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Thread: Brace Fanatics

  1. #91
    Boringgeoff is offline Try not to be late, but never be early.
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    Good morning,
    I bought this small brass brace from a friend recently. It's a 4 1/2 inch sweep and I would call it an armourers brace, made of non sparking metal for use in an inflammable environment. Branding on one side of the chuck is OSLER 1918 with a Government arrow and on the other side is a large Roman numeral IV.
    Can anyone tell me anything about this manufacturer, is the tool brass or bronze and is armourers brace the correct term?
    Thanks,
    Geoff.
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  3. #92
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    Normally, we wait for this guy called Geoff to rock up and answer those kind of questions!

  4. #93
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    Millers Falls Barber Ratchet Brace Produced circa. 1880

    No. 33 - 8 inch sweep
    Barber chuck
    Amidon spring-less jaws
    Dolin ratchet device
    Brazilian rosewood wrist handle
    Lignum Vitae head

    James

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  6. #95
    Boringgeoff is offline Try not to be late, but never be early.
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    I've consulted our friend Mr Google and decided that the material the brace is made of is probably bronze, but open to correction on that. Good point Hiroller where is that know-all B..Geoff when you want him ?
    James, thanks for your two links, I've never seen a North Bros "Yankee" brace but a lot of commentators sing their praises and the consensus seems to be that they are superior to every other make. I've got a couple of their chain drills which were available in the 1935 McPhersons catalogue.
    Cheers,
    Geoff.

  7. #96
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    Quote Originally Posted by Boringgeoff View Post
    .......... James, thanks for your two links, I've never seen a North Bros "Yankee" brace but a lot of commentators sing their praises and the consensus seems to be that they are superior to every other make. I've got a couple of their chain drills which were available in the 1935 McPhersons catalogue.
    Cheers,
    Geoff.
    Thanks Geoff. Please excuse me posting links instead of pics. I have severe leg edema that prevents me typing at the computer for any length of time -- and gathering and posting images.

    From what you say, Geoff, North Bros "Yankee" braces must not be easy to come by in Australia. I don't recall seeing any in the UK when I was younger either -- I didn't own one until the early 1960s here in the U.S. They are, in my opinion, very good indeed.

    James

  8. #97
    Boringgeoff is offline Try not to be late, but never be early.
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    James,
    I don't know about the availability of North Bros braces in Aus' but their Yankee screwdrivers were certainly popular here. A house we built in 1978 the cabinet maker who built all the cupboards and the cyclone shutters used a Yankee screwdriver exclusively.
    Braces that were made to hold square tapered tanged bits and nothing else are what ring my bell, when various makers got on the "Barber band wagon" to make a more versatile chuck is when I start losing interest.
    When looking for old braces at swap meets, markets and the like I would probably pass a Yankee without a second glance.
    I better go, there's a queue a mile long waiting to tell me about my Bronze Osler brace.
    Cheers,
    Geoff.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Boringgeoff View Post
    James,
    I don't know about the availability of North Bros braces in Aus' but their Yankee screwdrivers were certainly popular here. A house we built in 1978 the cabinet maker who built all the cupboards and the cyclone shutters used a Yankee screwdriver exclusively.
    Hi Geoff. I think that's because Stanley UK started making "Yankee" screwdrivers in Sheffield, so when we switched to "buy Empire/Commonweath" post-WW2 we were still able to get "Yankee" screwdrivers, but not "Yankee" braces. I bought a "Yankee" No.130A screwdriver during my apprenticeship (~1973). It was a Sheffield product. I'd never even heard of a "Yankee" brace until I started reading forums about 8 years ago. Admittedly I have picked up a North Bros "Yankee" screwdriver (in very worn condition) on Trademe, and two North Bros "Yankee" braces (a 2100 and a 2101) one of which is in working condition.

    It appears to me that most North Bros or Stanley USA tools over here are either pre-1930s, or brought over by individuals, not retailers.

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

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    Quote Originally Posted by Boringgeoff View Post
    James,
    I don't know about the availability of North Bros braces in Aus' but their Yankee screwdrivers were certainly popular here. A house we built in 1978 the cabinet maker who built all the cupboards and the cyclone shutters used a Yankee screwdriver exclusively .......... Geoff.
    These screwdrivers, especially the quick-return heavy pattern (No. 131 & No.131A), were much used in the truck cab and body building trade to which I belonged in the late 1940s. Just about every craftsman and apprentice had one in their tool box. I have devoted this web page to them.

    I have always had a great fondness for North Bros. "YANKEE" tools, Geoff, and have owned and used many during my lifetime. I have always found them to be superbly made and of the highest quality. I have devoted this web page to them in general.

    James

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    Quote Originally Posted by Vann View Post
    Hi Geoff. I think that's because Stanley UK started making "Yankee" screwdrivers in Sheffield, so when we switched to "buy Empire/Commonweath" post-WW2 we were still able to get "Yankee" screwdrivers, but not "Yankee" braces. I bought a "Yankee" No.130A screwdriver during my apprenticeship (~1973). It was a Sheffield product. I'd never even heard of a "Yankee" brace until I started reading forums about 8 years ago. Admittedly I have picked up a North Bros "Yankee" screwdriver (in very worn condition) on Trademe, and two North Bros "Yankee" braces (a 2100 and a 2101) one of which is in working condition.

    It appears to me that most North Bros or Stanley USA tools over here are either pre-1930s, or brought over by individuals, not retailers.

    Cheers, Vann.
    Those are good observations Vann. I couldn't find a YANKEE spiral ratchet screwdriver in any Burnley Ironmonger shops when I started my Apprenticeship at Tillotson's in 1947 -- but it was hard to find ANY new tools in shops at that time. I did buy a pre-war North Bros. No. 131A quick-return heavy pattern from an old retiring craftsman however. I think a lot of those old men had come by those screwdrivers (maybe part of the US Lend-Lease program ?) when they worked in Aircraft factories during the war -- they were a popular tool for that work. I never asked anyone that, just my thought. Stanley bought out North Bros. in 1946 but I think it took a good while for Sheffield made YANKEE tools to be available for sale in Burnley.

    Added: Please remember those are recollections of some seventy years ago -- I am not at all certain of the details.

    "There are three sure signs of growing old. The first is loss of memory -- I have forgotten the other two!"

    James

  12. #101
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    Quote Originally Posted by Boringgeoff View Post
    made of non sparking metal for use in an inflammable environment.
    Beryllium Copper alloy is common in non sparking tools used in the petro-chemical industry. I have purchased many non sparking tools, and having a healthy bank account is the first requirement before contemplating a purchase!
    Have a look at Non sparking Hammers to see the range available.

    Alan...

  13. #102
    Boringgeoff is offline Try not to be late, but never be early.
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    Thanks Alan, chisels and files too so Berryllium Copper must be pretty hard. I was assuming any tool used in my brace ie screwdriver bit, would be steel but that would negate the non sparking requirement. I've never seen any brace tools made of anything other than steel.
    Geoff.

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    As far as I am aware, if you want berryllium alloy in anything then best buy it second hand now. I believe it is highly toxic (in the manufacturing phase) and no longer being made.

  15. #104
    Boringgeoff is offline Try not to be late, but never be early.
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    I've made an executive decision that the bronze brace is bronze not beryllium. Reasons for this thinking is advice I have received from an acquaintance that beryllium copper is a post WW1 development.
    Cheers,
    Geoff.

  16. #105
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    Geoff
    you seem to have a lot of braces! Do have many interesting augers to show us? No use having the brace ith out the bit?

    Will be keen to see some of the old and interesting bits you have.

    Cheers stew

    drum maker

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