If you’re under 40, chances are this object might leave you scratching your head. But for the seasoned DIY veterans, craftsmen, or antique collectors, this piece of hardware brings back a wave of nostalgia. Meet the hand-cranked drill, also known as a brace drill — a tool that once ruled workshops and toolboxes before electric drills became commonplace.

A Glimpse Into the Past

Long before the convenience of battery-powered drills, craftsmen relied on this manually operated tool to bore holes into wood and other materials. It features a rotating handle attached to a gear mechanism that spins the drill bit at the other end. The top part, often called the “chuck,” holds the drill bit in place while the user turns the crank to drill.