Author: Wayne Cox
What bit braces to look for
Here are some bit braces to look for.
North Brothers Yankee braces, including the 2100, 2100A, 2101, and 2101A series. 8”, 10”, 12”. 14”. Example of 6” versions are rare but known. Whimble braces exist. North Brothers are better Quality than Stanley. North Brothers was acquired by Stanley in 1946 and their line of tools was incorporated into Stanley’s offerings. This brace was used by Bell Telephone and many of them are marked “Bell Systems”.
Yankee Braces ( 12” 2100, 10” 2101, 8” 2100)
North Bros 2100 12” Yankee
Millers Falls – Holdall brace with Leland Universal jaws.
Nos. 729 – 734; 729A – 734A
733 Millers Falls Hold All
Millers Falls – Lion brace with Leland Universal jaws.
Nos. 769 – 774; 770A – 773A
Nos. 870 – 873; 870A – 873A
Nos. 1769 – 1773
Nos. 1870 – 1872
Millers Falls 771 12” Lion Brace
Millers Falls – Master Ratchet brace with Leland Universal jaws.
Nos. 830 – 833; 830A – 833A
Nos. 8130 – 8133
Miller Falls – Parsons Deluxe Ratchet brace with Leland Universal jaws (this line is expensive, but very nice)
No. 5010 – 5012; 5010A; 5010C
Parsons 5010
Peck, Stow, and Wilcox (also P. S. & W and PEXTO) braces with the Sampson chuck and jaws. 8000 Series (e.g. 8010)
Here is a 10” with Sampson chuck. this one has an 1895 patent date on the chuck. It is marked P.S. & W. These are similar to the Millers falls Lion brace.
Stanley 921, 923 series
Stanley 901
Stanley 800 series (More info can be seen here —>)
Here is a few side by side comparisons
12” Lion and 12” North Bros 2100 Yankee
12” Yankee and 12” Millers Falls 731 Holdall
12” Lion and 12” Holdall
10” Yankee 2101 and 10” Goodell Pratt 2510
Millers Falls Lion Chuck and a no name, typical brace Chuck
2” Lion and 12” Yankee Chucks
12” Yankee and 12” Holdall
12” Lion and 12” Holdall
10” Yankee 2101 and a Goodell Pratt 2510 Chucks
Goodell-Pratt 25xx series