Brace handle construction

[Steve Maskery]

I was talking with Pete Maddex today about braces and we were contemplating how the handle was installed. The handle is wood and appears to be a single piece. It has bearing inside and spins very freely.
But how is it attached? Is the brace bent after the handle is threaded on? Is the brace in two halves? Is the handle in two halves? It doesn't appear to be.
Can anyone enlighten us please?
Cheers
Steve

 

[JimB]

Bent after fitting the handle I think but like you I like a definitive answer.

 

[AndyT]

Judging by his website and pictures of his collection, George Langford knows more about braces than most of us ever will.

This page on his ighly recommended "George's Basement" site includes these words (my emphasis):

"Brace B&D-C7 provides a rare glimpse at the inner workings of US Patent No. 1,473,423. Without the loose sleeve, we'd never see how it's been assembled.

The first view of a cross section of the brace's wrist handle - the essence of this patent. A sleeve is sweated (i.e., soft soldered) to the bow with the upper cup (called a nut in the patent text) already screwed on, and then the wrist handle is slid into place before the second nut is screwed home nice & tight.

Finally, the bow is bent to its final shape."

 

[JimB]

Andy, that's clear enough. Thanks.

 

[Sheffield Tony]

What a surprising mode of construction. I would have thought that doing the metalwork first then securing a two piece handle with a pair of ferrules threaded on from the end would have been easier. Presumably the bending is done cold then.

 

[AndyT]

It surprised me too.

In contrast, the old 'sixpenny' brace (lightweight wrought iron) did have a ball shaped handle made in two halves and dowelled together over the metal.

 

[Steve Maskery]

So the bending, at least the second bend, is done after the handle is fitted.
They are actually quite clever bits of engineering, really, aren't they?
Thanks for the replies chaps.
S

 

[Phil Pascoe]

If they are bent after the handle is fitted...why does the chrome not crack?

 

[Steve Maskery]

Good q. I have two here in front of me, a modern chromed one and an older one which isn't chrommed.
The old one has a wooden handle. The modern one has a plastic handle and that one does look as if it was moulded in two halves and has white plastic ferrules over the ends. I can't pull it apart, so presumably it is bonded somehow.
So perhaps construction methods have changed over the years.
S

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I'm sure I have a wooden handled chromed one - but all my tools are in storage, so I can't check.

 

[AndyT]

If they are bent after the handle is fitted...why does the chrome not crack?

Following one of the patents on George's Basement gives the logical answer for at least one manufacturer - first the top is bent and plated; then the handle is slid on; then the bottom part is bent; then the bottom part is plated.

 

[Eric Brown]

The patent for sliding the handle on and then bending the arms was issued to H.S. Bartholomew (US patent #32,347) on May 21, 1861. Most braces were plated with nickel, a softer metal that could be bent without breaking. Chrome was not invented until about the early 1900's. There were however other ways handles were attached. The Spofford style sometimes used two halves held together with pewter rings. The pewter was poured into grooves at each end of the handle usually, but examples have been seen that only have a center ring. There were also many patents on how the handle was held in position. Sometimes a pewter collar was cast, brass collars soldered or pinned, and some steel collars had set screws for adjustment. There were other ideas used as well, but they are rare.

Eric

 

[woodbrains]

Good q. I have two here in front of me, a modern chromed one and an older one which isn't chrommed.
The old one has a wooden handle. The modern one has a plastic handle and that one does look as if it was moulded in two halves and has white plastic ferrules over the ends. I can't pull it apart, so presumably it is bonded somehow.
So perhaps construction methods have changed over the years.
S

Hello,

The plastic handle is likely to bo solid, it is the injection mould that will be in 2 halves, it is just the witness marks showing on the plastic.

Mike.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Ah, Yes, that would make sense.
Thank you all for your contributions, I'm now more hedukated than I was.
S

 

[Vann]

Judging by his website and pictures of his collection, George Langford knows more about braces than most of us ever will.

"A sleeve is sweated (i.e., soft soldered) to the bow with the upper cup (called a nut in the patent text) already screwed on, and then the wrist handle is slid into place before the second nut is screwed home nice & tight.

Finally, the bow is bent to its final shape."

I guess that's how the top end braces were made.

Nearer the bottom end is this Skinner 8" brace.

No fancy sleeves with screwed on nuts.

I believe the two aluminium alloy "nuts" and wooden "wrist handle" are slid on loose, before the bow is bent to it's final shape. Then the three loose wrist components are centred and the two "nuts" crimped in place. Possibly the machine that clamps the bow while bending was also designed to deform the rod of the bow to form the ridges (visible in the third photo) at the same time.

Unfortunately I don't think there's an easy fix to this :duno: I think it's going to get binned .

Cheers, Vann.

 

[mu]

This is a restore of an old brace that a friend has inherited from grandfather. He make a new chrome finish with the handle mounted and the process doesn't affect the wood.

Hope this help.