Show us your handplanes

[crguy]

This is not mine, but I thought it was pretty unusual. Bought by a friend at the local dirt market for $15. It is about 6 inches long.
Tom

Nice Birmingham plane. Is it for sale?

 

[RTM]

ragtop: Your plane is an English Bull Nosed rabbet plane. If you can find "Norris" on it somewhere, it could be valuable. Marples, who made the cutting iron, was an old established English firm.

Thanks for that catalog cut. I have its brother, and always thought it was a kit someone made due to the poor fit of the infill etc. Now I can try to figure out if it was a recast, or retrofit. Thanks

 

[Fred Knox]

I thought I would reach out and see if anyone has experience with wood plane logos. I have this 3/8" wooden rabbet plane that looks to be made with rosewood or cocobolo. The only identification mark is the "WM" stamp (see photo) on one side (the previous owner carved his name on the other). I thought it might be an early William Marples marking, but I thought I would see if any of you have more knowledge/experience here. Many Thanks,

 

[454ragtop]

Thanks for that catalog cut. I have its brother, and always thought it was a kit someone made due to the poor fit of the infill etc. Now I can try to figure out if it was a recast, or retrofit. Thanks

I asked about mine over on OWWM as well, a member suggested mine may be a Preston. I don't think the shape of mine is correct for a Preston, but yours kind of looks like it might be. http://www.owwm.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=208705

 

[Oldpine]

CRguy,
The plane is not mine to sell, and I doubt my friend would sell it.
tom

I wish he would sell it to me....

 

[hsvtoolfool]

I thought it might be an early William Marples marking...

I suspect that back in the day, only fancy "presentation" tools like braces and plow planes would be made from precious materials like rosewood, cocobolo, ebony, and ivory. While it's very cool, a 3/8" rabbet plane is a relative mundane tool. It's not even a skew rabbet.

My best guess is you have a tradesman or hobbyist made tool. The "WM" block-font looks very modern to me. I suspect the maker used a metal stencil and carefully traced the "WM" with a knife. The glue-line(s) also suggest the plane was made from some scrap wood.

 

[RTM]

I have this 3/8" wooden rabbet plane that looks to be made with rosewood or cocobolo. The only identification mark is the "WM" stamp (see photo) on one side

It's pretty rare for a maker to not Stamp his name on the nose or tail end. The other concerning piece is the lack of chamfers on the edges. Most vintage planes have something.

As HSV said, looks like a knife job rather than a stamp for the name.

There is a Wm Moss mark out there, but its very different, Wm Moss, with the 1st M raised to the top of the W, dot under the m.

I don't see anything in the DAT (Directory of American Toolmakers, Pre-1900) that fits that mark either.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

Any leads on where I could get a set of blades for an old plow plane?

Thanks in advance for ideas.

 

[RTM]

Wooden ploughing or metal? The wooden ones are a bit harder to match, as the taper of the fat part of the blade must match the body. Couple of FB groups for antique tools and planes have them come up, matched sets and assembled sets.

Metal planes just need money, can get vintage or reproduction.

 

[hsvtoolfool]

Any leads on where I could get a set of blades for an old plow plane?

Are you in a hurry? If you want a full set right now, "Garrett Wade Garden Supply and Tacky Kitsch" has full set of 8 plow plane blades for $100...

https://www.garrettwade.com/antique-english-plough-plane-gp.html

That's a fair price for a full set of irons. I wouldn't expect them to match brands or anything. Or you can contact Patrick Leach or another reputable tool dealer for advice. You'd get a complete set from one brand and the condition would be known. Finally, Ebay is an option but you may pay more and get pitted irons.

If you're patient, scope out all the local woodworking clubs and find out the best local flea market type places. There's sure to be some fellow "Neanderthals" in your area who can hook you up with a full set.

 

[Fred Knox]

Thank you for the responses.

hsv: I understand your point on the likely stencil scraping. The previous owner was a furniture maker in the early 1900s who became one of the first high school woodshop teachers in San Francisco in the 1920s. His initials were not “WM” so it may have been a prior owner or other mark. On the glue line, the harder wood was actually mortised into the sole of the rabbet plane and it is beginning to separate.

RTM: Great point on the chamfer edging and thank you for checking the DAT. I have seen so many versions of the William Marples (and descendants) logo, I didn’t know if this version might be another one.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Sitting on the bottom shelf of a display case next to a Stanley #151, this sleekly styled spokeshave looked like it should be from the glossy pages of a Lie Nielsen catalog. Surprisingly, it's not new and it's not a spokeshave. When Frank Humphrey patented it on May 16, 1882 he called it a cavity plane. He intended for it to be, "... a practical and efficient tool which can be conveniently employed for dressing out small holes and cavities ..." The iron shown in the second picture is original and it measures just 1 3/4" by 3/4". The low profile allows for the 'plane' to work in very small spaces.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Sitting on the bottom shelf of a display case next to a Stanley #151, this sleekly styled spokeshave looked like it should be from the glossy pages of a Lie Nielsen catalog. Surprisingly, it's not new and it's not a spokeshave. When Frank Humphrey patented it on May 16, 1882 he called it a cavity plane. He intended for it to be, "... a practical and efficient tool which can be conveniently employed for dressing out small holes and cavities ..." The iron shown in the second picture is original and it measures just 1 3/4" by 3/4". The low profile allows for the 'plane' to work in very small spaces.

CRS: Very cool tool. Never heard or seen a cavity plane. Thanks for sharing.

 

[RTM]

Surprisingly, it's not new and it's not a spokeshave. When Frank Humphrey patented it on May 16, 1882 he called it a cavity plane. He intended for it to be, "... a practical and efficient tool which can be conveniently employed for dressing out small holes and cavities ..." The iron shown in the second picture is original and it measures just 1 3/4" by 3/4". The low profile allows for the 'plane' to work in very small spaces.

Did you buy it? How much was it if you didn't?

Any of those shaped vintage shaves are really fun to use. I have a

Millers Falls #1
Millers falls #2
Conover Non-patented model (wasn't sure if a Humphrey or Conover when I bought it, knew it was cool)

 

[CRSINMICH]

RTM: Yes, I did buy it even though it was about 3 times as much as I am usually willing to pay for spokeshaves. To put that into perspective though, I'm really cheap and $10 is approaching my limit. Luckily, my wife was with me and she gave her usual advice, "If you want it, buy it".

Here's a page from a 1904 Millers Falls catalog showing their #1 and #2 shaves. I added the patent drawing for the #1.

I'm not familiar with Conover. Why don't you post a few pictures of your favorite shaves?

 

[My Old Tools]

A couple that are sitting on my dresser...Norrris A5 cabinet plane and a Stanley #85 scraper plane.

 

[RTM]

CRS calls me out

Why don't you post a few pictures of your favorite shaves?

Geez, heartless. Why don't you just ask me to name my favorite child.

Here goes: Hi, My name is Kirk, and I am a spokeshave addict. There, I've said it. I've had a thing for spokeshaves for a long time, basically due to this.

I'm really cheap and $10 is approaching my limit.

The nice thing about spokeshaves is that generally the cost of admission is cheap, and the storage is pretty easy, compared to things like vises and anvils and toolboxes. I have only seen a few I didn't like over the past 10+ years. I have used a lot of them, and have slowly moved a few down into the non-favorite category, but I still like them. It started slow, a Stanley 51, a no name wooden one, and suddenly there was a gathering. Now its more like a small herd. These two pixs show most of the herd, there are a few that are still in rehab (Stanley #67 and #53) so they didn't get to come out and visit.

This is the overflowing storage chest, built about 2011, and it was almost full at the time I started, and full by completion.



Top is a Borg brand, then Lee Valley, unknown woodie, couple of mini drawknives, and a curved Stanley knockoff. Wooden, and handmade LV low angle kit in purpleheart.

Across the front are a big Cooper's shave, Tuell, couple of Goodell Pratt patternmaker type, chamfer shave, Seymour Smith, Stanley Razor shave, Stanley 51 & 52. Couple of small metal, tiny ebony shave, and another woodie, then a Stanley 151.

SHHHHhhhhhh. These are my more favored ones, either for looks or usage.



CCW from top left: Vintage Preston, the non-patent Conover mentioned above (~Champion but not quite), Lee Valley's tiny Preston repro, One armed Osborne with great hand appeal, LV Curved, LV low angle, Millers Falls #2 (Lanfair patent), Millers Falls #1 cigar shave in 2 hole and 4 hole patterns, Stanley #53 x2, and a Martin's shave by Cincinnati Tools (Hargrave) with a massive Hock iron.

The Conover has not been cleaned up for use, only picked it up a few months back, nor the Stanley Razor edge, tho its been around a bit longer. The others have all been tuned (except for rehab pair) and get hauled out and changed around depending on what the job requires.

And CRS's comment about cheap still holds true. Only a few of the vintage ones have been bought above his threshold, The conover and the MF's 1 & 2 being the notable exceptions.

And I have a few drawknives and scrapers in the similar body shape.

Favorite spokeshave! Really? I love them all.

Thanks for looking

 

[crguy]

I don't collect spoke shaves, but there are a few in my "junk drawer" .

 

[RTM]

oohhh. What's the one above the beader, in front of the Cincinnati? Love the brass on the Stearns.

 

[crguy]

oohhh. What's the one above the beader, in front of the Cincinnati? Love the brass on the Stearns.

The 2 wood handled ones are Cin (Cincinnati) Tool Co.

 

[RTM]

The 2 wood handled ones are Cin (Cincinnati) Tool Co.

Nice. I missed two of those at an auction recently.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Old Tools: It must be nice to be able to nonchalantly refer to a Norris plane on your dresser. "Oh, that old thing?" I'm so envious. Have you used it? I imagine that, with its extra mass and a sharp iron, it would slide through most woods.

 

[CRSINMICH]

WILD GUESSES ENCOURAGED​

This plane came from an estate sale. There was a cardboard box stuffed with wooden planes and a few of them followed me home. Looking at it from the toe end, it seemed to be just another hollow plane. When I pulled it out, I was surprised to see that it was curved from toe to heel like a compass plane. Unfortunately, it was the only plane that did not have a maker's name on it. My guess is that it was used on the felloe/felly of a wooden wheel. Does anyone know for certain?

 

[RTM]

I believe its still called a compass plane, even in woodies. I would guess they'd call it a coachmaker's compass plane, just since anything with an odd shape is usually a coachmakers. Were there any other fun shapes which might have indicated what industry they might have come from?

Here's another one for sale
https://www.jimbodetools.com/produc...d-molding-plane-circa-1860-70-auburn-ny-81757

I have two, one a luthier size, probably home made, the other about 3/4 size of a normal molding plane, home made, but both curved in both dimensions.

 

[CRSINMICH]

RTM: Trying to figure out what any specific item from this estate sale was based on the other items at the sale would drive you crazy. For instance, there were no fewer than 4 lathes - 2 metal and 2 wood. One of the metal lathes was a South Bend in superb condition and the other was a line shaft lathe with all the pulleys and hangers included. The two wood lathes were both treadle powered with one being significantly older than the other. From that, you might conclude that the estate had been a machine shop. It was actually an orchard. One that, according to a member of the local historical society, had been owned and run by no fewer than 4 generations of hoarders. Not coincidentally, the farm was within sight of one of the oldest buildings in the county still standing - a cider mill.

As to the box of planes, they were mostly molding planes, predominantly hollow planes missing the matching rounds of course. I usually don't bother with molding planes because it's unlikely I'll ever want to use them. I did, however, pick up one of the molding profile planes mostly because the profile was small and the plane was boxed. Upon close inspection after I got it home, the maker's name was readable - A&E Baldwin New York. After a little research I found that A&E Baldwin only made planes between 1830 and 1841.

 

[81turbota]

Here’s my Grandfather’s Craftsmans.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Here’s my Grandfather’s Craftsmans.

81: Have you restored those or are they original? If original those are very nice! Look like fine planes! Congrats on having some of your grandfather's tools!

 

[81turbota]

81: Have you restored those or are they original? If original those are very nice! Look like fine planes! Congrats on having some of your grandfather's tools!

Thank you! I have these along with some other small woodworking tools, a Craftsman 150 drill press and block grinder from him.

These are unrestored just well kept and barely used. All I did was take some bronze wool to spotted surface rust and a wipe down.

 

[CRSINMICH]

81turbota: Your grandfathers tools are in excellent shape. They appear to be in 'like new' condition. You may already know that Craftsman (Sears) never actually manufactured anything. They would farm out production to existing manufacturers and then put the CRAFTSMAN name or logo on it. At various times Millers Falls, Stanley, and Sargent all made planes for Craftsman. It looks like both of your planes were made by Stanley. Also, based on the CRAFTSMAN logo cast into the lever cap of the larger plane, it was made in the 1960's or 1970's.

Here is a chart where you can see who made which CRAFTSMAN plane at what time. Your larger plane is based on a Stanley #5 and the smaller one is based on a Stanley # 9 1/2.

Here is a link to the site the chart came from: https://www.timetestedtools.net/2016/02/26/craftsman-hand-plane-model-number-comparison/

p.s. If you look on the bottom of the block grinder you'll probably find the date of manufacture stamped on it.

 

[drivesitfar]

RTM: looks like you know a thing or two about SPOKESHAVES don't you? nice looking collection.

CRS: it's nice to see you posting a few of your things cause you have some amazing stuff. i've only had the pleasure of meeting you in person once and you were a perfect gentleman and showed me some of your cool tools. that said i've seen a lot of your posts where you sound a bit grumpy so hope you are feeling ok.

have you already posted pics of your nice plane collection since your scrap drawer of spokeshaves has some amazing stuff in it?

cheers

CRS: i'm going to say your rounded wood plane is a PROTOTYPE and/or maybe handmade?

ALL: sorry I haven't been in the tools section for a bit while i'm moving and trying to get organized, but I'm trying to get healthy so I can start playing with some of my old tools and i'll maybe be here for a few years to watch learn and participate.

hope you are all having a great weekend!

 

[kenc184]

Old Tools: It must be nice to be able to nonchalantly refer to a Norris plane on your dresser. "Oh, that old thing?" I'm so envious. Have you used it? I imagine that, with its extra mass and a sharp iron, it would slide through most woods.

CRS, If you like Norris planes here are some of mine. Mostly the first and second line smoothers, but quite a few panel planes too. Think my longest Jointer is a pre war 22-1/2". Would love a longer jointer but I've never seen one, let alone had the chance to buy one.

 

[crguy]

W. S. Loughborough 1864 Patent plow plane mfg. by G. & J. Telford in Rochester, NY. Found in an old tool chest and purchased on Ebay by me.

Happy to share this rare plane. Notice the unique fence locking mechanism. The good stuff is out there!

 

[My Old Tools]

Old Tools: It must be nice to be able to nonchalantly refer to a Norris plane on your dresser. "Oh, that old thing?" I'm so envious. Have you used it? I imagine that, with its extra mass and a sharp iron, it would slide through most woods.

Yep, it immediately replaced all of my #4 1/2 planes. It's on my dresser because no one but me gets to play with it...

 

[txlonghorn1989]

KenC: How long have you been collecting Norris planes and where did you come by the majority of those planes? I've never seen one up close and personal it would be interesting to see first hand I think. Great collection! How many dupes in there?

 

[kenc184]

txlonghorn I probably started about 20 years ago. Started with a post war A5 and enjoyed using it, got hooked on them after seeing the A6 in Garrett Hacks book. I think I have 40+ Norris planes, unfortunately the whole collection is probably worth 2/3 what I paid for it. In part due to the liquidation of the massive David Stanley collection in the UK.
Hopefully prices will come back eventually?
Yep, lots of dupes, I have 5 A2s and 5 A5s, 2 A6s a few A1 panel/jointer planes. The only first or second line smoother I don't have is an A17, I just can't bring myself to spend the money on one. Haven't seen one south of $2K.

I bought a lot on ebay, many others from vintage tool places in the UK.

 

[CRSINMICH]

Old Tools: "It's on my dresser because no one but me gets to play with it."
Play nice!

crguy: That's a really cool plow plane. I've never heard that name and I've never seen that kind of locking mechanism. Is there a patent number or patent date on it?

kenc: It must be nice to be to able to casually mention your 40+ Norris plane collection and then sneak in a picture of your Tormek. Seriously though, that's quite collection. Like tx, I've never seen even one in the wild. Jeeze, and I thought I was envious before. My entire plane collection is probably worth less than one plane in yours. Well, I'd have to exclude the value of my Lie Nielsen shooting plane (in original box) which was a birthday present from my wife.

 

[kenc184]

Old Tools: "It's on my dresser because no one but me gets to play with it."
Play nice!

crguy: That's a really cool plow plane. I've never heard that name and I've never seen that kind of locking mechanism. Is there a patent number or patent date on it?

kenc: It must be nice to be to able to casually mention your 40+ Norris plane collection and then sneak in a picture of your Tormek. Seriously though, that's quite collection. Like tx, I've never seen even one in the wild. Jeeze, and I thought I was envious before. My entire plane collection is probably worth less than one plane in yours. Well, I'd have to exclude the value of my Lie Nielsen shooting plane (in original box) which was a birthday present from my wife.

Smart wife! Now you need the matching shooting board - if there is one?

At one time I thought the economy was due to collapse some time in the medium future so I thought it a good idea to have "stuff" rather than cash. Well, so far I've been wrong.

The tormek I got lucky on - bought it in like new condition with the standard and super fine wheels and a number of attachments for $200 on CL. It's a pretty good machine.

 

[crguy]

crguy: That's a really cool plow plane. I've never heard that name and I've never seen that kind of locking mechanism. Is there a patent number or patent date on it?

It's W. S. Loughborough patent, #42,585, May 3, 1864. Americas first patented iron plow plane.

 

[jonshonda]

I am sure I am asking the wrong crowd if they are willing to sell, but I am looking for a drawknife and spoke shave for an upcoming woodworking project. Please PM me if you are willing to sell. They don't need to be anything special, just good quality tools ready to be put to work!

 

[CRSINMICH]

Well, looky what I got to use today. A good ol', ordinary, found-under-every-rock, dime-a-dozen Stanley #151. It worked great and I used the trick of purposefully setting the iron to take a thicker shaving on one side and a thinner shaving on the other. I could take off most of the wood and then switch to the other side once I got close to the line. I did use a back saw to cut off a lot of the wood first. The shaved curves are not in their finished state. I just happened to remember to photograph them at that point.
TIP OF THE DAY: Try to plan your layout so that there isn't a knot in the middle of the curved part.

jon: The price quoted for a 151 may vary in your location. They are still being made and should cost around $25 new at your local hardware store.