Here is a rare antique brace that reached the height of perfection during the 1800’s in Sheffield England. It is a design that started during the late 1700’s and by the mid 1800’s became well known throughout the industrial world. It is a stunning brace with a fine aged beech wood body and un-shined brass plates. It has a turned brass neck and an ebony turned head with a bone or similar material disc at the top with spanner holes. The cast brass chuck has a brass button to release the spring catch for the notched tang of the drill bits. “T. TILLOTSON, SHEFFIELD” with a crown coat of arms is uniquely stamped on the upper brass strengthening plate. This is unlike any other Sheffield plated brace and makes this a very rare piece. A smililar brace is shown in Kenneth D. Robert’s book, “Some 19^th Century English Woodworking Tools”, pg. 355. Thos. Tillotson was in business from 1832 – 1856, thus this brace predates the Civil War here in the states. Yet look at the perfect mint condition – WOW! The beech wood body is solid with an aged patina, no checks or cracks anywhere.  I often see the brass plated braces cracked on the top web due to the alignment of the screws. This brace does not have this issue. The ebony wood head spins smoothly with no wobble. No cracks, chips or repairs to the ebony which has an aged luster. The head has a threaded bone or similar material disc with spanner holes to remove and access the guts to adjust the tightness of the head. With this brace comes a collection of various antique bits that is used with this type of brace. All are in usable, sharp condition for this brace. A fine collectible brace from the early part of the 1800’s and in perfect condition.  This is a historical tool and should be put into a fine antique tool collection to preserve it for future generations, taken out every so often to take it for a spin, just like a vintage classic car. 

INSURANCE IS INCLUDED IN SHIPPING QUOTE

I am a retired shop teacher, woodworker, and tool collector for over 25 years. I use many pictures as they are worth a thousand words and count on them as part of my description. So look them over for all the little details they reveal. I have been selling antique tools on eBay since 1998 and enjoy the friendship of my buyers. If you are interested in antique tools you should check out CRAFTS website – craftsofnj.org - it is clubs like this that make tool collecting and tool use more enjoyable.