Replies

1. 
   dirtstirrer | Sep 23, 2005 07:24am | #1

   Malcolm, you got a nice haul there!  It's fun to see what you dig out of those chests even from half a planet away!

    

   Steve
1. 
   57robbie | Sep 23, 2005 08:04am | #2

   Yeah

   It's sort of like social archeology! A lifetime of accumulated bits and piecces. There's quite a lot of things that I don't know what they are or what they do! I should put some of them up as photos.

   We're trying to discover whether one of my late Mother's relatives was a carpenter or patternmaker. Her maiden name was Samson, and one of the names that appears on a lot of these tools is Samson. They come from her home town (Dunedin, 200km from where I live). Wouldn't it be neat to discover that these tools once belonged to a relative!?

   Malcolm

   Edited 9/23/2005 1:05 am ET by Malcolm2

2. 
   SawdustSteve | Sep 23, 2005 05:54pm | #3

   On most wooden planes, the manufacturers name is on the toe (front) of the plane. Is there a name there? If so, what does it say?
   I have a great collection of planes where someone took a (table)saw and sliced the first 1/8 inch off the front, removing any easy way of determining who made the plane.
   SawdustSteve

1. 
   tailsorpins | Sep 23, 2005 07:31pm | #4

   Actually, it was quite common for the second owner of wooden planes to "shoot' the front and rear, i.e, toe & heel, of the plane with smooth plane, removing evidence of ownership, along with the maker and town, plus the size and style from the heel, before stamping their own name on both ends.  What a pitty!  Others overstamped repeatedly to obliterate the earlier owners name. often leaving the maker's identification intact.  The plane pictured appears to be a simple curved rabbet plane, usable in all trades, but often attributed to coachmakers in the effort of inflating it's collectors value.  Many of the fenced, curved molding & rabbet planes were indeed used by coopers, wheelrights and coachmakers.

   John in Texas

2. 
   Malcolm | Sep 24, 2005 08:10am | #5

   > On most wooden planes, the manufacturers name is on the toe (front) of the plane. Is there a name there? If so, what does it say? <

   It says GREEN PIMLICO in very fine stamped-in print (hard to read with the naked eye) on the front. Pimlico is in London, and this plane would certainly have been made in England.

   There's no evidence any of these planes have been trimmed - the colour, patina, chamfering and shape all look original to me. There are actually 2 sets of owners names (A. E. PANNELL, and J. FORSTER) on this plane stamped on the sides and the end.

   Malcolmhttp://www.macpherson.co.nz

3. 
   notDusty | Sep 24, 2005 04:00pm | #6

   Malcolm ,

                 Sure enough , I have one quite similar . I also have always referred to it as a coach makers plane .

                    dusty

1. 
   Malcolm | Sep 25, 2005 03:35am | #7

   So what are my chances of finding, buying, making a new iron? Anyone got an iron they don't want? Can anyone make me one?

   I don't have a functioning plane with this shape, and would like to keep it for the occasional rounding job (I'd design for the curve).

   Malcolmhttp://www.macpherson.co.nz

1. 
   philip | Sep 25, 2005 03:42am | #8

   Malcolm, I'd say there is a good chance of you finding either the correct iron one you can modify at one of those antique or second hand shops-or don't they exist in the south island?Philip Marcou

1. 
   Malcolm | Sep 25, 2005 05:59am | #9

   I will keep my eyes open. Do sometimes see this sort of stuff at local auctions and in garage sales. There is a local junk shop, and there's a couple of real beauts in Dunedin. I'll visit them next time I'm in town.

   Malcolmhttp://www.macpherson.co.nz

1. 
   philip | Sep 25, 2005 08:41am | #10

   You should always ask them if they have any more woodworking stuff elsewhere-this is often the case.
   I am on the look out for a Stanley #112 in particular-what are you after?Philip Marcou

2. 
   Malcolm | Sep 25, 2005 11:47am | #11

   > what are you after <

   Only a few irons for the iron-less woodies in my two chests.

   I stopped cruising the junk shops a few years ago - have bought a few planes, some bits and pieces, nothing much good, in the past.

   I've hardly ever seen planes or other tools of any real value anywhere around here.

   Malcolmhttp://www.macpherson.co.nz

3. 
   eddiefromAustralia | Sep 25, 2005 02:47pm | #12

   HI Malcolm,

   I think what you have there is a wooden compass plane - that's what I know them as.  (and yes, the were mainly used in coachbuilding)

   My book on wooden planes is at work, and I'm on holiday.  I'm sure that someone else may have a book closer by and confirm that the correct term for this is a compass plane. 

   With regards to the iron, you should be able to cut/grind back an old Stanley iron.  To avoid overheating the iron, clamp a wet rag on either side of the iron and then clamp the rags in place with a couple of cauls.  Do a rough cut with an angle grinder or similar, the wet rags should keep the iron below 120C

   You should then be able to grind the iron back to width/shape with a standard bench grinder once you cool it.

   Cheers,

   eddie

4. 
   Malcolm | Sep 25, 2005 03:02pm | #13

   Thanks mate

   I'm going to hunt around for a nearly-right iron for a while, and trim to size if I have to. Failing that I'll see if the local metal fabricators can make me one.

   Have a great holiday (in September?)

   Malcolmhttp://www.macpherson.co.nz

5. 
   lwilliams | Sep 25, 2005 04:20pm | #14

   Issac Green; 11 Sutherland Terrace, Pimlico; was a London tool maker and dealer from 1857 to 1905 according to 'British Planemakers from 1700' 3rd Edition by W.L. Goodman. His mark is usually found on metal planes.What you have is a compassed rabbet, rebate in Britain. It may be a coach makers' rabbet but, if so, it’ll be significantly shorter than the 19th/20th Century standard 9 1/2" long.

6. 
   eddiefromAustralia | Sep 25, 2005 05:17pm | #15

   Thanks larry,

    

   eddie

7. 
   Malcolm | Sep 25, 2005 11:19pm | #17

   > It may be a coach makers' rabbet but, if so, it’ll be significantly shorter than the 19th/20th Century standard 9 1/2" long <

   It's about 5 inches long Larry. A coach makers rebate plane it is.

   Thanks, that's great! I just wish I had the iron.

   Malcolmhttp://www.macpherson.co.nz

8. 
   jako17 | Sep 26, 2005 05:42am | #18

   I have made irons out of O1 toolsteel,  hardened and tempered them myself .It is really easy to do as the toolsteel cuts with a hacksaw ( in its annealed state).Pick up a copy of Mike Dunbars book on restoring old tools .He explains it all

9. 
   Malcolm | Sep 26, 2005 10:40am | #19

   > hardened and tempered them myself <

   I can't be bothered trying this jako. I struggle to get the wood out, let alone the metal.

   Are you interested in making a couple of irons for me?

   Malcolm http://www.macpherson.co.nz

10. 
    jako17 | Sep 26, 2005 03:08pm | #20

    I'm afraid  not .Right now up to my ears in a reno,mine.If I don't improve the living conditions here DW will have me living in the garage!!Seriously get a copy of Restoring ,Tuning & Using classic woodworking tool by Dunbar. With the tools you have got it will be a lifesaver as it covers wood planes ,and a host of other tools, chisels ,gouges etc

4. 
   notDusty | Sep 25, 2005 09:05pm | #16

                  Maybe  this one was used for wee places .

                         I looked on the very front and it has been sanded , so no names can be seen . It obviously has been modified by it's user , sort of roughly .

                dusty

                         Sorry   the first  pic is a dud