Moulding planes

[Bod]

Hope I've got this right, can you see a picture?

Acquired a box of moulding planes.
14 in all.
1 marked, I Lund. London
1 marked, Mutter
1 marked, Moseley & Son
1 marked, C Nurse & Co. 82 Walsworth road. London SE sized "3/4"?
1 marked, Atkins & Sons. s---field works. -irmingham. sized "inch"?
1pr concave/ convex Atkins & Sons sized "4"
1pr ditto ditto ditto 18
1 concave ditto ditto 14
1 convex ditto ditto 16
1 small straight rebate
2 larger skew rebates
All with irons, 1 has got a recent replacenent wedge.
All have the correct levels of dirt! but look recently used, in the last 3 years.

Bod

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Interesting assortment!

Just to get the ball rolling, as it were, Goodman (British Planemakers, 2nd edition) gives dates for George Mutter of London as 1766 to 1812. John Lund of London is also pretty early - 1812 to 1832. So they're real oldies!

The concave/convex pair are in all probability 'hollows and rounds', and the size 4 is probably 4/16", or 1/4". That'll be the distance across the cutting iron, and is also the radius of the curve cut. Pairs are always nicer than orphans, and Atkin were a long-standing Birmingham maker, 1843-1966 according to Goodman. He pins 'Atkin and Sons, Sheffield Works, Rea Street' to 1863-1900.

I'm sure the real experts will be along shortly with more information!

 

[Sheffield Tony]

In case any experts are passing by, can I tag on an enquiry about "E Knight" ? I picked up some side beads by this maker recently. No other marking on the irons.

And as an aside, when a plane is described as a 1/4" side bead, is that the diameter of the bead, or the width of the whole moulding ?

 

[AndyT]

I'm not sure about experts either... but Bod, you have some useful planes - sharpen the blades and use them - I don't think any of them is especially rare but they are all worth preserving.

Tony, according to BPM III Edward Knight was another Birmingham maker, in business at the back of 116 Bradford Street between 1888 and 1912. There is a note saying "Planes by this maker are rare; he was probably a sub-contractor."

As far as I can see by holding a ruler up to some clearly marked examples, the size on a side bead is the horizontal distance from the edge of the wood to the quirk, which would be about the same as the diameter of the round part.

 

[Sheffield Tony]

Thank for that Andy. I'm rather pleased, for 100 years old they look rather well preserved. Well worth 99p each, I think

 

[Bod]

Thanks for the replies.
It would seem that Cheshirechappie you are the man, for moulding plane information.

In the interests of domestic harmony, I am now offering my planes to a new home! (Hands up, who hasn't had that conversation)

Bod

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Very kind of you to say so Bod, but believe me there are quite a few people around who have forgotten more about about moulding plane history and use than I'll probably ever know.