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Molding Planes

Before the days of store bought moldings and Stanley combination planes, every cabinetmaker and joiner had a chest full of molding planes. For the most part these planes are almost identical, however, there are subtle but important differences. More on the differences between cabinetmaker's and joiner's molding planes. Joiner's planes are much more common to find, because far more people were employed building houses than were employed building furniture by hand. Both types of planes can still be used on today's projects. By our estimation, you haven't lived, until you have struck a molding with an original molding plane that once sung in the shop of a 19th Century master. 18th Century molding planes are quite scarce and should be left to collectors. We hope that the collection presented here will offer something for everyone.

A word on sharpening and using molding planes.

Explanation of Our Condition Grading System

Frequently Asked Vintage Tool Questions




for British Molding Planes

for European Molding Planes

American Molding Planes



W.M. Souder, Philada W.M. Souder, Philada W.M. Souder, Philada

MP23081 W.M. Souder, Philada A most interesting, and unique in my experience, V groove plane with follow. British made V groove planes are relatively common, but I have never seen one with a second V for use as a guide. I don't recall ever seeing an American V groove, let alone one like this with the follow profile. The plans is in superb, connoisseur grade, condition. The original bladeis marked Hildick. The sole is fully boxed and keyed in. Fine Sold


A. Smith, Rehoboth A. Smith, Rehoboth A. Smith, Rehoboth

MP23084 A. Smith, Rehoboth A crisp as found 1" reverse ogee with astragal. It has lignum boxing. Really a fantastic plane for the connoisseur. Fine- Sold





S. Cummings S. Cummings

MP23087 S. Cummings A 3/16" bead that is fully boxed with keyed in boxwood. Truly wonderful condition. For the connoisseur. Fine Sold





A. Smith, Rehoboth A. Smith, Rehoboth

MP230811 A. Smith, Rehoboth A classic New England birch molding plane with all of the features that collectors love. It measures just under 10 inches long and has a relieved wedge and stop flutes. The profile is a 1/2" bolection, and the plane is marked 4/8. These delicate complex molders are as scarce as hens teeth in 18th Century American planes. The body is crsip, but it feels like it was rubbed down lightly with super fine steel wool. The mark is somewhat blurred and faint. A great plane with a great profile. G+ $245


L. Kennedy L. Kennedy L. Kennedy

MP230816 L. Kennedy A superb 3/4" quirked ogee with astragal. This is a profle that doesn't come up often in these very narrow sizes. It is very crisp and untouched. There is one tiny chip off of the profile on the front edge, which is why I gave it the minus. For the connoisseur. Fine- $119




E. W. Pennell, 90 Callowhill St. Philada E. W. Pennell, 90 Callowhill St. Philada

MP230230 E. W. Pennell, 90 Callowhill St. Philada A very unusual 8" long center bead. It cuts a 5/16" center bead. There are no added holes in this plane from tacking on fences. It is in nice as found condition. Short Philadephia molding planes just don't show up. I can't recall seeing another one in years. G+ $89




M. Crannel, Albany

MP230240 M. Crannel, Albany I have seen these ogees before by the Albany makers, but they are scarce. It is an ogee with no fillet and a deep fence. They most have had a specific purpose. This one is marked 7/8,and that is the working width, although there is some flexiblity to that since the profile flattens out at the endge. Nice clean condition, it was probably waxed by a collector. G++ Sold



Sandusky Tool Co., Ohio Sandusky Tool Co., Ohio

MP220645 Sandusky Tool Co., Ohio A 5/8" wide reverse ogee in as found condition with a medium-dark patina. Reverse ogee planes like this are tricky to use because there is no separage fence. The bottom of the profile is the fence, so it has to be carefully sharpened to not cut at the very bottom. This is a nice example that I would have rated a grade higher if the patina were more attractive. G+ Sold



D. Amsden, Lebanon

MP150445 D. Amsden, Lebanon This plane cuts a 5/8" astragal with cove. It bears the second Amsden mark. Both Amsden marks are very scarce, if not rare, in my experience. This plane is in wonderful original condition except that the blade has been stropped, clearly by a recent owner who thought that he might use it, but it shows no sign of any use in the last 100 years. A very hard to find New Hampshire maker and a very desirable profile, all in connoisseur condition G++ $199


Arrowmammett Works, Middletown Arrowmammett Works, Middletown Arrowmammett Works, Middletown

MP210796 Arrowmammett Works, Middletown A 1 3/4" wide Grecian with square. Not a common profile and not to be confused with the common Grecian ogee with bevel. It has an extension tacked on to the fence. It has a rather faded look to it now, but with a few drops of linseed oil rubbed in this plane will look fantastic. G+ $65




T.J. McMaster & Co, Auburn, NY

MP20126 T.J. McMaster & Co, Auburn, NY A 7/8" wide astragal with deep Grecian. The plane is marked 3/4, which seems to be the depth of cut. Sighting down the body there is some warp and if you want to use this plane it will require some fiddling, but it looks doable to me without inordinate effort, if you have experience with this. There is a hang hole in the rear and a check in the front. Nice honest as found condition. G+ $59



Bensen & Crannell, Albany

MP201218 Bensen & Crannell, Albany A 1/2" cove plane in clean as found condition. Sighting down the sole, there is a warp in this plane that will prevent it from performing well without some fiddling. The price reflects that. Needs a light cleaning but should clean to at least G+ $30






D.R. Barton, Rochester, NY D.R. Barton, Rochester, NY

MP20037 D.R. Barton, Rochester, NY A deep reverse ogee with bevel, it cuts a square profile, meaning that it is 3/4" wide and 3/4" deep. There is one chip in the front edge of the profile where the plane hit a metal bench dog, and another split in the fence at the front, from the same cause. Otherwise quite nice as found conditon. I strongly recommend against using metal bench dogs. Make your own out of wood. They work great and they won't cause the kind of damage that metal ones will if you screw up and hit them. G+ $59



D. Copeland

MP160150 D. Copeland This plane has a very unusual profile, a very deep cove. I have seen similar very deep Grecians, so this is presumably the converse. It does seem to me that the depth stop has been planed off. The patina matches, so it would have been done when the plane was near new, but the wood is rougher there than the finish that the maker would have left, and the spring line shows where the depth stop shoud have been. I don't think that the profile itself is modified and this is still a very ususual plane. It does appear to have been "cleaned" with steel wool. G+ $55


Unmarked Unmarked Unmarked Unmarked Unmarked

MP140429 Unmarked This is a very early New England cornice plane, in the earliest style that one sees for American planes. This plane could easily pass for a Francis Nicholson plane. It is of that period and style, but for a small fraction of the cost of a signed example. The profile is a 2 3/4" ogee/reverse ogee, a furniture size molding that was very likely a cabinetmaker's plane long before the American Revolution. It has the classic round topped wedge, with a round topped iron that is not marked and was probably sourced locally. The tote is offset all the way to the right, and is short and stubby in the classic early 18th Century style. There is a chip out of the right rear edge of the spur, but it is overall quite good. The base of the tote is cracked flush with the body of the plane and is held down with nail in the rear of the tote. This is a period repair. This plane is untouched and in a very nice condition for its age. One of the best early planes that I have had. I like it much better than a Nicholson that I sold for $5000 over 20 years ago. G+ Sold




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British Molding Planes



Jas Lumsden, 20 South Lindsey St, Dundee Jas Lumsden, 20 South Lindsey St, Dundee

MP22081 Jas Lumsden, 20 South Lindsey St, Dundee A 3/4" cove plane that is made in a very unusual way. The blade is shifted very far forward of where it would normally be positioned. It should function in the same way, so I don't get why they would do this. The plane is in honest untouched condition. G+ $55




H. Olsen, 11 Vognmagergade 11 H. Olsen, 11 Vognmagergade 11 H. Olsen, 11 Vognmagergade 11

MP220712 H. Olsen, 11 Vognmagergade 11 This is a most unusual, and beautifully made, sash coping plane from Copenhagen, Denmark. I bought it from a European collector who told me that in his entire collecting career he has only seen one other example. The plane is also marked "! 1/2" for the size, probably in centimeters. At first glance it looks like a veneer saw. The beech wood has a lovely honey color and has been waxed by the collector. The metal parts have a pleasing light patina, but if you look closely you can see that they were hit with a fine wire brush. No real damage was done as it was a soft brush, but it is still a really bad thing to do to a tool and should be prosecuted. G++ $195


Moseley & Son, London Moseley & Son, London

MP22055 Moseley & Son, London A 1" Grecian ogee with bevel. Interestingly, the plane is also marked with a Ward, W&P mark that I have not seen before, but I assume was used to mark tools that went through their retail store. The plane has been lightly cleaned by a collector. The fence is rather shallow. I don't know why, but if might be a little tricky to use without putting on a fence extension. This is no big deal. I see fence extensions on planes all the time. G+ $55


Hields, Nottingham Hields, Nottingham

MP22022 Hields, Nottingham A matching pair of 5/8" ovolo sash planes in really crisp as found condition. These literally came out of an old tool chest about 2 weeks ago. Unfortunately, the #1 plane has a warp at the cut out for the mouth. They have been together all their lives, but yet one is straight and the other is not. Strange. They are still a wonderful pair. Fine $69





Sash Template Sash Template

MP180841 Sash Template This is the largest sash template that I have ever seen by far. It is for a giant lamb's tongue sash like might be used in a Victorian church. The molding would be about 2" wide to the glass. It is in wonderful as found condition with an attractive rich patina. Fine $59




Griffiths, Norwich Griffiths, Norwich

MP210173 Griffiths, Norwich This plane probably started life as a large round, but it has no numbers or size markings. I am pretty confident to say that the sole was modified, but to what end I am not sure. It might be to do raised panel work. The blade is just over 2 inches wide. The patina on the sole matches the rest of the plane. It is in nice condition. G++ Sold



Hathersich Hathersich

MP221127 Hathersich This is a 5/8" cove with ovolo sash plane. The boxing is warped and pulling up, and it has the wrong blade. The body and wedge are in lovely condition. Free to the first person who orders it and spends at least $200 on old tools. G++ $0




Two Hollows Two Hollows

MP210197 Two Hollows This is a lot of two hollows, both with the same owner's mark, but different maker's marks. There is a #15 marked Summers Varvill, Ebor Works, York, and the other has no number mark, but is a 13 or 14. It is marked Varvill & Son, York. G+ $45




Edwd Preston & Sons, B

MP210155 Edwd Preston & Sons, B'ham, Eng. An unusual 1 1/4" wide ovolo. Not a square ovolo, it is more similar to a very larege sash ovolo, but not quite the same. As found condition. G+ $59






W. Greenslade, Bristol

MP151021 W. Greenslade, Bristol A very unusual #4 round that is only 7 inches long. The only one of its kind that I have seen. I have seen much smaller Hollows and Rounds, but not one in this intermediary size. G++ $59







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European & Other Molding Planes

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