Millers Falls Braces 502 through 873

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. 502-503; 502A

Master Corner Bit Brace Master Corner Bit Brace

  1. 1907 — cocobolo head and handle; ball bearing head; shiny parts nickel plated; and Master Chuck with Leland’s universal jaws.
  2. 1914 — as above, but head and handle of tropical hardwood.
  3. 1917 — as above, but stained hardwood head and handle.
  4. 1922 — as above, but inserted metal rings in wrist handle to prevent splitting.

Designed to simplify the boring of holes in corners, this series is identical to Nos. 512-513 except for the chuck.

No. 502 was re-numbered 502A, 1957-1964, when economy-type universal jaws were introduced. After the ‘A’ designation was dropped, the cheaper jaws remained.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Model No. Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 502 (first) 10 inch 1907 1957
No. 502 (second) 10 inch 1965 after 1981
No. 502A 10 inch 1957 1964
No. 503 8 inch 1907 1936

Nos. 512 - 513

Barber Improved Corner Bit Brace Barber Improved Corner Bit Brace

  1. 1912 — cocobolo head and handle, ball bearing head; shiny parts nickel plated; Barber Improved chuck.
  2. 1914 — as above, but head and handle of tropical hardwood.
  3. 1917 — as above, but stained hardwood head and handle.

Designed to simplify the boring of holes in corners, this series is identical to Nos. 502-503 except for the chuck.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Model No. Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 512 10 inch 1912 1922
No. 513 8 inch 1912 1922

Nos. 541 - 543

Barber Improved Brace, non-ratcheting Barber Improved Brace, non-ratcheting

  1. 1912 — choice hardwood head and handle; nickel plated; Amidon’s jaws.
  2. 1913 — as above, but cocobolo head and handle.

This series identical to Nos. 561-563 but lacking ratchet and could be ordered with an octagonal shell 1912.

Illustration from 1913 catalog.


Model No. Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 541 12 inch 1912 1914
No. 542 10 inch 1912 1914
No. 543 8 inch 1912 1914

Nos. 561 - 563

Barber Improved Ratchet Brace Barber Improved Ratchet Brace

  1. 1912 — half-boxed ratchet; choice hardwood head and handle; nickel plated; Amidon’s jaws.
  2. 1913 — as above, but cocobolo head and handle.

This series identical to Nos. 541-543 save for ratchet and could be ordered with an octagonal shell ca. 1912.

Illustration from 1913 catalog.


Model No. Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 561 12 inch 1912 1914
No. 562 10 inch 1912 1914
No. 563 8 inch 1912 1914

Nos. 601 - 603

Barber Improved Ratchet Brace, non-ratcheting 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. 1922 — as above, but inserted metal rings in wrist handle to prevent splitting.

This series was marketed as part of the Mohawk line of economy braces 1917-1919. (Not to be confused with the later Mohawk-Shelburne braces.) It is identical to Nos. 631-633 but lacking ratchet and could be ordered with an octagonal shell 1912-1915.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Model No. Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 601 12 inch 1912 1929
No. 602 10 inch 1912 1929
No. 603 8 inch 1912 1929

Nos. 631 - 633

Barber Improved Ratchet Brace Barber Improved Ratchet Brace

  1. 1912 — half-boxed ratchet; stained hardwood head and handle; polished steel parts; Amidon’s jaws.
  2. 1914 — as above, but springless alligator jaws.
  3. 1922 — as above, but inserted metal rings in wrist handle to prevent splitting.

This series was marketed as part of the Mohawk line of economy braces ca. 1917-1919. (Not to be confused with the later Mohawk-Shelburne braces.) It is identical to Nos. 601-603 save for ratchet and could be ordered with an octagonal shell 1912-1915.

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Model No. Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 631 12 inch 1912 1935
No. 632 10 inch 1912 1935
No. 633 8 inch 1912 1933

Nos. 710 - 714; 710A - 713A

Holdall brace, non-ratchetingHoldall Brace, non-ratcheting

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

  1. 1912 — cocobolo head and handle; ball bearing head; wrist 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.

Although at least one example exists. The No. 714 did not appear in the company's catalogs. A short-lived product, this series is the non-ratcheting version of Nos. 730-734.

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


Model No. Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 710 14 inch 1912 1915
No. 710A 14 inch 1912 1915
No. 711 12 inch 1912 1915
No. 711A 12 inch 1912 1915
No. 712 10 inch 1912 1915
No. 712A 10 inch 1912 1915
No. 713 8 inch 1912 1915
No. 713A 8 inch 1912 1915
No. 714 6 inch 1912 1915

Nos. 729 - 734; 729A - 734A

Holdall Ratchet BraceHoldall Ratchet Brace

The first series of the ‘A’ models, 1907-1919, were equipped with a steel clad, ball bearing head.

The second series of the ‘A’ models, 1957-1981, were equipped with economy-type universal jaws.

  1. 1907 — fully boxed ratchet; cocobolo 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 wrist handle rides on adjustable bearings.
  3. 1912 — as above, but steel rings in wrist handle prevent splitting.
  4. 1914 — as above, but head and handle of tropical hardwood.
  5. 1915 — as above, but wrist handle lacks adjustable bearings.
  6. 1917 — as above, but cocobolo head and handle.
  7. 1935 — as above, but head and handle of tropical hardwood; all models equipped with steel clad, ball bearing head.
  8. 1957 — as above, but economy-type universal jaws.

More information on the Holdall brace. Illustration from 1919 catalog.


Model No. Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 729 16 inch 1915 1919
No. 729A 16 inch 1915 1919
No. 730 (first series) 14 inch 1907 1957
No. 730 (second series) 14 inch 1965 after 1981
No. 730A (first series) 14 inch 1912 1919
No. 730A (second series) 14 inch 1957 1964
No. 731 (first series) 12 inch 1907 1957
No. 731 (second series) 12 inch 1965 after 1981
No. 731A (first series) 12 inch 1912 1919
No. 731A (second series) 12 inch 1957 1964
No. 732 (first series) 10 inch 1907 1957
No. 732 (second series) 10 inch 1965 after 1981
No. 732A (first series) 10 inch 1912 1919
No. 732A (second series) 10 inch 1957 1964
No. 733 (first series) 8 inch 1907 1957
No. 733 (second series) 8 inch 1965 1974
No. 733A (first series) 8 inch 1912 1919
No. 733A (second series) 8 inch 1957 1964
No. 734 6 inch 1915 1933
No. 734A 6 inch 1915 1919

No. 737

Right Angle Ratchet BraceCorner Bit 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.


Model No. Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 737 n/a ca. 1959 1966

Nos. 769 - 774; 770A - 773A

Lion Ratchet BraceLion Ratchet Brace

The first series of the ‘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 the ‘A’ models, 1957-1972, were equipped with economy-type universal jaws.

  1. 1914 — fully boxed ratchet; head and handle of tropical wood; wrist 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 all models with steel clad, ball bearing head; wrist handle lacks adjustable bearings.
  3. 1917 — as above, but cocobolo 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.
  6. 1957 — as above, but economy-type universal jaws.

More information on the Lion brace. Illustration from 1919 catalog.


Model No. Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 769 16 inch 1915 1942
No. 770 (first series) 14 inch 1914 1957
No. 770 (second series) 14 inch 1965 1967
No. 770A (first series) 14 inch 1914 1915
No. 770A (second series) 14 inch 1957 1964
No. 771 (first series) 12 inch 1914 1957
No. 771 (second series) 12 inch 1965 1967
No. 771A (first series) 12 inch 1914 1915
No. 771A (second series) 12 inch 1957 1964
No. 772 (first series) 10 inch 1914 1957
No. 772 (second series) 10 inch 1965 1972
No. 772A (first series) 10 inch 1914 1915
No. 772A (second series) 10 inch 1957 1964
No. 773 8 inch 1914 1942
No. 773A 8 inch 1914 1915
No. 774 6 inch 1915 1919

Nos. 830 - 833; 830A - 833A

Master Ratchet BraceMaster Ratchet Brace

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

  1. 1910 — concealed ratchet; cocobolo head and handle; ball bearing wrist 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 cocobolo head and handle.

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

Illustration from 1915 catalog.


Model No. Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 830 14 inch 1910 1919
No. 830A 14 inch 1912 1919
No. 831 12 inch 1910 1919
No. 831A 12 inch 1912 1919
No. 832 10 inch 1910 1919
No. 832A 10 inch 1912 1919
No. 833 8 inch 1910 1919
No. 833A 8 inch 1912 1919

Nos. 870 - 873; 870A - 873A

Lion Ratchet BraceLion 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 wrist handle; steel washer between ratchet and chuck sockets; nickel plated; Lion ball bearing chuck with Leland’s universal jaws.
  2. 1915 — all models with steel clad, ball bearing head.
  3. 1917 — as above, but cocobolo 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.

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

More information on the Lion brace. Illustration from 1919 catalog.


Model No. Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 870 14 inch 1914 1935
No. 870A 14 inch 1914 1915
No. 871 12 inch 1914 1933
No. 871A 12 inch 1914 1915
No. 872 10 inch 1914 1933
No. 872A 10 inch 1914 1915
No. 873 8 inch 1914 1919
No. 873A 8 inch 1914 1915