Replies

1. 
   Eideann | Jan 29, 2020 08:49am | #1

   From a quick look online, it appears they were making planes in the latter half of the 19th century in Auburn NY.

   There's a some rules of thumb out there on wooden handplanes that you can easily look up. Are they bodies cracked, is it missing any hardware, what condition is the iron in, etc etc.

   Are you looking to find a value for them? Just looking for more information?

   If the bodies are in decent shape and the irons aren't rusted and pitted to hell, you can certainly clean them up and sharpen them make a user out of them.

   If you're looking to sell them don't expect to get much. The problem with old planes is that Antiques dealers think they're worth a ton of money and will try to sell them to you as such usually in terrible condition. Woodworkers know their value and usually sell them for way less in way better shape.

   Maybe you could post some pictures?

2. 
   chuckh | Jan 29, 2020 09:51am | #2

   Eideann, thanks for the reply. I've been buying old handplanes for years and I'm aware of the pitfalls and have fallen into those pits on more than one occasion. In this case I bought three set of T&G planes - 1/2", 3/4" (or that is what it was supposed to be), and 1". The pairs are matching but they are from three different manufacturers.
   The one in question is the Howland. The size of the blades could be for a 3/4" plane but the spacing of the fences are for a 1" plane. I was hoping that someone could confirm the size of a Howland No. 70.

   In the end it doesn't matter because the blades cut a 1/4" T&G which works well for a 3/4" set. And all I have to do is shim out the fences and I'll turn them into a 3/4" set regardless of what 12/INCH/No 70 actually means. But I am curious.