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Thread: Brace Fanatics

  1. #106
    Boringgeoff is offline Try not to be late, but never be early.
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    You're dead right Stew, without a bit a brace is a pretty useless piece of bent metal and wood. My preference is the older braces made to chuck the tools with the square tapered drive tang. These braces are unable to grip a round bit.
    Take for instance this example by Milton Nobles which recently celebrated it's 150th birthday.
    Nobles and Backus 001.jpg
    There is a square hole in the back of the chuck to locate the bit and the split shell with locking ring screws down on the shoulder of the bit to lock it in place.
    Nobles and Backus 002.jpg Nobles and Backus 003.jpgNobles and Backus 004.jpg
    Now we all know that 90% of the use of a brace and bit will not require a ratchet and to that end Milton didn't equip it with one. "But what if you do need to get into a tight corner where a ratchet would be handy?" I hear you ask. Well my old mate Quimby Backus covered that eventuality in 1873 with his nifty ratchet attachment.
    Nobles and Backus 006.jpgNobles and Backus 005.jpg
    This tool again has a square socket into which you seat the tang of the bit and the two little jaws mounted in the chuck pull down on the shoulder of the tang as you tighten it. Rachet, forward, reverse and locked were selected in the usual manner.
    Unfortunately for the old Quimbster, Millers Falls thought he had stolen the chuck and the ratchet idea from them and took him to court and it was out of production by 1880.
    Now what about if you're one of those trouble makers that wants to put a (gasp) round shank bit in the brace "Milton Nobles won't be much use to you now" I hear you sneer. No worries, I'll utilise the adaptor that was made by Wiley and Russell from a patent from 1869 and get
    myself out of trouble.
    Nobles and Backus 007.jpgNobles and Backus 008.png

    Cheers,
    Geoff.

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  3. #107
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    More geoff this is awesome stuff!

    drum maker

  4. #108
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    Yep, didn't know a boring topic could be so interesting!

    Cheers,
    IW

  5. #109
    Boringgeoff is offline Try not to be late, but never be early.
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    Hi all,
    I got this adjustable centre bit from a good friend yesterday and I'm wondering if any one here can give me any info on it. The bit has SMITH & SONS. SHEFFIELD on it and the adjustable arm says J ANDERSON'S PAT' SEACOMBE ENG'.
    Cheers,
    Geoff.
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  7. #111
    Boringgeoff is offline Try not to be late, but never be early.
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    Why am I not embarrassed to say "Got one of these"? I've tried it out using modern high tensile wire and it works ok. I think that the head, being a hard little cast iron knob, is useful for bashing the twist of wire over to avoid tearing your leg wide open as you walk past.
    I've tried to attach a couple of drawings from his 1923 US patent 1,469,711 that show how it works.
    Cheers,
    Geoff.
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  8. #112
    Boringgeoff is offline Try not to be late, but never be early.
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    On the subject of wire twisters, I have this Mossberg No 611 which I think is for twisting lock wires on engine bolts and the like. It has two different size 'grippers' available by undoing the screw on the end and swapping the "gripper" around. The two ends of the lock wire would be inserted in the "gripper", the locking handle pulled down over centre to firmly grip the wire, then the brace cranked to twist and tighten the wire. At least that's the BG theory.
    Mossberg were a well known automotive tool manufacturer in the USA, I contacted the Mossberg Museum for a positive ID some time ago but haven't heard back as yet.
    Cheers,
    Geoff.
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  9. #113
    Boringgeoff is offline Try not to be late, but never be early.
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    Default AECO Australia.

    Hi all,
    I thought it about time to get some class back into this forum by dragging the brace fanatics back to the surface.
    I recently came into possession of an AECO Australia brace which differs from the one I already have. Where my old one has a thumb screw to open and close the chuck this one uses a circular knurled flat knob. The brace appears to be galvanised.
    I still have been unable to find any info on AECO Australia.
    Cheers,
    Geoff.
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    Last edited by Boringgeoff; 5th November 2017 at 05:55 PM. Reason: Correction.

  10. #114
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    Default Cecil E. Mayo - MAO Tools.

    Sick of talking about planes and saws? Lets get back to some interesting tools, yep good old braces.
    I recently got hold of this MAO 14" No 88 brace. The HTPAA tool register tells us that it was made in NSW by Cecil E. Mayo Pty Ltd
    In the photo, you can see, as well as the MAO brand there are the letters ABE in a circle, my query is what does this brand mean?
    Any other info will be gratefully received ie year of manufacture etc.
    Cheers,
    Geoff.
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  11. #115
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    Quote Originally Posted by Boringgeoff View Post
    Sick of talking about planes and saws? Lets get back to some interesting tools, yep good old braces.
    .
    Hey! Language!!



    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

  12. #116
    Boringgeoff is offline Try not to be late, but never be early.
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    Wash my mouth out. According to the HTPAA he made braces (ratchet and plain) T type wrenches, plumb bobs, trammels, hand/breast drills, marking gauges.
    If only he'd made some saws, chisels or planes, then we could be having a conversation.
    Cheers,
    Geoff.

  13. #117
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    Quote Originally Posted by Boringgeoff View Post
    ....... If only he'd made some saws, chisels or planes, then we could be having a conversation....
    Nah, don't be discouraged Geoff, I suspect the low level of comment simply reflects the ignorance most of us posses when it comes to braces (well, I can vouch for my own ignorance, anyway!). However, don't hesitate to hit us with as many bracy facts as you like, I find them interesting, & they are here to look up when we need to......

    Cheers,
    IW

  14. #118
    Boringgeoff is offline Try not to be late, but never be early.
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    Thanks Ian, I guess the main difference is that whereas the aforementioned saws, chisels planes are the actual tools that engage the wood, a brace is the handle for the tool. This observation could then lead to a comparison of how well a certain brace grips the tool its supposed to turn or which brand of auger bit is superior. If I was boring heaps of holes every day, ie a farm fencing contractor years ago, then I'm sure I'd have a "go to" favourite brace. At that time I'm sure there'd be a conversation among 'borers" as to which brand and type of brace was best for the job they were doing and of course this discussion would also include auger bits.
    But back to the important question: what do youse know about Cecil E Mayo?
    Cheers,
    Geoff.

  15. #119
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    I can tell you that the company still exists and you might be able to contact them to find out more!
    History - Mayo Hardware -

  16. #120
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    Thanks HR, I followed your link and have contacted them, I look forward to their reply.
    Cheers,
    Geoff.

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