Old Brace. Questions

[Rob Paul]

I recently found this old ball brace. Its similar to other ball braces I've seen, except that it has an unusual shaped receiver for the bits. Normally the receiver is a tapered square for standard square shanked bits, but this brace has a tapered oblong (1/2" x 3/16" tapers to 7/16" x 1/8" )
I can't find any identifying marks on the brace. Its well worn and seems to have had a lot of use.

Does anyone recognize this style brace ?
Has anyone seen any bits that match this brace ? (photos ? )

http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae10/kiwi-traps/ballbrace1.jpg
http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae10/kiwi-traps/ballbrace2.jpg

[Jessica Pierce-LaRose]

I feel like some of the old centre bits I've seen appeared to be made of flat stock, but I can't prove that now. There is a brace on Sandford Moss's page with a similar elongated, rather than square stock.

[Bill Houghton]

I've seen (and didn't grab when I should have) metal-thread-cutting taps with flats like that. No reason why there shouldn't have been brace bits like that. A shape like that would likely be a LOT easier to make by hand.

[Jim Koepke]

I was looking through a James Swan catalog from 1911 last night. There were some bits listed with flat ends that look like they would work in that brace.

The catalog is available at www.roseantiquetools.com on the left is a list of tool makers. Click on "The James Swan Company." This will bring you to the page that has the 1911 catalog to down load. Kind of a fun read and makes one wish for a time machine.

The bits are listed on page 75 of the catalog.

jtk

[Larry McGarrah]

Looks like this H. Boker on Ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BOKER-GENTS-BRACE-SET-CENTER-BITS-/130616608443?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e695b46bb

[Joshua Byrd]

Looks perfectly shaped for receiving the end of a file...