Patented & Distinctive Bit Braces
A Research Study
by George Langford, Sc.D.
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Fulton brace with two of three William Peck patents applied

The chuck shell of this brace is marked with the March 6, 1906 date of three consecutive William Peck patents: 
US 814,318, 814,319, and 814,320.  The middle patent covers a ratchet mechanism which is not represented here. 

However, the other two patents were used, but in interesting ways. 

Sandy Moss has another brace made by "Phoenix Hdwe. Mfg. Co., Homer, NY" which uses US 814,318 quite differently.

Mug shot of Phoenix Hdwe. Mfg. Co, brace
The chuck jaws, shown at the upper and lower left corners of the image, only vaguely resemble the patent drawings. 

However, the actual jaws do adhere to Mr. Peck's claims in US 814,320: 

I claim-
1. In a chuck, a pair of opposed jaws, an abutment-block carried by the jaws and extending transversely across the interval between the inner ends thereof, the projection of said abutment being past the gripping portions of the jaws contiguous to the block, whereby such jaw portions overlap the block and maintain an axially centered relation thereto, means for yieldingly pressing the jaws apart and for yieldingly connecting the inner ends thereof, and means for closing the jaws upon a tool.
2. In a chuck, a pair of opposed jaws, a loose abutment-block arranged between the inner ends of the jaws and overlapped by the contiguous portions of the gripping faces, pivot-pins holding the jaws and block in loosely-engaged relation, a spring held in position to the point of support for the jaws and block and arranged to press the jaws apart, and means for closing the jaws.
3. In a chuck, a pair of opposed jaws having recessed inner ends, an abutment block arranged between the inner ends of the jaws and within the recesses thereof, pin members for holding the jaws and block in loosely connected relation, a spring arranged to normally support the jaws at both their inner and outer ends, and means for closing the jaws. 

WILLIAM ALLEN PECK.
What Peck did was to use the spring of claims 2 and 3 to perform simply the function of the stalks on the complex block shown in the patent drawing.
The upper handle or pad is much thicker than that of most braces of the period, but there is no ball like that shown in the patent drawing at right from US 814,318, and there is no large headed adjustment screw visible on the top of the pad, also shown at right.  However, instead of the ball, there is a hardened steel wear plate carried in a cast iron threaded cup and a presumably hardened tip with a centering tit on the end of the brace's arm, all as shown at top right in the upper image and covered by Claim 1 below.  There is even a split washer, as put forth in the claims:

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is -- 
1. The combination with the arm of a bit brace or the like, of a hub member fitting the arm and having a threaded end, a knob body, a chambered nut arranged in the knob body and adjustably engaging the threaded end of the hub member, a split washer received within the nut and held thereby loosely interlocked with the arm of the brace, and a centering bearing projection arranged at the end of the arm in the nut and receiving the thrust from the head or base of the nut.
2. The combination with the arm of a bit brace or the like, of a hub member fitting the arm, a knob-body provided on its outer side with a central hole, a centrally-chambered nut arranged in the knob-body and detachably engaging the hub member, said nut having a threaded opening in its head or base, a retaining device received within the nut and held thereby loosely interlocked with the arm of the brace, a bearing projection at the end of the arm within the nut, and a screw arranged through the hole in the knob and engaging the threaded opening in the head or base of the nut. (Claim 3 not shown) 

WILLIAM ALLEN PECK.
Note that the hub member is quite different from the patent drawing as well.
Patent drawing of pad