51/52

The brace and bit was used by woodworkers for boring holes. The head was pressed by the workman’s left hand or body while the right hand, grasping the middle, turned the brace rapidly. The bit was often adjustable, but in this case the 2.5 inch bit is glued and wedged into the brace and is not interchangeable.

1 brace and bit: wood and metal [steel]; good condition

Citation in publication [H. J. Massingham, 'Country Relics' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1939)] –'Its natural fellows are three shell-augers in three different sizes given me by Mr Greening...long before the centre-bit and the spiral-bit for use in the modern brace replaced them.' (p.65), MERL list / description [Massingham Collection, October 1989] – 'ACC. NO.: 51/52 // NAME: BRACE + BIT // NEG NO.: 35/36 // STORAGE: ', MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘DESCRIPTION: This is a wooden brace, with fixed bit, of the type used by carpenters and wheelwrights for boring holes before the advent of the steel ratchet brace. The bit is glued and wedged into the brace, with a steel socket round it. The round handle is loose and was pressed to the workman’s [worker's] body, while the tool was revolved. The centre of the tool is pared down where it would be grasped by the right hand. // The tool measures 15.75 inches from handle to bit, and the bit itself is 2.5 inches long.’

Brace, Bit

Wood, Metal, steel