Plane ID

[Paul Hannaby]

Does anyone know what make this plane might be? It appears to be bronze (and pretty heavy!) and there are no makers marks I can find. The narrow slot appears too narrow for the blade to be bevel down so I assume it should be fitted bevel up. Does that sound likely?

There is also this palm sized plane. Also appears to be bronze and again the blade is bevel up. No obvious makers marks

 

[MIGNAL]

First plane has to be bevel down. Apart from the pitch it also has a cap iron. Perhaps the mouth needs to be 'finished off'. The second plane is certainly bevel up. Perhaps both user made from a casting?

 

[Mr_P]

The larger one looks a Scottish infill panel / jointer plane I've got a couple no idea who made them, chances are you /we will never know. Perhaps the iron is a bad replacement, don't do anything with the mouth until you are 100% sure it's
easy to file a mouth but once its filed you can't put it back and people prefer very tight mouths on planes if you are planning on seling.

Like yours but made by Spiers and dovetailed steel not cast.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A-RATHER-NICE ... 7675.l2557

Similar story with the small Chariot but good news is that the ones with lever caps go for more than the wedged variety.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131658670518? ... EBIDX%3AIT

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Those look user-made. Until about WW2, it was possible to buy some components of infill planes (blades and capirons, screw-caps, etc) from any ironmonger (probably to order - can't see them being big sellers!) and at various times, raw castings have been available to purchase for finishing by users. Finished planes by the well-known names were expensive, so the impecunious but enterprising craftsman did resort to a bit of DIY planemaking on occasion.

The bigger panel plane is definitely bevel-down, as the others have said. These were cabinetmaker's planes intended as 'super-smoothers' for panel work and the like in trickier timbers, and often had VERY tight mouths (literally a couple of sheets of paper tight) as a measure against tearout on the work. They were, of course, used with a very fine set, not for heavy stock removal.

The smaller chariot plane is a bit of an oddity in that they don't usually have a screw cap. The blade is normally retained by a hardwood wedge bearing on a bridge between the top wings of the casting, and the wedge usually extends back to provide a comfortable rest for the palm of the hand. That one is probably not quite so comfortable to use. It is intended to be bevel-up, though.

 

[Paul Hannaby]

Thanks for the info.

It may be the large plane has the wrong blade in it or perhaps the rust on it has made it sit higher than it should. Maybe a bit of wire brushing would sort that out! Judging from the score marks on the bottom it has seen some use so I won't take a file to the mouth as it must have worked with the right blade or that blade correctly fitted at some point.

I was tempted to polish both of them up and use them as decorations but perhaps they are best left with their original patina (I'm not sure my other half would appreciate them as ornaments anyway! ;-) )

 

[D_W]

I would agree with the above, either something has gotten out of alignment or the blade may be a replacement.

The iron in the plane is a tapered iron, and parallel is more appropriate for an infill - especially if the mouth is tight. It may have been placed in the plane for sale or trial later. I would find an appropriate parallel iron for it (use wood shims or whatever to find out what fits well if the infills are tight and look in place).

 

[AndyT]

I was tempted to polish both of them up and use them as decorations but perhaps they are best left with their original patina (I'm not sure my other half would appreciate them as ornaments anyway! ;-) )

You are wise not to rush to the polish. Your property, your decision etc, but they are unusual planes and could be worth a few hundred pounds. Polishing them to a brassy shine would hugely reduce the value and is not a reversible move! If there is any chance that you will want to sell them, don't do more than dusting, even on the rusty iron.

 

[D_W]

It's unlikely to be the original iron, I'd set the iron aside, anyway. You can't really make much out of it at this point, especially not for that plane (where you need parallel).

I agree 100% on leaving that patina. It's not such a big deal to clean up a common plane, there are plenty with patina, but that's a relatively classy looking plane that if it's user made, is made very well. If it's not, it still has nice style.

The patina on the bronze looks stellar as it is.