In practice, when used in a covered bridge, the most common application, the truss is protected with outside sheathing.

The Brown truss is noted for economy of materials as it can be built with very little metal.

[5] Brown's patent claims did not actually address the economy afforded by lack of vertical members ("braces").

From the patent text: I do not claim broadly furnishing the main or counter braces with gains and passing them between the timbers of the chords; What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by letters Patent, is— Providing each of the main and counter braces with two gains at top and bottom, and each of the timbers of the chord with a gain at the point where the braces are applied corresponding with the gains in the braces, and the braces thus formed up between the timber, with the gains of the braces in such relation to the gains of the timbers that when the timbers of the chords are brought together they are combined and become, as it were, only one piece, no part of which can be operated upon or affected independently of the other by the downward and upward thrusts common to truss bridges, even if the bolt which passes laterally through and intersects each set of braces and the timbers of the chord were removed.

The design did not appear to gain wide acceptance as modern bridges tend to be Howe, Pratt, bowstring or Warren trusses.