Millers Falls Braces 1870 through 8133
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. 1870 - 1872
Lion Ratchet Brace
Concealed ratchet; cocobolo head and handle; steel clad, ball bearing head; ball bearing wrist handle; steel washer between ratchet and chuck sockets; nickel plated; octagonal Lion ball bearing chuck with Leland’s universal jaws.
Identical to Nos. 870-872 save the Lion chuck has an octagonal shell.
More information on the Lion brace is available. Illustration from 1929 catalog.
| Model No. | Sweep | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1870 | 14 inch | 1927 | 1931 |
| No. 1871 | 12 inch | 1927 | 1931 |
| No. 1872 | 10 inch | 1927 | 1931 |
No. 1910
Ratchet Brace
- 1971 — half-boxed ratchet; synthetic head and wrist handle; nickel plated; alligator jaws; ring shifter is plastic.
- 1978 — as above, but hardwood head and wrist handle; steel clad, ball bearing head; nickel plated; pin alligator jaws.
No relationship to the earlier Mohawk-Shelburne model. Out of production 1974-1977.
Illustration from 1979 catalog.
| Model No. | Sweep | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1910 | 10 inch | 1971 | 1981 |
No. 1910 M-S
Mohawk-Shelburne Ratchet Brace
Fully boxed ratchet; lacquered hardwood head and handle; steel clad, ball bearing head; metal rings inserted in wrist handle to prevent splitting; steel washer between ratchet and chuck sockets; nickel plated save for chuck shell and ratchet dogs; Lion ball bearing chuck with forged steel alligator jaws.
Introduced as part of Mohawk-Shelburne series of economy tools, No. 1910 M-S was dropped when the line was discontinued.
Illustration from 1941 catalog.
| Model No. | Sweep | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1910 M-S | 10 inch | 1939 | 1942 |
No. 1950
“Buck Rogers” Brace
- Half-boxed ratchet; opaque red tenite head and handle; steel clad, ball bearing head; nickel plated; forged steel alligator jaws.
- By 1959 — as above, but equipped with toothless alligator jaws.
- Ca. 1974 — as above, but red plastic ring shifter.
This model has been nicknamed the Buck Rogers brace.
More information on the Buck Rogers brace. Illustration from 1960 catalog.
| Model No. | Sweep | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1950 | 10 inch | 1950 | 1976 |
No. 2410
Ratchet Brace
Half-boxed ratchet; plastic head and wrist handle; alligator jaws.
An inexpensive brace with a plastic ring shifter.
Illustration from 1974 catalog.
| Model No. | Sweep | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 2410 | 10 inch | 1974 | 1978 |
Nos. 2510 - 2512
Goodell-Pratt Ratchet Brace
Concealed ratchet; tropical hardwood head and handle; steel clad, ball bearing head; chuck shell with black oil finish; red-enameled forged steel socket; other steel parts nickel plated; Leland’s universal jaws.
Incorporated into the Millers Falls offerings as a premium, heavy duty brace at the time of the 1931 merger.
Illustration from 1935 catalog.
| Model No. | Sweep | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 2510 | 10 inch | acquired 1931 | 1938 |
| No. 2512 | 12 inch | acquired 1931 | 1938 |
No. 5010 - 5012; 5010A; 5010C
Parsons Brace
Fully boxed ratchet; translucent red permaloid head and handle; steel clad, ball bearing head; handle and head ride on oilite bronze bearings; steel washer between ratchet and chuck sockets; chrome plated; ball bearing chuck with Leland’s universal jaws.
No. 5010 was renumbered 5010A, 1957-1964, when economy-type universal jaws were introduced. After the ‘A’ designation was dropped, the cheaper jaws remained. Another version of this brace, numbered 5010C, is known to exist. It features a shorter chuck and economy-type universal jaws.
More information on the Parsons brace. Illustration from 1941 catalog.
| Model No. | Sweep | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 5010 (first) | 10 inch | 1938 | 1957 |
| No. 5010 (second) | 10 inch | 1965 | 1967 |
| No. 5010A | 10 inch | 1957 | 1964 |
| No. 5012 | 12 inch | 1938 | 1942 |
Nos. 7006 - 7014
Goodell-Pratt Ratchet Brace
Fully boxed ratchet; stained hardwood head and handle; steel washer between ratchet and chuck sockets; nickel plated; 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 replaced the roller bearing head with a ball bearing version.
Illustration from 1941 catalog.
| Model No. | Sweep | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 7006 | 6 inch | acquired 1931 | 1942 |
| No. 7008 | 8 inch | acquired 1931 | 1942 |
| No. 7010 | 10 inch | acquired 1931 | 1942 |
| No. 7012 | 12 inch | acquired 1931 | 1942 |
| No. 7014 | 14 inch | acquired 1931 | 1942 |
No. 7312; 7312A
Whimble Brace
- 1922 — fully boxed ratchet; stained hardwood handle and traditional whimble-type head; steel washer between ratchet and chuck sockets; nickel plated; Lion ball bearing chuck with Leland’s universal jaws.
- 1925 — as above, but shell of Lion chuck has rectangular opening with cut away corners to accommodate larger bit shanks.
- 1935 — as above, but mushroom-shaped, steel clad, ball bearing head.
No. 7312 was renumbered 7312A, 1957-1964, when economy-type universal jaws were introduced. After the ‘A’ designation was dropped, the cheaper jaws remained. The offset handle provides an unusually powerful sweep and was preferred by ship builders, bridge builders and other who required a sturdy tool.
Illustration from 1929 catalog.
| Model No. | Sweep | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 7312 (first) | 12 inch | 1922 | 1957 |
| No. 7312 (second) | 12 inch | 1965 | 1971 |
| No. 7312A | 12 inch | 1957 | 1964 |
Nos. 8130 - 8133; 8130A - 8133A
Master Ratchet Brace
Model nos. designated ‘A’ were equipped with a steel clad, ball bearing head.
- 1914 — concealed ratchet; head and handle of tropical hardwood; wrist handle rides on adjustable bearings and brass rings prevent splitting; ball bearing head; steel washer between ratchet and chuck sockets; nickel plated; Master Chuck with Leland’s universal jaws.
- 1915 — as above, but wrist handle lacks adjustable bearings.
- 1917 — as above, but cocobolo head and handle.
This series is identical to Nos. 830-833 but lacks a ball bearing wrist handle.
Illustration from 1919 catalog.
| Model No. | Sweep | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 8130 | 14 inch | 1914 | 1935 |
| No. 8130A | 14 inch | 1914 | 1922 |
| No. 8131 | 12 inch | 1914 | 1935 |
| No. 8131A | 12 inch | 1914 | 1922 |
| No. 8132 | 10 inch | 1914 | 1935 |
| No. 8132A | 10 inch | 1914 | 1922 |
| No. 8133 | 8 inch | 1914 | 1935 |
| No. 8133A | 8 inch | 1914 | 1922 |