I have just acquired a No 5 Shelton plane, a brand have never heard of before.
It has a very primitive type of control which consists of a captive bolt, which when turned moves a captive nut, which in turn moves a loose piece of metal which sits into the plane blade. A knurled bolt then locks the blade. BUT it works, and when used it does sing.
One side of the bed by the opening had been welded, but the whole plane was virtually rust free. Cleaned up, the bed polished to a glass finish and is perfectly flat on both planes.
Besides the brand name and no. it has US Patent 914609 and Made in USA embossed.
Anybody have any knowledge of this brand?
flonji.
Replies
Here is a little info.
http://www.datamp.org/displayPatent.php?number=1914609&type=UT
-- Herbert Spencer (1891)
Many thanks. The plane I have acquired appears to have been abused, as mentioned a welded crack or break. It also has a common hex bolt and nut, which needs a little help when being tightened, but the sole, - the working part - is perfect, and it is a pleasure to use, and I feel that it will get used a lot, so I tend to disagree with the last sentence of that patent report.
Again many thanks for this. flonji.
I'm no plane expert and am unfamiliar with your plane, I'm glad it works well for you. I too thought the last sentence was an odd inclusion in an otherwise objective report. Tools like almost everything else are dependent on the skills of the user, some may be incapable of operating a tool that others find very suitable to it's purpose.
The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. -- Herbert Spencer (1891)
I have a Shelton smoother. Interesting though it is, it's no Bedrock - more boat anchor!
Scrit
i have a shelton scrub plane that works well, it is a rather lightly built plane but works well for me for hogging off quickly.
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