Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Bead cluster plane?
Paul in NJ
>I rescued this plane last week-end from the flea market. I have never seen a profile like this one. The makers mark is not clear, I can only make out PHI on the second line. I guess that means it was made in Philadelphia. Except for the chip that I glued back on, it is very crisp, with the iron matching the sole nicely.
Has anyone seen one like this and know where the moulding it makes might be used?
Paul Dzioba
Side view
Paul in NJ
>
Re: Bead cluster plane?
Stephen Shepherd in the State of Deseret
>It looks like an astragal plane used for making moldings that go between doors or panels.
Also used to make screen molding, the stuff is shot and ripped to thickness and used to secure wire screen in doors and windows.
Stephen
Re: Bead cluster plane?
Paul in NJ
>Thanks Stephen, I suspected it might be for screens. I think I will touch up the blade and give the plane a spin.
Paul Dzioba
Re: Bead cluster plane?
Michael Stadulis, in Gloucester County, NJ
>Lucky you, Paul. Great find. Almost as good as my set of 36 H&R's for a great inexensive price, way back when. I'd vote for an astragal or more likely some other applied ornamental molding. That's extremely deep and fancy for screen molding and I suspect that such a profile wouldn't be so rare if it was for screens.
Secondly...when did screen start to be manufactured compared to the estimated manufature date of your woodie? I bet the plane pre-dates screen mfr....but maybe I'm off-base.
Mike..... who's a nice guy and didn't tell you that such a plane can only be used for screens and that you should send it to him who does make them for his old huse........ ;o)
The Moulding
Paul in NJ
>I don't know that I was so lucky. I didn't arrive at the flea market until 8:30. A lot of people picked it up and looked at it before me because the seller told me so. I guess they were put off by the missing chip (that was still with the plane) and the $25 price tag. I negotiated to $15 and used hide glue to put the chip back on.
After 10 minutes of sharpening I was able to make the moulding shown below.
Paul Dzioba
That's really neat Paul...
John in New Mexico
>Nice unusual pattern that looks pretty useful. I'd have taken it at $25, so looks like a great deal to me.
John
Nice
Jim in Burlington On
>Looks like a great find to me. Never have any luck like that around here.
Re: Bead cluster plane?
Ed Mulligan, Cape Cod
>Paul -
I have a similar plane. It's signed Bensen & Crannell Albany. If you look close you'll see that the reeds on mine are not symmetrical around a vertical axis while your example appears to have that symmetry.
Yours is the second example I've seen.
Ed
It puts me in the mind of
Wiley Horne--So. Calif.
>the pilasters (vertical columns) that the Seymours used to flank and divide their tambour doors on their famous tambour secretaries.
There is one particular example (Catalogue Entry 16 in Robt. Mussey's book), where the pilaster is made in the round, as one-third of a circle. They alternated dark and light wood strips to simulate a fluted column.
Your plane (and Ed Mulligan's too) would make some spectacular pilasters if you started with laminated strips, where the strips were made the right width to coincide with the reeding of the plane.
Just a thought. I can send you a scan if you're not familiar with these Seymour details.
Wiley
Re: The Moulding
Michael Stadulis, in Gloucester County, NJ
>I'd have paid more than $25.... want to sell it? ;o)
Re: Bead cluster plane?
MikeW
>Beautiful profile, Paul!
I have seen one other like yours. I really wanted to pick it up but passed. Now that I see yours I'm kicking myself!
Take care, Mike
Re: Bead cluster plane?
Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native, Presently Away
>That's quite a find IMO, I think I'd of tried to haggle the price down a bit as well, tho it would of been difficult as at $25, in that condition I think it was a bargain.
I'd like to see a shot of the cutter itself.
T.O.
Re: Bead cluster plane?
Darrell in Oakville
>Paul,
Wow, that's a cool profile. That shape would add lots of interest & shadow lines no matter how the light hits it.
Can you post a picture of both sides of the iron at the business end? My wife saw the plane and wants to know how the cutting edge is ground to produce this profile. I've tried to explain the cutting geometry, using lots of gesticulatory supplementation (arm waving) but alas, my words and gestures apparently don't impart the required information. A picture is worth a thousand words, eh?
Darrell
Wood Hoarder, Blade Sharpener, and Occasional Tool User
Great score Paul!
Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA
>I've never seen a profile like it. You did good for 15 bucks.
Iron - Top Side
Paul in NJ
>Here you go Todd. This one is laminated, just like all the other wooden planes I have. I think only my Sandusky plow irons are all high carbon steel. Sure makes sharpening them a lot easier.
Paul
Iron - Bottom Side
Paul in NJ
>Looks a little tricky to grind that profile! I am glad it was in good shape and only needed a little touch-up.
Paul Dzioba