MARSH PLANE

Re: MARSH PLANE

Roger Nixon

>I have a Lakeside M4 (made by Marsh). It is a well made plane with a very solid frog. It does not appear to be Stanley's Bed Rock design.

Re: MARSH PLANE

L. Hanson in N. Idaho

>I don't know about the design of the H. C. Marsh Company's frog, so I can't help there, but:

I think the M3 would have been their designation for a #3 sized plane, M4 would be for a #4 sixed plane, and so on - if yours is a #3 size, then that should prove that, as I know of one M4 that was a #4 size. I have an old transitional Marsh plane that was my grandfather's - it's a good quality plane, and that's why I was interested in the name.

H.C. Marsh was one of those tool companies bought out by Stanley in the early part of the century. I think Stanley even continued putting the Marsh name on some planes until the late 20's sometime - and I believe the Marsh factory was putting out Bailey's for a while, too - exactly when I'm not sure. They also made miter saws of some sort, and probably some other tools as well.

Somebody with a copy of PTAMPIA might be of more help. I think I read what I know about them on the oldtools list at sometime.

Re: MARSH PLANE *LINK*

L. Hanson in N. Idaho

>From the oldtools list:

Quote:

"H.C.Marsh Tool Company, Rockford, Illinois 1915-24. Horace C. Marsh,

Pres., E.M.Mayer, V.P.

This company was formed in 1888 by Horace Clarence marsh. The manufacturing

plant was located at 220 Race Power Water Street. This area was in the

original Rockford Industrial Center adjacent to the Rock River.

The primary product in the early years was the famous Marsh Picture Frame

Mitre Vise. This was patent No. 408,248 granted August 6, 1889. A line of

high-quality cast iron mitre boxes was also manufactured by this firm.

In 1908, the company incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000 and they

employed fifteen workers. Some other products were pneumatic tools

including dental eequipment and a machine for rubbing furniture. Sometime

prior to 1920, they decided to venture into the plane manufacturing

business apparently because most of the Bailey and other patents on the

Stanley block and bench planes had expired. Marsh manufactured a line of

block planes, bench planes, scrapers, etc. similar to Stanley's design.

Bench planes of the No. 2 size through the No. 8 are known. They were

produced with both smooth and corrugated bottoms. The planes are of high

quality and similar to Stanley's equivalent planes, except they have a side

bearing between the bottom and the frog rather than a central ribbing.

The Marsh planes have MARSH cast into the bed and the letter M precedes

the number, i.e. M2, M3, M5 1/2, etc. The irons are stamped with the Marsh

name and also with the width of the cutters.

The plane section of a Marsh Tools Catalogue, dated 1926 (reproduced in the

appendix) indicated that the Surpless, Dunn Hardware Co. of NYC and Chicago

were its sales representatives."


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Re: MARSH PLANE

Tom MacGregor, Vermont

>The vendor with the Marsh planes is actually Patrick Leach of "Patrick's Blood and Gore" fame. You don't have to worry about asking him questions directly; the answer will be accurate. I sounded to me as if it was a Bedrock type frog, but not necessarily made by Stanley. A lot of Stanley stuff got copied, including Bedrock inspired frogs on Vaughn & Bushnel planes (did I get that name right?)