Benjamin Darling 1886 Bit Stock

Post date: 05-Feb-2013 02:31:01

Benjamin Darling was a tool manufacturer in Bridgewater, Massachusetts and received patent No 83,261 for an improvement in bit stocks on October 20th 1868.

Benjamin Darling Brace

This tool is in the group of bit braces that use a square socket to drive the bit and the jaws simply hold the bit in place. They are generally designed for square tapered shank bits only, unlike later designs which attempted to hold round shank and Morse taper bits.

The Darling brace has two jaws connected to a lever which is hooked at the end, the bit is inserted in the socket and the jaws are drawn up the shank of the bit, by the lever, until snug. There is a row of nine holes in the frame of the brace and the hook end of the lever is locked into one of these to keep the bit secure.

Closeup of Jaws

In his patent application Darling claims "Common wood screws may be held in the jaws, with a short screw-driver in the socket behind the screw, with the bit of the screw-driver in the nick of the screw, so that such screws may be started and partly driven, in situations where it is inconvenient for the operator to use both hands for the purpose of driving the screw."

To demonstrate this I cut down an old auger bit and filed a flat screw driver blade on the end of it, and was able, as Darling described, to hold the bit and a large wood screw quite firmly in the jaws of the brace.

Jaws With Screw and Driver Tip

Jaws Holding Screw and Driver

Not bad for over 150 years ago.