John S. Fray & Co.

The non-"Spofford" Braces.

John Fray himself held a number of patents for bit braces, and while these were produced, none of his patented braces are particularly common.  One example, that of his Sept. 16, 1879 patent for a sleeve chuck (#219574, Pearson B) is shown below.  This deviates somewhat from the patent drawing.  The chuck is essentially a split one, with a captive grooved slug in it providing purchase for the internal threaded chuck shell.  The jaws are simply extensions of the split shaft and are closed by the chuck shell.  This brace has lost the pewter rings on its sweep handle, and is marked with the patent date on the chuck shell--unusual for Fray braces.

The Fray company went on to produce a full line of braces, including sleeve, ratcheting, whimble, corner braces and brace drills in a variety of styles, sizes, and finishes. Some examples of these products are shown below.

Fray #70 Corner Ratchet Bit Brace with Interlocking Jaw Chuck

     Fray #85-B Ratchet Brace                                Fray #103 Ratchet Brace            

Fray Drill Brace marked with Patent #225682 of S.A. Bostwick  (NS)

Fray No. 66 Ratchet Brace with Interlocking Jaw Chuck.  6 inch Sweep

Fray #100 Corner Bit Brace

In 1906 the John S. Fray Company was purchased by the Stanley Rule and Level Company and gradually the stock was sold off and the tooling moved to New Britain, Connecticut. For some years a Fray catalogue was still produced, and Stanley included certain Fray products in its catalogues. Some of the Fray stock on hand was also marked by Stanley, and these double marked braces are attractive to collectors.