Plane I.D.

Another shot!

Jack in N. Ga.

>The front says e. noble; leeds and Late Watson, whatever that means.

The blade says: Warranted Cast Steel with the maker in an arch above it, but I can't make it out. It's definitely old. Late 1800's I'm guessing.

Re: Another shot!

Todd Hughes

>Is a compass plane, while some may have been used in chairmaking many more were probably used by wheelwrights , coach builders and shipwrights etc. that needed a plane to plane curved curved surfaces.Some were made this way but most of the ones I have seen seem to have been user made from a regular block plane which is what your looks like to me. For some reason the ones I had that looked like they were made this way originaly have been a good bit smaller then a regualr smoothing plane. Have seen a few with brass soles, Also as well ones with soles that are also rounded side to side. These ones I do think probably were used to scoop out tween ware or maybe chair seats.... Don't know nothing about the maker but am sure it is an english plane.....Todd

Good guess...

Alice Frampton, UK

>...it is late 1800s. The entry from British Planemakers; my additional comments in square brackets:

QUOTE

NOBLE, Edward 1857-1870

NOBLE, Edward Cliffe 1876-1891

18 Vicar Lane, Leeds [Yorkshire, north of England]

1857: Planemaker. 1861: Tool dealer. 1876: Planemaker and toolmaker. 1878: Toolmaker. 1881: Ironmonger and tool dealer. 1882: Planemaker. 1886: Dealer and toolmaker. 1888: Toolmaker. [Entries from the directories - in reality I don't suppose the fine distinctions made any practical difference to the business]. UC [Uncommon; not found regularly, but not rare]

END QUOTE

"Late WATSON" refers to Noble taking over the trade and premises of Joseph Watson, if I'm joining my dots correctly :~)

Cheers, Alf

Also...

Bob Hackett(Mainely,Bob)

>From what I`ve seen and been told UK irons most commonly have that non-ferrous threaded insert that requires the wedge to be grooved as well as the frog.Most(but not all) US irons had the chipbreaker threaded directly allowing the wedge to bear fully on the chipbreaker.

MB

Re: Good guess...

Jack in N. Ga.

>Wow...Thanks Alice. Just curious, is there a place on the internet you looked that up or do you have old books?

Also, I have another plane I bought in England, on Ebay. Here's the description:

THIS PLANE WILL BE A NICE ADDITION TO ANY COLLECTION. IT WAS MANUFACTURED BY EDWARD PRESTON AND COMES COMPLETE. THE INSCRIPTION ON THE FRONT SAYS IT WAS MADE FOR P T COUCH IN NEATH, SOUTH WALES. THE BLADE IS ALSO INSCRIBED EDWARD PRESTON, WARRANTED CAST STEEL. ALL IN ALL A NICE PIECE OF KIT WHICH IS STEEPED IN HISTORY AND IF IT HAD A MOUTH WOULD PROBABLY TELL A FEW TALES.

Re: Good guess...

Alice Frampton, UK

>Jack,

British Planemakers is my go-to source - ask me about 'Murrican planes and I'd draw a total blank!

I'll leave the Preston one to the Preston experts/owners of the Preston catalogue reprint - they'll have more comprehensive info than me.

Cheers, Alf

Re: Good guess...

Todd Hughes

>since it doesn't have a mouth might make it kind of hard to use, eh?.....Todd

Re: Good guess...

Mike L (Orange County, CA)

>That plane must be the source of those legendary 'zero-thickness' shavings I've heard tale of.

Regards,

Mike