Congratulation E-Mart Shoppers *LINK*

Another chance. *LINK*

Tony Sade (Charleston, WV)

>Looks like the seller has relisted the plane. If at first. . .


Mathieson Smoother

Re: Congratulation E-Mart Shoppers

Todd Hughes

>Kind of amazing that a beautiful old plane like that wouldn't be "worth" as much as a new factory LN one, eh?...I do think that when ever a sellers starts off with a very high opening bid like this one did it really hurts them. I bet if he started it at $5 and used a reserve of what he had to get it would have sold .....Todd

Now, I'm confused!

Clay C in Miami

>Now, I'm confused!

You said "I wouldn't have thought many ... would recognize this offering as a Mathieson" (which sounds to me like it is a Mathieson), and "[s]ince there were no bids ... I conclude that no one ... was confused by the offering" (which sounds to me like it's not).

I'm sure it's purely my slowheadedness, but are you saying that this is a "craftsman" with a Mathieson iron (and thus, that the auction copy is not correct), or that it is an early Mathieson?

Thanks,

Ignorantly yours,

Clay

My fault

WoodburnBob

>Sorry, Clay, I was being elliptical and too subtle. My error. I suppose I was trying to avoid being catty or libelous, while still getting across the point that the plane isn't what is implied by the sales copy, that I thought infill consumers are getting smarter, and that I like seeing proof that the market agreed with me.

That plane is not a Mathieson. It is an unsigned (no valid known maker's stamp on the body, wood, or lever cap), presumably craftsman-made plane with a tapered Mathieson iron someone at some time no doubt liberated from a $5 wooden coffin smoother. There are many other features that distinguish this plane from a Mathieson: wood, shapes, profiles, knurling, etc., etc. I'm not making an accusation of fraud but of ignorance.

The plane has a value, yes. The opening bid is at the extreme upper end of an optimistic limit of that value. Some would say it is vastly over-priced. Granted, Ebay has shown us all that value, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. It's the P.T. Barnum thing.

Todd's comments, as is often the case, puzzle the heck out of me. The only thing I can figure is he's applying that syrupy, dry, dead-pan, provocative wit of his.

I shall try hader

Todd Hughes

>Don't know how my post could be a source of puzzlement but I shall try to make it clearer. The ebay plane looks to me to be a very attractive and nicely mostly hand made classic infill plane no matter if it isn't a Mathieson. Condition appears to be very good and I imagine it should perform very well , probably about as well as a real Mathieson or most any other infil including more expensive modern made ones. Maybe others could date it more accuratly but I am guessing it is at least 60-70 years old or if not older. Here we have a an attractive, older classic plane in very nice condition that should be a very nice user and it isn't "worth" [when I say worth I'm talking about money now] as much as a modern factory mass produced plane. Just seems to me that such a nice older classic plane should be more vauable [$] then a common new made plane.Befor the pitch forks are brought out and the torches lit and I am crucified for failing to kneel at the LN alter I think the ebay infill "should" be worth more then a Stanley Bedrock too.

In case it was my reference to auction practices that was puzzling to Bob I think it is like at a live auction. No one wants to jump into the bidding at the first high bid asked. Even at auctions where there is a reserve a good auctioner will not start the bidding at that price but instead starts low to get people bidding against each other which results in interests in the item resulting in higher bids I think. When you see other people bidding against you it is easier to convince yourself that what you are bidding on is worth just a bit more.

Well hope I have cleared up any puzzlements .....Todd