Moulding Plane Peculiarities #2

[Plumberpete]

My next piece of evidence is the side escapement on my T. J. Gardner moulding planes. The front part of the escapement is flared out - not perpendicular to the plane as it is with the planes I have by other makers. Again, is this specific to T. J. Gardner planes or does this exist on planes by other makers?

 

[AndyT]

Hi Pete

Fancy you noticing this - I don't recall seeing any other reference to it.

I have had a quick browse and can offer some more evidence to help with your musings. Short version: I have some planes with this feature and some without, from Bristol makers and from others.

First off, these are all from Gardner and show the second angle on the escapement as you describe:

This Greenslade has it, though somewhat crudely cut: (this plane has been repaired)

So does this tidier Greenslade:

This one by Gardner late Holbrook has two angles, though the difference is slight:

Those are all local. Turning further afield, this bead by John Elsworth of Glasgow has the same feature

And this one from Marshall of Glasgow:

It's not just the Scots: this slipped bead is by Griffiths of Norwich and has two angles:

as does this one by Preston:

(This may have been Mr Ramsay's favourite plane...)

I have other similar profile planes which have just one square cut. Makers must have thought it worth the extra effort - perhaps it was a feature found only on the 'best' lines, not on the ordinary ones. I don't know what made it worth having; I'll have to do some experiments and see if I can observe any difference in use.

 

[AndyT]

Also clearly shown on this un-oiled, unused Greenslade ovolo:

(What date would that mark be, Pete?)

 

[Plumberpete]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for taking the time to check out your planes.

A couple of things; firstly - After you mentioned the Greenslade planes I checked some of the larger complex moulding planes (2 1/2" +) I have by the firm and noticed they also have this flared escapement, as does the 3 3/8" quirk ovolo and bevel by Thomas Burfoot.
Secondly, I wonder if this is particular to journeyman planemakers from a certain part of the country? You mentioned that several of the Scottish planes you have, have this and my research into journeyman planemakers in Bristol has shown that out of the 112 journeyman planemakers I have found over a roughly 100 year period, 10 were from Scotland (mostly Glasgow and mostly around 1900).
Thirdly, I presume that flaring out the escapement was done to prevent the clogging of the plane with shavings. Which begs the question; why aren't all moulding planes made this way?

As far as dating your pristine Greenslade ovolo - that's a tough one! It is so immaculate I'd like to say 1930's but the mark without the exhibition medals was also used from about 1840 to 1860. It is very rare to find an unused plane from this period but I have a 1" side bead by Holbrook that is in the same condition, and they went out of business in 1873, so not unknown.

 

[AndyT]

I have a strong suspicion that Pete and I are not the only people on here with more than a few wooden moulding planes, but here are a few more thoughts from me, hoping that someone else will chime in too!

On all my examples, the flared cut is in the part of the escapement that goes beyond the cutting iron, so it does not give the effect of an extra wide mouth. Pete, your picture suggests something different - can we see a wider view?

Thinking about the way these were cut, I can often see the slightly overshot ends of a pair of saw cuts, showing that the escapement was first sawn. On this example, a bead marked Moseley, the chisel work that followed the sawing was slightly imperfect and I can feel tell-tale marks as one cut did not quite meet the next. These show that, for the flared part at least, the flaring was cut with a chisel, working down towards the mortice, in a series of three or four cuts. They are just about visible in the middle, looking like bandsaw marks.

 

[jimi43]

I only got one or two Gabriels Prof....oh...and a Froggat...and maybe a few Greens...and a Sym...

Oh darn and blast...I'll go look! :mrgreen:

Jimi

 

[jimi43]

Nope...not ONE of my planes has this feature including Gabriels, Maddox, Froggat, I.Sym, Ion Green and his brother, John...or Heilds...and others.

I reckon you guys have what is known in the trade as "seconds" or "duffers"!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Jimi

 

[Plumberpete]

Here's another photo of the same plane. As can be seen, the flaring begins from the mouth, but to one side.

 

[Plumberpete]

Nope...not ONE of my planes has this feature including Gabriels, Maddox, Froggat, I.Sym, Ion Green and his brother, John...or Heilds...and others.

I reckon you guys have what is known in the trade as "seconds" or "duffers"!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Jimi

You might get "seconds" or "duffers" up in your next of the woods, but only quality craftsmanship comes out of Bristol! \/

Apart from anything made by me, of course.