Can anyone identify the kind of brace drill in the Studley tool chest?
https://www.finewoodworking.com/2006/12/28/the-studley-tool-chest-gets-a-facelift
https://www.finewoodworking.com/2006/12/28/the-studley-tool-chest-gets-a-facelift
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Studley's Brace Drill
- Thread starter Mb4
- Start date
Dave455
Well-known member
Well first of all it’s just a “brace”, not a “brace drill”.
When I first saw it, I thought it was a Marples, and indeed it might be, but it’s not their famous “ultimatum” brace.
On close inspection, It’s definitely a Sheffield made tool. I have seen that exact pattern down to every detail. I can’t recall the maker though. In that era there were loads of small hand tool makers, many not well known now.
When I first saw it, I thought it was a Marples, and indeed it might be, but it’s not their famous “ultimatum” brace.
On close inspection, It’s definitely a Sheffield made tool. I have seen that exact pattern down to every detail. I can’t recall the maker though. In that era there were loads of small hand tool makers, many not well known now.
neophyte
Well-known member
This TA Park looks sort of similar, but not exactly the same.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/antique-19...4b51b92582b563c66d6d|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2334524
I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a number of different manufacturers, who all used similar hardware and metal fittings produced by one or a few different makes, with the wood parts produced in small workshops.
This was somewhat standard manufacturing in Sheffield in certain industries up until WW2.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/antique-19...4b51b92582b563c66d6d|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2334524
I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a number of different manufacturers, who all used similar hardware and metal fittings produced by one or a few different makes, with the wood parts produced in small workshops.
This was somewhat standard manufacturing in Sheffield in certain industries up until WW2.
Dave455
Well-known member
I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a number of different manufacturers, who all used similar hardware and metal fittings produced by one or a few different makes, with the wood parts produced in small workshops.
This was somewhat standard manufacturing in Sheffield in certain industries up until WW2.
That was exactly how it worked!
The “maker” would actually make very little. Maybe only one big part, and everything else would be bought in from a specialist. As most of the makers were producing standard patterns as well, it can be very difficult to determine who the actual maker was without a mark.
This is why I can say with a degree of certainty it’s a Sheffield tool, but not the actual maker.
The hand tool industry was one of the first to move away from this type of manufacturing, and towards “mass production” but many lower volume items were still made by traditional methods long after the war.
The cutlery industry never, ever, moved to pure mass production. Even when you bought a “factory” knife, you were actually getting a hand made one. Total insanity, in a modern world where a hand made knife is generally so much more valuable than a factory one!
Last edited:
gm54210
Well-known member
The cutlery industry never, ever, moved to pure mass production. Even when you bought a “factory” knife, you were actually getting a hand made one. Total insanity, in a modern world where a hand made knife is generally so much more valuable than a factory one!
These guys still make scissors by hand