Right Angle Brace

[Herb Stoops]

I have never seen one of these before, but Before Drill Motors they would be handy.
Herb

[Cherryville Chuck]

Is the inner handle just to hold it in place?

[Herb Stoops]

I am not sure , Chuck. It is hard for me to visualize holding it and turning the crank, with out the crank hitting your arm. It is called a joist drill,like drilling hole through joist, and studs.
https://www.jimbodetools.com/collection ... race-96192
HErb

[Nickp]

I wonder if the inner handle swings up to hold it steady...?

[Herb Stoops]

After thinking about it, I think the lower wooden handle is a ratchet, the upper wooden handle is a direct drive 1:1 Ratio. So at that ratio it might be hard crank a larger bit, but with a ratchet, it gives a little advantage.
Just thinking out loud.
Herb

[Nickp]

After thinking about it, I think the lower wooden handle is a ratchet, the upper wooden handle is a direct drive 1:1 Ratio. So at that ratio it might be hard crank a larger bit, but with a ratchet, it gives a little advantage.
Just thinking out loud.
Herb

Good thinkin', Lincoln...

[Cherryville Chuck]

The outer handle is on a fairly flimsy looking arm. It doesn't look like it could take a lot of torque. The inner one is quite sturdy looking. It's notched into a recess in the collar that separates the two handles so if it turns it turns that collar too. The collar appears to be knurled which means it was meant to grip. If the inner handle turned then that would leave you with nothing to hold onto since it wouldn't make sense to turn the collar while holding onto it and there isn't enough room between the inner handle and the chuck and it was probably turning too. Past that I run out of clues.

These must be exceedingly rare because I've never seen one in person or on any collectibles site like ebay has (and I do go there from time to time) nor have I ever heard of one. I wonder if there were short bits for it because all of the bits I have for them (around 70 or so) are still too long to use in that between joists or studs. Because the old standard bits were so long I always assumed that they just drilled through at an angle. Since that corner brace is so rare it kind of implies that either the tool was very expensive or it didn't work all that well.

[Bushwhacker]

It also looks too elaborate to be a tool that is used only occasionally. a tool of necessity, one that was made and used when nothing else would do. But, then it looks like a tool that would be in everyone's tool box, but since no one has seen one before, that could be wrong, they would be still around, even if just as a conversational piece.
If the inner handle was the ratchet part, the top one could be to turn it depending on which way the ratchet was set for. either in or out. (left or right). But, beyond this point, I have no idea what I just said.

[Nickp]

But, beyond this point, I have no idea what I just said.

Apparently, you're not alone...

[Herb Stoops]

If you blow up the picture, you will notice that the knurled handle slides out toward the crank handle and has a notch in the ratchet end, kind of like the ratchet hub on the regular brace to change directions.
Herb

[Nickp]

Here's another angle of the handle...note that it's at 90deg from the original picture. I'm thinking the inner handle is just that...a handle. The collar may just be what locks it in position...sort of like the current Milwaukee version.

[Herb Stoops]

Here is a picture from another source with the handle sticking up. also 2 other Corner Braces, the first a Goodell Pratt, and the 2nd one a Stanley.
HErb

[Biagio]

I could see it being held like a broom-handle Mauser, particularly if the head is able to swivel in relation to the metal main shaft - if it were pointing away from the stationary wooden handle, it would be like a D-handle drill.
If I am right, the rotatary handle could be turned by the other hand, missing the stationary handle, and the user's hand (if small like mine). It is also possible that the rotary handle telescopes out, to increase clearance.