Vintage Wood Plane

[lionsrose]

I have this vintage wood plane with steel on both sides and rosewood sandwiched between. It has no visible markings. Any information about this piece would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[RodneyW]

Welcome,
It looks to be well made. There are woodworkers here too (I'm one of them) but I would say this forum has a larger focus on mechanic's tools. If you don't get your answers here you might want to post it at Sawmill Creek or Woodnet Forums in their handtool section.
Rodney

 

[pfaustus]

Yes. Run it by the Neanderthals. Looks like a home made carriage makers rabbit plane, except those are usually curved. Too bad the blade is almost gone though.

 

[crguy]

It's what most people call a "T Rabbet" plane they can be either straight or curved bottom. I would guess yours is owner made.

 

[hsvtoolfool]

Carriage maker's rabbet plane. Craftsman made. The screws may help dating.

 

[jimreed2160]

It in indeed a carriagemakers rabbet, but a special one. This one is used for trimming and widening grooves. It goes in both directions so it can deal with reluctant grain patterns. The blade is OK. It has to be small so it will fit diagonally in the groove. It should be used in the plane bevel DOWN so you get a 45 degree cutting angle.

It would take a pretty good craftsman to make this steel body. My guess is factory made. These tee rabbet planes were common specialty items and were sometimes sold as kits--user stuffed the plane and made the wedge.

Yours looks like it is in good condition. Make a new wedge, sharpen the blade and make some shavings. You may not use it much but it is a great way to open a groove and fit a drawer bottom perfectly. Good luck making shavings.

 

[hsvtoolfool]

This one is used for trimming and widening grooves.

So it's basically a side rabbet plane? Interesting. I wonder what advantage
this plane has over a Stanley #98/99 or the later #79 and Preston/Record
combos. Does the plane body act as a 90° fence? Can it widen a deeper
groove than modern side rabbets?

The screws on the bottom are what made me think "DIY". I would think
a production plane would be a one-piece, machined casting which was
then stuffed. Instead, it appears the wood and screws hold this plane
together.

 

[jimreed2160]

These tee rabbets were originally all wood in those pre-steel body days. And all of the woodies had serious limits. The normal planes could go deep but had a wedge shaped sole and could not service a wide slot. The tee rabbet could get into a narrow groove, but could not go deep. The Stanley #98/99 pair was a real improvement and a reason to upgrade to metal for the plane body. I have never measured, but I think the #98 and its ilk could work at least a full inch in depth.

But back to your plane. It could work a narrow groove at a depth proper for a quirk to drain water from a carriage or for a drawer bottom side. And the side of the plane would ensure a proper 90 degree surface.

 

[RivennHewn]

Yes. Run it by the Neanderthals.

Or a galoot, if you can find one.

 

[Bill vonSteuben]

Or a galoot, if you can find one.

The galoots hang out at the old tool archive.