Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Have Cecil Pierce planes become collectible?
Denis Ch�nard, Orl�ans, Ont.
>There's a fellow on La Mortaise (a Qu�bec forum) who has been offered a Pierce plane in exchange for some work. Are these planes sought after? I don't have any details on the plane itself, I'll inquire.
Also, Pierce used setscrews in his wooden planes (like Veritas does). Did that idea originate with him?
TIA,
DC
Re: Have Cecil Pierce planes become collectible?
Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native, Presently Away
>Well Denis, I can't speak for the "true big money collectors" as I myself am a mere accumulator, and a bottom feeder one at that, butif I was forced to hazard a guess I would have to say no. With that said however, if given the chance to grab one of his up at a decent price I'd be strongly inclined to do so simply due to the "Maine Connection" I have with him.
I do have a strong idea that Cecil did orginate the set screws in the side.
Hopefully Bob will chime in on this query as he personally knew Cecil.
What type of plane is it, and how much work does he want you to do for it?
T.O.
Re: Have Cecil Pierce planes become collectible?
Rob Lee
>Set screws at the mouth of a plane is an idea 100 years or so old... not to say that many haven't had the same idea since then...
Cheers -
Rob
Re: Have Cecil Pierce planes become collectible?
Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native, Presently Away
>Set screws at the mouth of a plane is an idea 100 years or so
Really? I had no idea. Got any examples in your extensive collection?
T.O.
Re: Have Cecil Pierce planes become collectible?
paul womack
>Set screws at the mouth of a plane is an idea 100 years or so
Really? I had no idea. Got any examples in your extensive collection?
I'm betting "yes" :-)
BugBear
Re: Have Cecil Pierce planes become collectible?
Bob Hackett
>Cecil was the first I heard of to use the set screw idea on both his wood and other`s Stanley type planes.
As far as collectible goes,Cicel made planes both on spec and commission.The only person I saw use his planes on a regular basis was Cecil himself.I suppose that means that most of the folks who bought them put them on a shelf in the study.According to some people here that makes those folks collectors and I suppose his planes become collectible thru that line of thinking.;^)
The planes sure were nice and I for one would be willing to become indentured for a fair bit of time in order to own one.
Mainely,Bob
Re: Have Cecil Pierce planes become collectible? *LINK*
Rob Lee
>Hi Todd -
Not sure if we have one...
You can see the patent on-line ... Justus Traut (Stanley)Oct 21 1884 ... #306877
Cheers -
Rob
Drawing Link
Re: side screws
Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX
>Todd, once you have the basics of a plane down, side screws or something else to line up the blade seem obvious. I'd be surprised if it took until a century ago for this to have been invented. Maybe this took so long because it's impractical/impossible for wooden and/or infill planes.
Pam
Re: side screws
Joel
>Norris put in bumps on the inside of their planes about 80 years ago. Theirs were copper so that if you accidently hi them when inserting a blade you didn't damage your cutting edge. Their main use is helping the lateral adjuster on a norris work better.
Re: Have Cecil Pierce planes become collectible?
Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native, Presently Away
>Thanks for the add'l info Rob, I never would of guessed that they where that old, and would of most certainly attributed them to Cecil. I do want to clear up that I was not in any shape, form or fashion "challenging" you on the subject. I realize that my reply could of been taken either way, so just thought I'd clear that up.
I forget who said it, but I was unaware of the "bronze bumps" as well. Something else to keep an out for I guess. ;~)
As for the initial question by Denis, I still feel that Cecil's planes have caught the eye of the "big money boys" and I whole-heartly agree with Bob and would like to acquire one or two or three or........ before they do.
How would one be recognized anyhow? Did he stamp his name on them?
Always good to see you Bob, I knew you'd chime in one this one.
T.O.
Re: side screws
ThomD
>Collectors don't seem to travel in the same circles as woodworkers. If I was to think up the 4 most influecial cabinetmaking people in our world (vs. teachers and writers), and then go out and get a very fat book on furniture of the 20th century, few, and usually none of those names appear. In the fields I am interested in, normally the most collectible stuff is mass produced not the best stuff, like Martin guitars, or Stanley planes. I don't even think Pierce is all that high on the radar of varatously reading and tool collecting woodworkers.
I don't really see the set screws as all that useful, the main downside is un-needed additional width. Somewhat ironic that they got glomed on just as woodworkers are either: buying high priced planes, sharpening entirely with jigs, or using curved blade edges. I well remember how many planes I used to handle, including my own that had a blade cranked over to get it parallel. But that seems pass�.