Antique Wooden Planes at The Best Things

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Wooden Planes

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American Wooden Planes

WP250113 Unmarked This is an early 19th Century panel raiser in nice as found condition. It is marked G. Robinson, but I think that was an owner and not the G. Robinson in the book. This looks like an eastern Pennsylvania plane to me. It has heavy flat chamfers, a diamond strike button, and the short tote with a long spur that makes early planes so attractive. Unusually for an American panel raiser, it has a double iron. The cap iron has a round top characteristic of the period. The cutting iron is by Ward & Payne and I think might be a later period replacment. It is perfectly fitted and not something stuck in the plane recently, but it probably later than the plane . The top surface of the iron has had the blacksmith's finish removed. That is the only thing on this plane that has been touched. It otherwise has an old dry surface. The fence has two sets of holes in the sole. It is on the inner holes now and can go from 9/16" to 1 1/8". On the outside holes it can go to 2" wide. G++ $199

WP221116 Sandusky Tool Co. 133 In nearly 40 years of tool dealing this is the first time that I have found a really nice rosewood plow with decorative tips, that has never been molested by an old time collector. These finacy plows were the holy grail to old time collectors and when they found them, they invariably overcleaned them. In fact, I did a quick search on Sandusky Tool Co. 133 and a heavily overcleaned example comes up on a competitor's website, sold for $1500. This one has its original French polished finish. The skate is not rusty and the brass plate has a nice patina. The brass depth stop adjuster also has a nice patina and has clearly not been removed. Whenever these have been removed, it is usually obvious, and not in a good way. The decorative tips are yellowed, as is normal on genuine examples. More faking of these have been done than one would think. Expecially back in the 70s and 80s. On the negative side, this one has some modest chipping on the rosewood threads and the wedge finial is pretty bad. One of the rosewood nuts was craked and glued. This is a period repair and could be made invisible without much trouble. Also, one of thesteel screws that hold the fence to the arms was replaced. I would have John Porrit make a new wedge. Otherwise you just want to clean it with a soft cloth and museum grade wax. This is a gem for serious collector and priced very gently to allow you plenty of margin to get a wedge made and still come out ahead. It comes with one 1/4" Sandusky marked iron that is original to this plane. G++ $899

WP200155 C. Lindenberger Christopher Lindenberger was a son of the famous Rhode Island planemaker John Lindenberger. He migrated to Columbus Ohio and this plane was probably made in Ohio. The mark is quite a scarce mark and is ranked as a 3 star mark in Tom's book. This plane is in decent as found condition. It is missing the blade and wedge, as well as one of the arm wedges. I am suspicious that the existing arm wedge is replaced, but I can't see why anyone would replace just one wedge when both were missing. The back of the plane bears the dreaded "J.A. Moody" stamp and inventory number. J.A Moody was an early collector, who wrote the book, American Wooden Plow Planes. The edge of the fence is reeded, an unusual but attractive touch. An important plane for a collector of early Ohio tools, that can easily be restored to be quite presentable. G++ $99

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Irons and Cap Irons (Blades and Chip Breakers)