I have only included information here on the Braces that relate to Woodworking Tools. Many other Engineers’ and other braces may be found in the catalogues.

I can trace MARPLES involvement in the production of the Iron based braces back to the 1846 List and they were probably made slightly before that time especially since it is shown there as an ‘Improved’ version! Only a Scotch Improved Iron Brace is mentioned at this time which is the same tool as advertised below in the 1861 Catalogue.

The 1873 Catalogue has this entry:

By 1897 products have drastically increased with the introduction of the ‘American Pattern’ brace with all of its’ refinements:

The 1909 Catalogue [below] has all the usual Item number changes to confuse us.

The 1921 Catalogue, shortly after WW1, shows the usual reduction in commodities  [which rebounded by 1928]  :

The 1928 Catalogue:

By 1938 we see this detail:

By 1959 things were completely different:

And by 1965 [below] the bottom of the barrel has been reached, since nobody then wanted to actually turn a handle to bore a hole, it had to be electric, hence the demise of the Brace and Bit.

In the Price List of May 1966 here are the prices, followed by those of Nov 1969:

1440        28/3d                                  33/6d.
1445        34/-                                     40/-
1452        47/6d                                  withdrawn
1475        19/6d                                   24/-

The last information I can find is in the Supplemental Catalogue of 1971 wherein is noted a #1440 10″ as being still available.

I hope to have some real examples up here soon, but I am still working on them.  A Brace is the hardest tool to restore adequately and takes many hours of work on each one.  Most are found in a very bad state of repair and though cheap to buy, cost much in hours of work, and then some of them simply cannot be restored!!

Here you will find a list of Brace Item numbers and the years that they were produced.  Please note that I start this list at 1909 due only to the complexity of changed descriptions, changed item numbers and the fact that it is hardly likely that you will find any decent braces before 1909 because they all received a hard life!!
The dates given are only an estimate and are the dates found in the catalogues and price Lists. Therefore the real introductory date may be a few years before the date given and the real end of production date may be a couple of years after the date shown.  This * means that these braces do NOT appear in the 1921 Catalogue, due to the fact that they are either Nickel Plated or discontinued.

1405            <1909
1406/7       <1909
1420           1909-April 1961
1421            1909-1938*
1424           1909-1938
1425            1909-1938*
1426            1909-1914?*
1427            1909-1914?*
1440           1909-1971
1440A        1938-Sept. 1955
1441            1909-1938*
1445           1909-June 1970
1446           1909- Nov. 1963*
1447           1909-1938
1447A        1938-?
1450           1909-1938
1451            1909-1928*
1452            1909-Nov. 1969
1455            1909-1938*
1460           1928-1938
1470           1909-1914?*
1474           1959-Nov. 1963
1475           1909-June 1970
1476           1909-1938*
1480           1909-1938
1481            1909-1938
1482            1928-1938
1490           1909-1921
1491            1909-Nov. 1963
1493            1909-1914?*
1494            1909-1914?*
1495            1909-1938
1495.1/2     1909-1938

I will be showcasing some MARPLES braces below in numerical sequence:

The Wagon Builders’ Brace:

This is one of the oldest Braces produced by MARPLES since 1873 when it was numbered #365 [Waggon Iron Brace]. No size is stated there. By 1897 the production increased to include #472 as the 14″ ‘usual size’ and #472A available in sizes 10,11,12,13,16 and 18 inch sweeps. By 1909 the name had changed forever to ‘Wagon Builders’ Brace’, was renumbered to #1420 and now was only available in 10,12,14 and 16 inch sweeps. The 1921 Catalogue shows the same details but in 1928 the 16 inch sweep was dropped from the line.  In 1938 although the same sweeps [10,12 and 14 inches] are listed there had been a slight design change in that the bulbous steel centre handle had been changed to the now standard revolving wooden handle. Below is the 1928 Cat. entry followed by 1938, showing the different handles.

The 1959 Catalogue shows that only the 14″ sweep was available and by April 1961 the Price List shows ‘withdrawn’.

Below is a later example #1440

More examples will be coming  Aug 2025……………….

 

 

 

Extension Bit Holders:

These long bit holders enabled the workman to drill a hole much longer than the length of the actual bit. It appears that they were first available in the 1909 Catalogue and were available as a holder with an Octagon Holding Cap [#1496 seen below] and as a cheaper item with a ‘Thumbscrew Socket’ [#1497]. Both these types, throughout their history, were only available 10″-24″.  In the 1928 Catalogue #1496 is described as having a ‘Chuck’. Both were last listed in the December 1959 Price List.

 

 

 

 

 

The earliest reference to MARPLES manufacturing Wooden Braces is to be found in the 1846 List wherein are listed ‘Best Braces‘ (9/- ea.) and ‘Improved Plated Braces‘. (13/- ea.)  The latter being exactly the same as the ‘Best‘ but with the added strength of brass plates inlet and screwed to the sides of the arms [which were the Achilles Heel of these braces being made of short grain timber and easily fractured under stress.]  The ‘Improved Plated Braces‘  could also be had with an Improved Brass Neck Head  for 2/- extra and were also available in Ebony, Box or Rosewood at 12/- extra to the standard Plated Beech.

A giant step in technology and quality was the introduction of the ‘Ultimatum’ Brace, patented by MARPLES in 1849.
A superb analysis of the MARPLES Ultimatum Brace  was published by Author and ‘Ultimatum’ Expert Reg Eaton, called ‘THE ULTIMATE BRACE‘.  As such I will not attempt to give any details here, but will thoroughly recommend you to read that book. [ISBN 0 9514695 0 9]

In the 1861 catalogue we have this listing:

The 1868 Catalogue shows this:

I am sorry about the quality of the 2 above pictures, but they are copies of copies etc!!
Although not shown here the ‘Best’ and ‘Improved Plated’ braces were still manufactured.

BUT, what is new information is that the 1868 catalogue shows that an item numbering system was in place at that time, when previously I had thought that this started in c.1873!

The 1873 Catalogue shows this picture [I only have a picture of the text as the actual picture of the brace is missing from the Hawley Museum files].

Although not shown here the ‘Best’ and ‘Improved Plated’ braces were still manufactured at this time.

The 1897 Catalogue shows that a wooden ‘Coopers’ Brace’ is manufactured [I do not know when this started] as well as the normal braces:

The above brace #458 is described as ‘with Brass Neck Head‘ added to #454

The 1909 Catalogue issues are noted below [note the Item number changes]:

I do not know for sure when the Wooden Braces were discontinued, but their demise was totally due to the emergence of the American Style steel brace and by 1921 there is nothing about the wooden braces to be seen!