Both
handles were made from American walnut:
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The inscribed date on
the chuck shell is September 13, 1881:
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At the bottom right is the Peck, Stow & Wilcox Co.'s
stamped mark on the shell of the chuck:
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B&D-117 (a.k.a. PEXTO-20)
Price: $50.00
plus shipping
This
venerable brace was made during the span of the patent protection of
both its chuck and its ratchet mechanism. It has received no abuse
except for exposure to humidty, which has left a substantial protective
layer of magnetite. Even the walnut handles have become darkly stained.
Both patent dates are legible, albit with help from the patents
themselves. Right click on the inserted image of the
ratchet housing
in the picture of the taken-apart chuck to see the closeup image of the
patent date.
Everything about the brace works as it should.
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