Goodell-Pratt Bit Braces

This listing has been developed from information found in Goodell Brothers and Goodell-Pratt Company catalogs. The features listed for each drill may differ from actual examples. While the company typically stressed new features in its catalogs, it seldom mentioned the disappearance of a feature or the addition of 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.

No. 83

Goodell-Pratt Universal Ratchet Handle no. 83Universal Ratchet Handle

  1. 1905 — lignum vitae ball bearing head; set screw to fix attachments to socket; japanned crank handle; polished socket.
  2. 1920 — as above, but hardwood head.

Socket has square, tapered hole and set screw for fastening a bit, screwdriver, or nut wrench. Manufactured by the Millers Falls company from 1931.

Illustration from 1911 catalog.

Model Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 83 ca. 8 inches 1905 1933

No. 84

Goodell-Pratt Universal Ratchet Handle no. 84 Universal Ratchet Handle

  1. 1907 — lignum vitae ball bearing head; shell-type, two-jaw chuck with curved profile; japanned crank handle; bright parts nickel plated.
  2. 1909 — as above, but chuck profile now straight-sided.
  3. 1920 — as above, but hardwood head.

For square shank bits. Manufactured by the Millers Falls company from 1931.

Illustration from 1911 catalog.

Model Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 84 ca. 8 inches 1907 1933

No. 85

Goodell-Pratt Universal Ratchet Handle no. 85Universal Ratchet Handle

  1. 1907 — lignum vitae ball bearing head; three-jaw chuck is adjustable from 0 to 1/2 inch; japanned crank handle; bright parts nickel plated.
  2. 1920 — as above, but hardwood head.

For round shank drills. Manufactured by the Millers Falls company from 1931.

Illustration from 1911 catalog.

Model Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 85 ca. 8 inches 1907 1935

Nos. 208 - 214

Goodell-Pratt Brace Goodell Brace

  1. ca. 1896 — lignum vitae head and cocobolo handle; ball bearing head; sweep handle runs on adjustable steel collars; nickel plated.
  2. 1917 — as above, but steel clad, roller bearing head.
  3. 1920 — as above, but head and handle finished with mahogany enamel.

Illustration from 1911 catalog.

Model Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 208 8 inches ca. 1896 1930
No. 210 10 inches ca. 1896 1931
No. 212 12 inches ca. 1896 1930
No. 214 14 inches ca. 1896 1930

No. 215

Goodell-Pratt Universal Corner BraceUniversal Corner Brace

  1. 1905 — hardwood handles; steadying handle adjustable to eight different positions; two-position adjustable crank, enclosed drive gears; two-jaw chuck; japanned surfaces with bright parts nickel plated.
  2. 1920 — as above, iron parts are finished with red and black enamel.

Especially useful for electricians, this brace was patented by A. D. Goodell in 1905. (United States Letters Patent No. 789536).

Illustration from 1911 catalog.

Model Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 215 n/a 1905 1931

Nos. 260 - 262

Goodell-Pratt whimble braceWhimble Brace

  1. 1909 — ball bearing head; sweep handle runs on adjustable steel collars; nickel plated.
  2. 1915 — as above, but steel clad, ball bearing head.
  3. 1917 — as above, but steel clad, roller bearing head.

For boring in heavy timbers and hard woods. Manufactured by the Millers Falls company from 1931.

Illustration from 1926 catalog.

 

Model Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 260 10 inches 1909 1933
No. 262 12 inches 1909 1933

No. 345

Goodell-Pratt angular brace no. 345Angular Brace

Main casting is japanned; setting mechanism prevents slipping; bright parts are nickel plated.

Used with bit brace or breast drill as an extension or angular borer.

Illustration from 1925 catalog.

Model Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 345 n/a 1915 1931

Nos. 408 -414

Goodell-Pratt Ratchet Brace Goodell Ratchet Brace

  1. 1892 — Albert Goodell's lever-controlled ratchet; Albert Goodell's clothespin jaws; lignum vitae head and cocobolo handle; ball bearing head; sweep handle runs on adjustable steel collars; nickel plated.
  2. 1905 — as above, but ratchet controlled by eye-hook lever.
  3. 1913 — as above, but steel clad, ball bearing head.
  4. 1917 — as above, but steel clad, roller bearing head.
  5. 1920 — as above, but rosewood head and handle.
  6. 1930 — as above, but tropical hardwood head and handle.

The brace patented by A. D. Goodell in 1892. (United States Letters Patent No. 488691). Manufactured by the Millers Falls company from 1931.

Illustration from 1926 catalog.

Model Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 408 8 inches 1892 1930
No. 410 10 inches 1892 1931
No. 412 12 inches 1892 1933
No. 414 14 inches 1892 1930

Nos. 1308 - 1314

Goodell-Hay Ratchet Brace Goodell-Hay Ratchet Brace

  1. ca. 1896 — Albert Goodell's lever-controlled ratchet; lignum vitae head and cocobolo handle; ball bearing head; sweep handle runs on adjustable steel collars; Hay patent quick-action chuck requires only a half turn to tighten or loosen bit; nickel plated.
  2. 1911 — as above, but ratchet controlled by eye-hook lever.
  3. 1913 — as above, but steel clad, ball bearing head.
  4. 1917 — as above, but steel clad, roller bearing head.
  5. 1920 — as above, but rosewood head and handle.

Features Francis M. Hay's quick action chuck (United States Letters Patent No. 526314).

Illustration from 1911 catalog.

Model Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 1308 8 inches ca. 1896 1930
No. 1310 10 inches ca. 1896 1930
No. 1312 12 inches ca. 1896 1930
No. 1314 14 inches ca. 1896 1930

Nos. 2508 - 2512

Goodell-Pratt Ratchet BraceRatchet Brace

  1. 1926 — concealed ratchet; ratchet controlled by knurled dial on end of chuck shank; rosewood head and handle; steel clad, roller bearing head; universal chuck with Lloyd L. Miller's spring-type jaws; chuck shell with black oil finish; red-enameled forged steel socket; other steel parts nickel plated.
  2. 1930 — as above, but tropical hardwood head and handle.
  3. 1935 — as above, but steel clad, ball bearing head.

Features Fred E. Farley's universal chuck and ratchet mechanism, a design covered by United States Letters Patent No. 1,508,512. Lloyd L. Miller's jaws were covered by United States Letters Patent No. 1,593,908.

Incorporated into the Millers Falls Company's offerings as a premium, heavy-duty brace at the time of the 1931 merger. Lloyd L. Miller's jaws were soon replaced by the company's standard-issue universal jaws and the brace's roller bearing head by a ball bearing head.

Illustration from 1926 catalog.

Model Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 2508 8 inches 1930 1931
No. 2510 10 inches 1926 1938
No. 2512 12 inches 1926 1938

Nos. 6006 - 6014

Goodell-Pratt Ratchet Brace Ratchet Brace

  1. 1916 — fully boxed ratchet; ring shifter ratchet adjustment; cocobolo head and handle; steel clad, roller bearing head; sweep handle runs on adjustable steel collars; nickel plated.
  2. 1920 — as above, but hardwood head and handle finished with mahogany enamel.

Illustration from 1926 catalog.

Model Sweep Start Date End Date
6006 6 inches 1926 1930
6008 8 inches 1916 1930
6010 10 inches 1916 1930
6012 12 inches 1916 1930
6014 14 inches 1916 1930

Nos. 7006 - 7014

Goodell-Pratt Ratchet Brace Ratchet Brace

  1. 1917 — fully boxed ratchet; ring shifter ratchet adjustment; hardwood head and handle finished with ebony-colored rubber enamel; steel clad, roller bearing head; sweep handle runs on adjustable steel collars; nickel plated.
  2. 1930 — as above, but hardwood head and handle finished with mahogany enamel.
  3. 1935 — as above, but steel washer between ratchet and chuck sockets; 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 re-designed the brace replacing the roller bearing head with a ball bearing head and replacing the Goodell-Pratt version of a fully boxed ratchet with its own.

Illustration from 1923 catalog.

Model Sweep Start Date End Date
7006 6 inches 1930 1942
7008 8 inches 1917 1942
7010 10 inches 1917 1942
7012 12 inches 1917 1942
7014 14 inches 1917 1942

Nos. 8010 - 8012

Goodell-Pratt Ratchet Brace Ratchet Brace

  1. Fully boxed ratchet; ring shifter ratchet adjustment; hardwood head and handle finished with black enamel; steel clad, roller bearing head; sweep handle runs on adjustable steel collars; metallic parts polished.

Not pictured in the company catalog. Save for finishes, similar to the Nos. 7010-7012.

Model Sweep Start Date End Date
No. 8010 10 inches 1930 1931
No. 8012 12 inches 1930 1931