Latest design of handplane?

[AndyT]

This may not be new to some, but I've not seen it mentioned here before. This is the "Goodmanham Plane" excavated in Yorkshire in 2000. Roman, made of ivory with an iron sole:

http://www.eastriding.gov.uk/cultur...p?t=objects&type=all&f=&s=goodmanham&record=9



So sophisticated for nearly 2000 years ago. What did the Romans ever do for us?

 

[Racers]

Hi,

Looks like one of Mr Grimsdales :wink:

Pete

 

[Philly]

Wow! Good find - very interesting piece. I've seen photo's of what was left of the metal parts, but never with the wood bits too. Cool!
Philly

 

[Vann]

When I checked the link I noted "Viewing Record 10 of 10". That's not a hint of who the manufacturer was, is it? (well, they did use a capital "R")
:lol: :lol: :lol:

Cheers, Vann.

 

[2tone]

he's gonna need to get the tormek out....

Nice find though, the technology hasn't changed much in 200 yrs, clearly a tried and tested formula.

 

[Smudger]

From what I've read (not much) Roman planes varied from simple chisel holders to works of art like this one. They also had moulding planes and routers, probably larger than simple scratch stocks. It's a great shame that so little Roman furniture and architectural woodwork still exists in this country. I think the total is just about zero.

To put this plane in context, it comes at the end of the Roman empire, when building in wood was probably taking over from stone.
As far as I can see this sort of technology was lost when the Saxon styles took over, and adzes were more common.

There's a bit of info in the first chapter here.

 

[Martin Brown]

If anyone is interested we still have another in stock. It is a little dusty.

Martin

 

[Smudger]

If anyone is interested we still have another in stock. It is a little dusty.

Martin

I'll bid five sesterces!

 

[StarGazer]

There is also a slightly earlier roman plane in Reading museum, nearly all iron and about the same size as a No. 5. You can see the tote and front handle and the frog with blade/cap iron still in place.

 

[Smudger]

Reckoned to be the first plane ever found with a cap iron, if I remember right.

 

[Ironballs]

Bevel up or down? :lol:

 

[Smudger]

Has anyone mentioned that a replica's been made? Here

Garratt Hack describes the iron version here - looks like York pitch to me.

 

[AndyT]

Thanks for that link Smudger - I think one of the interesting things about the reproduction is that it demonstrates that the Romans must have worked at a bench - the plane seems to be intended to be pushed; not pulled at low level, Japanese style.

Has anyone come across any other planes with hand-holds as holes through the body?

 

[Smudger]

I got into a long conversation with someone who knew a lot about the history of planes, but it was a few years ago. He said that it wasn't completely unknown, but I can't remember the details.
Yes, a bench, but a very different way of working, you must have to stand square on and use both arms to propel the plane, unless I am missing something. I remember thinking at the time that if you stood behind the plane the handholds would have to be offset. If you see what I mean.

 

[Smudger]

There's a picture of a repro being used here - it looks much as I imagined.

If you Google Image search 'Roman Planes' there's loads.

Well. a few.
And it's page 4 before you find porn! That's almost a record...

 

[matthewwh]

Interesting design, very symmetrical, do you reckon the iron could be reversed to give two different pitches?

I wonder how the maker would react if he knew how much time we all spend debating planes in the forum!!!

 

[AndyT]

Interesting design, very symmetrical, do you reckon the iron could be reversed to give two different pitches?

Now there's an interesting idea...if you're right, it's frustrating to think that the Romans got there first - but it may be worth reviving by some of the talented plane makers hereabouts!

 

[woodbloke]

I can see this thread:

degenerating soon :lol: - Rob

 

[bugbear]

Has anyone mentioned that a replica's been made? Here

Garratt Hack describes the iron version here - looks like York pitch to me.

Here's a write up of making a reproduction Saxon plane, sadly from the days before cheap digital cameras or scanners.

http://www.florilegium.org/?http%3A//ww ... e-art.html

Quick google gives some info on the original:

http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Resea ... 96-201.htm

BugBear

 

[Chris Knight]

Probably a red herring but some large moulding planes are designed to be pulled by an apprentice yanking on a rope whilst the master guides it. The forward hole on this Roman plane would lend itself to a rope and presumably there were always a few slaves to hand..

I wonder why the original body was made of ivory - wood would have been more plentiful?