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Massive sixteen-inch swing Millers Falls No. 769 brace
with Lion ball-bearing chuck

Described by George Langford
March 9, 2007

Millers Falls No. 769 16 inch brace with Lion chuck
This is one of the largest braces that Millers Falls made.  The diameter of the wire from which the bow was made is 5/8ths inch, so it weighs 5-1/2 pounds.
Top view of pad
This brace was made later in the production life of the model.  The sweep handle has plain bearings.  Fortunately, it still has the brass rings, which in this brace prevented the cracked wood from falling apart.
Wrist handle - plain bearings
Lion chuck Leland jaws
The Lion chuck was made after 1935 because it has the star-shaped opening to accommodate large bits, according to Randy Roeder's fine webpage.
I tried to show the three patent dates, June 25, 1907, February 16, 1909, and November 8, 1910, that were stamped on the shell of the Lion chuck, but even displayed as a negative image, they are still mostly illegible.
Patent dates - illegible, even in negative image