Nigels photo shows the commercial 'de-luxe' version of the BRACES, hand, Armourers. The real McCoy were a tad more agricultural!!! No fancy wood top bit to push on....., it was just a round slightly dished plate. No fancy round wooden grip part either. You just gripped the steel and twisted it. With this tool and the various assorted 'bits' we had that went with the brace, you could enough leverage onto pretty much anything. Enough to stop the rotation of the earth I'd say