Old wood moulding Plane

[adzeman]

I purchased a wooden moulding plane to day. The chap I bought it off stated it was 18th centuary. I asked how did he know it was 18th centuary? to which he stated he was told by the chap he bought it off.
Taking it home I asked an old carpenter in the village how do you tell how old these old tools are? He informed me that usually they are longer than the more recent planes ie they stick out on the shelf further. He said there are old catalogues which can help but you need a manufacturers name to which mine does not. It has a name stamped on it "Bailey" but I suspect this is a previous owner.

Can any one assist?

It is 10" long

 

[richarnold]

Hi there. from the look of the chamfers, and the fact it's 10 inches long, I'm sure it's 18th century. The wedge looks like it might be a replacement. a better shot of the other side of the plane would help. the iron is worth checking for a stamp, as a lot of 18th century examples are signed

 

[jimi43]

As Richard says...by the end of the 18th C most moulding planes were standardised at 9 1/2"

Although there are a few exceptions which are made large for other reasons...if it is a fairly standard moulding plane and it's over 9 1/2" by that much then it is almost certainly from the mid to late 1700s

A picture of the other side will give us a clue from the shoulder...and the gouge marks...and I wouldn't mind seeing the profile either.

Information in Goodman "British Planemakers from 1700" 3rd Edition courtesy of a very kind person not a million miles away from this post! :wink:

Jim

 

[Richard T]

Yes Mike, more pictures please.

 

[adzeman]

Have been out all day will take more pics tomorrrow.

Thanks for the responses appreciated.

 

[adzeman]

The promised pictures.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rR38 ... CN4871.JPG

 

[AndyT]

Well it looks C18th to me too. The Bailey name is likely to be an owner's name in that position - but you need to get the hang of focussing your camera!

 

[adzeman]

Thanks Andy, sorry about the focus its automatic on my camera and at close quarters shuold use a tripod. I have owned a few old tools due to where i served my apprentiship in the 50's and always keep a look out for them but, since following this web site I have admired the knowledge and passion of its contributers though I cant understand the threads on flat or round bevels and old tool box makers.

 

[AndyT]

One other point - apologies if you've read this loads of times before - that looks like a perfectly functional and useful tool. There's no rust on the iron, which would just need the merest touch of a round slipstone if anything.

But please don't be tempted to remove the dark surface colouration, and especially don't sand it. You would stop it looking over 200 years old and destroy its monetary value, but you would also remove the evidence of how it was used. Pick it up to use it and I think you will find that your hands naturally fall into the lighter areas where the darkened oil finish has been worn away by use. That's something you don't get with new tools!

 

[adzeman]

I know exactly what you mean the man I worked for as an apprentice his father had a pairing chisel which he named his favourite chisel. I obtained a similar one and I get a tingle each time I use it.

 

[matthewwh]

What a beauty, thank you for sharing!

 

[Fromey]

This web page might be of use to you;

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread. ... ing-Woodys

 

[jimi43]

Sorry Fromey but I think that guy has just destroyed the marks of history.

If they were restoration jobbies then maybe there is a reason for using sandpaper on the planes but I am of the view that they should just be lightly oiled with linseed oil to retain the patina.

I know this will probably have as many views as there are planes in the world but that's just my take...for what it's worth.

As I have said before...it's up to the owner to do what they will with it.

Jim

 

[AndyT]

Like Jim said - scroll down and read the horrified reaction!

Such treatment is entirely unnecessary to produce a usable tool. Normally all you need to do with an old plane is take the superficial dirt off, if it's been stored in a shed or attic. I did a series of posts on this a while back.

 

[richarnold]

Totaly agree with Jim, and andy. Please, please keep the sand paper away from old wooden planes!!!
Getting back to the plane, by the look of the size, and angle of the chamfers, and the steeply angled fillet, the plane has all the looks of something manufactured before 1750, or possibly even earlier. Although the wedge at first looked to be a replacement, now we can see it a bit more, my gut feeling is that it may be the original, and that it's just been a bit over cleaned

 

[Richard T]

Thanks for the pictures Mike. Very useful, a hollow - for rounding over sharp corners.

Can be touched up with the basic tear drop shaped slip stone. Good practice for both sharpening and moulding. That's going to be good old steel there .... is there any mark on the iron?

 

[Fromey]

Sorry, I forgot to re-read the forum post again. I agree also. Sandpaper would be a no-no. What I did with mine was a light going over with 000 steel wool and white spirit. Cleaned them up no end but left the old patina.

 

[adzeman]

Good advice all round, I am not going to touch it with anything other than a duster and keeping the blade sharp. When I saw it I was looking for a No2 round grooving plane not this one, I fell in love with it and I had to have it. I told the guy I normally pay no more than £8.00 usually £6.00 and £8.00 is what I paid. I will use it and keep (cherish) it for as long as I can. I did get in trouble with the wife who said I am not safe to be let out on my own but I new that anyway.