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In Memoriam: Leon Robbins, Pioneering Planemaker *LINK*

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In Memoriam: Leon Robbins, Pioneering Planemaker *LINK*

#1

In Memoriam: Leon Robbins, Pioneering Planemaker *LINK*

Christopher Schwarz

>If you are one of the thousands of people who have taken a chair class at Michael Dunbar's "The Windsor Institute," then you have certainly used one of the travishers or spoon-bottomed planes from Crown Planes.

The makers of these fine tools, Leon Robbins, passed away earlier this month. If you don't know the interesting story of how Robbins came to make chairmaking tools, I highly recommend you link over to Dunbar's blog, where he has posted a fitting tribute to Robbins, one of the pioneering modern planemakers.

The good news here is that Crown Planes is still in business and making high-quality tools for making furniture and chairs. Jimmy White, who now runs the business, has promised to loan us a few tools in the coming months so we can publish a review of his wares.

Chris


Leon Robbins, Planemaker

Re: In Memoriam: Leon Robbins, Pioneering Planemaker *LINK*

#2

Re: In Memoriam: Leon Robbins, Pioneering Planemak

Dave Anderson NH

>I am really sorry to hear about Leon's passing. I am fortunate enough to own two different styles of his compass planes and one of his travishers. When I ordered from him he was still making about a dozen different styles of tools and sent me photographs of them laid out on a green felt background. With a ballpoint pen he had numbered each style and annotated them to the items on his price list. I enjoy using and greatly treasure my tools with the Crown logo and the initials L.R. stamped into them. They work as well as when they were new over 10 years ago. Rest in peace Leon.

Re: In Memoriam: Leon Robbins, Pioneering Planemaker *LINK*

#3

Re: In Memoriam: Leon Robbins, Pioneering Planemak

GregB

>Thank you Chris. Mike's tribute is one of the finest I've ever read. We can tell a lot about a man by what inspires him. Mike's words say a lot about him as well. And this community.

Re: In Memoriam: Leon Robbins, Pioneering Planemaker *LINK*

#4

Re: Great Friend

Greg Earley

>Leon was a great friend to me.

There are people you meet in life that you will never forget and will always have a place in your heart. Leon was one of those persons to me.

I met Leon about 15 years ago through the Woodshop News. They did a artical about him. I called him and ordered my first of many planes from him. It was a two inch long little finger plane made out of curly maple. I payed 35 dollars for it. I was hooked. Leon loved making his planes and took a lot of pride in everyone that he built. What I loved most about the planes is they were built by hand in his small shop with pride.

Through out the years we devoloped a phone friendship. We would start out talking about planes and end up talking about life. I never got to meet him face to face, but we would always end our phone calls with "I will meet you at the banquet table in the house of our Lord"

He would always say "God Bless you my friend", that means alot to me and I will never forget the sound of his voice.

Last year at Christmas, I called Leon and bought three of his last planes, small block planes made out of different figured woods with laminated stars in the sides. What was great about it was when I got the pakage he added two small levels fabricated from old junker levels and brought back to life with his own touch and style.

Thanks for reading my post.

Greg Earley

Calif.

Re: In Memoriam: Leon Robbins, Pioneering Planemaker *LINK*

#5

Jack Guzman from Maine

Re: Great Friend

Jack Guzman from Maine

>I knew very little about the man. I handled one of his compass planes and was very impressed. The only thing that kept me from buying one was the fact that I don't get much need for one of those in the kind of work I do. I've seen pictures of other planes he's built. He was very good.

Your mention of his levels got my interest.I would love to see a picture of them. I've never seen a custom level.I have a small collection of old levels and was planning on making one of my own.Do you have a picture?

Thanks---Jack

Re: In Memoriam: Leon Robbins, Pioneering Planemaker *LINK*

#6

Re: Great Friend

Greg Earley

>Jack

I'll take some pics Saturday and post.

Greg

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