
2. 1910 — as above, but sweep handle rides on adjustable bearings.
3. 1912 — as above, but steel rings in sweep handle prevent splitting.
4. 1914 — as above, but head and handle of tropical hardwood.
5. 1915 — as above, but sweep handle lacks adjustable bearings.
6. 1917 — as above, but cocobola head and handle.
7. 1935 — as above, but head and handle of tropical hardwood; and all models equipped with a steel clad, ball bearing head.

More information on the Holdall brace is available. Illustration from 1915 catalog.

No. 737

Right Angle Ratchet Brace

Fully boxed ratchet; head and handle of tropical hardwood; nickel plated; economy-type universal jaws.

Knurled ring between head and boxed ratchet mechanism can be turned by hand to start and hold bit in wood until ratchet is operated.

Illustration from 1960 catalog.

Nos. 769 - 774; 770A - 773A

Lion Ratchet Brace

The first series of 'A' models, 1914-1915, were equipped with a steel clad, ball bearing head. In 1915, steel clad, ball bearing heads became standard, and the 'A' designation was no longer needed. The second series of 'A' models, 1957-1964, were equipped with economy-type universal jaws. After the 'A' designation was dropped, the cheaper jaws remained.

1. 1914 — a fully boxed ratchet; head and handle of tropical wood; sweep handle rides on adjustable bearings and brass rings prevent splitting; steel washer between ratchet and chuck sockets; nickel plated; Lion ball bearing chuck with Leland's universal jaws.
2. 1915 — as above, but sweep handle lacks adjustable bearings.
3. 1917 — as above, but cocobola head and handle.
4. 1925 — as above, but shell of Lion chuck has a rectangular opening with cut away corners to accommodate larger bit shanks.
5. 1935 — as above, but head and handle are of tropical hardwood.

More information on the Lion brace is available. Illustration from 1915 catalog.

Nos. 830 - 833; 830A - 833A

Master Ratchet Brace

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

1. 1910 — concealed ratchet; cocobola head and handle; ball bearing sweep handle; ball bearing head; steel washer between ratchet and chuck sockets; nickel plated; Master chuck with Leland's universal jaws.
2. 1914 — as above, but head and handle of tropical hardwood.
3. 1917 — as above, but cocobola head and handle.

Identical to Nos. 8130-8133 save for ball bearing sweep handle.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

Nos. 870 - 873; 870A - 873A

Lion Ratchet Brace

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

1. 1914 — concealed ratchet; head and handle of tropical hardwood; ball bearing head; ball bearing sweep handle; steel washer between ratchet and chuck sockets; nickel plated; Lion ball bearing chuck with Leland's universal jaws
2. 1917 — as above, but cocobola head and handle.
3. 1925 — as above, but shell of Lion chuck has a rectangular opening with cut away corners to accommodate larger bit shanks.

Nos. 870A-873A became obsolete when Nos. 870-873 were equipped with a steel clad, ball bearing head.

More information on the Lion brace is available. Illustration from 1915 catalog.

Nos. 1050 - 1054

Ratchet brace

A fully boxed ratchet; cocobola head and handle; ball bearing head; metal rings inserted in sweep handle prevent splitting; steel washer between ratchet and chuck sockets; nickel plated; extra long chuck with self-centering, forged steel jaws.

Illustration from 1925 catalog.

Nos. 1320-1324

Barber Improved Ratchet Brace

1. 1915 — a half-boxed ratchet; ebonized hardwood head and handle; steel clad head; sweep handle with inserted brass rings to prevent splitting; anti-friction washer in head; steel washer between ratchet and chuck sockets; nickel plated; spring-type alligator jaws.
2. 1925 — as above, but steel clad, ball bearing head.
3. 1949 — as above, but mahogany-stained hardwood head and handle; toothless alligator jaws.

A series of mid-priced braces that could be ordered with an octagonal shell ca. 1915-1929.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.

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