71/140

A brace and bit used for sharpening dowels. From R. & J. Reeves and Son Ltd. agricultural machinery manufacturers Bratton Iron Works, Wiltshire.
A brace and bit, used for sharpening dowels. The brace is made of steel with a wooden knob and decoratively shaped handle. The conical bit is made of brass and is attached by means of a thumb screw. The brace and bit are part of the Reeves Collection which was donated by R. & J. Reeves and Son Ltd., agricultural machinery manufacturers of Bratton Iron Works, Wiltshire.

1 brace and bit: wood and metal [steel and brass]; good condition

MERL Miscellaneous note, Greta Bertram, 10 March 2014 – The Reeves Collection was donated by R. & J. Reeves and Son Ltd. of Bratton Iron Works near Westbury, Wiltshire. The firm, which manufactured agricultural machinery, was well-established by 1849, and went into final receivership in 1970, when the Collection was donated to MERL. Bratton Iron Works was demolished in 1973. A detailed list of all of the objects in the Collection can be found in the accession file for 70/235. Records relating to the firm can be found in the MERL Archives, reference TR REE., MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: BRACE AND BIT // Accession number: 71/140 // … // Recorder: JMB // Date: New sheet 30.11.87 // Description: A steel brace with round wooden knob on crank and attractively shaped wooden handle. The conical bit is made of brass and is attached with a thumb screw. The brass cone has a blade fixed in the side by means of another nut and bolt. // Dimensions: Total length: 33.0 cm Length of bit: 6.0 cm Width: 14.0 cm // Associated information: This brace and bit is used for sharpening dowels.’, Reeves Collection Object List (accession file 70/235) – ‘Accn. No.: 71/140 // Classification: CRAFTS // Description: Brace and bit for dowel sharpening. Rounded wooden brace handle with rounded end, tapering, then widening and tapering again to form inverted “pepper pot” shape. Iron round brace, with centrally placed wooden cylindrical stop. Triangular brass bit fixed with screw and nut at side. Iron wing nut on end of brace for tightening.’

Brace, Bit

Wood, Metal, steel, Metal, brass