Still pretty much common in good old Europe.
See e.g.
http://www.dick.biz/cgi-bin/dick.sto...01_onl inekat
Product No. 707182

regards Matthias

Tim W wrote:
Reading an old book on boatbuilding, the writer says the _best_ tool for
removing old corroded screws, or any tricky screwing operation is a
screwdriver bit in an old brace (brace & bit cranked hand drill thing).
Sounds like just what I need, but a quick search reveals no source. Were
these items once manufactured? Are they still available? Posi also? in the
uk? with the old square section tapered shank for locking into the chuck of
the brace? Or can the brace be adapted to take a hexagonal shanked bit?

Tim w