Coo, look what I've found

[Richard T]

About a year ago my brotheroutlaw bought a small, plastic crate of plane irons for me at an auction in Suffolk.

Though mostly too far gone, there were a few stars in it (four unused Marples, a parallel) and a lot of disappointments including this one: (sorry about the blurr, camera is refusing to focus this morning)

A Ward that is 2 - 1/2". - Unfortunately ....

Used right up to the bitter end. Worn right down to the nubbin.

It was probably because of this blow that I failed to notice the cap Iron, and I only spotted it yesterday when sorting out the scrap:

:shock:

Just in case you can't make it out it says " Stewart Spiers Cast Steel Ayr Scotland"

I wonder what happened to the rest of it ... it's not in the box.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Based on what we discovered for Richard's chisel the other day, and assuming that iron and capiron have stayed together, we can put a tentative date on those of between 1803 and 1843. If it's been around that long, maybe not surprising that the iron's fairly well worn.

You're a blacksmith, though. Can't you just weld another bit on?

***dives under bench to avoid flying hammer***

Edit - oops, wrong. Those dates are for a Ward iron. The Ward and Payne trademark makes it post 1843, and Wand and Payne lasted until about 1970, so precise dating not so easy... Note to self - look carefully at piccies before typing a load of rubbish...

 

[Richard T]

:lol: :lol:

Unfortunately I think that when the bit to weld the bit on to is also missing it's a lost cause.

You can't be blamed for not noticing the Payne addition CC, the photo is awful and I said Ward without the Payne.
Yup, from recent scholarly research post 1843.

What makes me wonder is the fact that it is a tapered iron - replacement in a infill plane by Spiers? Or a Spiers cap iron in a wooden jointer?