B58-638 LOT OF TWO COMBINATION WRENCH BRACES. Peter Lowentraut. Lowentraut was known for manufacturing the Johnson patent wrench brace; this is the earliest version, based on Johnson's original 1894 patent, with only one set of jaws. Lowentraut also manufactured a very similar tool, patented by Sylvanus Robinson, which is much less common. The Robinson design has a hinge that allowed the wrench part of the brace to be placed in a straight line with the handle; whereas on the Johnson patent it is necessary to remove the wrench and reattach it to accomplish the same thing. Also in the Johnson patent the rear crank has a blade so you can pull it out and use it as a screwdriver or, more likely, lose it. Both have overall surface pitting but good wood and work smoothly; the Johnson patent is marked by Lowentraut but the Robinson is unmarked. From the Cecil Holmes collection. Good 100-200