all right-- so I have all these new (old) tools and I know very little about them. I would like to make some of them into users, but once again didn't want to do any harm to tools that are valuable to collectors by sticking an iron into evaporust and waxing the heck out of the wood....
Here's what I have--again, I know nothing about most of these and any help/tips/tricks for using them or sharpening them would be great... I am not going to touch some that I suspect may be worth a bit more than I paid....
Again, I'll spell out what I think I have and what I think I'd like to do with it and y'all please tell me if I'm crazy....
First, I think I have what I belive is a trying plane-- it is 24 inches long and 3 1/4 inches wide. The blade is stamped "W. Butcher 2 cast steel" (I believe this company made irons from the 1840's-1890's but am unsure) and is 2 9/16 wide. The front of the plane is stamped with what looks like an owner's (not maker's mark) E.S. Rotes.
I hope to use this plane as a user-- if not the plane itself, atleast the iron...
Next is a jack (or fore?) plane... it is 16 1/2 inches long and 2 5/8 wide and has a 2 5/8 spear and jackson iron and heavy chipbreaker. The plane is unmarked and the handle has been repaired, but is sturdy. The entire plane "feels like a user" and I am quite looking forward to trying it.
then is a small (12 x 2) plane and this one is much lighter and has an unmarked iron and no chipbreaker. The front of the plane is marked "union Factory R. Chapin" (I discovered this co was from 1826-1851) This plane almost looks/feels like it has never been used.
next up is two coffin-shaped smoothers... one is pretty grubby with a very gnarled mouth and the other is obviously a user-- the iron has been sharpened and is very thick and shiny (and screamingly sharp) Both planes are unmarked and I plan to use one/make a new body for the other as the iron is VERY thick
There is also another coffin shaped plane- with a "W. Butcher" iron and chipbreaker but no wedge. It is marked "John Veit Phila" and is made from a very finely grained and smooth wood-- the machineing inside is extremely crisp... I don't know what kind of wood this is, but I think I love it. I plan to make a new wedge and have this as a user. Another thing to note is there is a small "button" on the back that appears to be made of brass? I have no idea what this is for
Next is 2 spokeshaves... both very sharp and all seems sturdy. I plan to keep these as users
The lot also included 4 hand augers-- I have no idea what/how/why I would use them, but they are all intact and all have the screw end intact.
Next was 2 egg-beater type drills. The one on the left has already been claimed by my youngest
It is beautiful and works smoothly and has wooden knobs- the top one is threaded (wooden threads) and contains some bits (tiny spoon types) Both drills use a jacob-style chuck.
Next is 2 levels, one with broken glass and the other with both glasses (and bubble liquid) intact. I will most likely hang them both up and the usable one may go into my oldest son's shop box
next is assorted wooden clamps-- 3 are very much in-tact with all their threads appearing in-place and strong. A couple are a bit gnarled up...I'll add them to my wooden clamps only one has a maker's mark (W.M.J. Hood, valley falls) (circa 1890 rhode island)--- someone told me once that I could never have enough....
Also included is a British made bailey corrugated #4, A US made bailey #4, a #3, and a teeny plane with a very neat adjuster and a knockoff "blue anchor" stanley
y 110
Now things start to get a bit more unknown for me.... the molding planes...I know no more about these than what google could tell me....
This plane appears to be a large "round" (?) marked sandusky tool co. (common maker's mark evidently)- planned to be a user
there is also a "union factory" rabbet plane with a skewed blade-- it really is a pretty tool (planned user)
Next is a much larger rabbet plane with a skewed blade and a nicker... it is marked "Josiah King" (1890's) and appears to retail for around $40-60 (I found several online) It feels quite solid and is in very good condition and I haven't decided whether I will keep it or sell it.
Next is a "hollow" (or did I get these backwards) made by conway tool co.
These seem to retail for about $10-30 and I plan to keep and use this one (it seems like a very handy shape) The hollow is quite large
Now I start to get confused... this plane has a fence and seems very well built... I don't know what it is called though (is this a fillister plane?)-- it is marked "A.Wheaton Philad" I could not find any reference to this maker except that a "a.wheaton cornice plane" was estimated at $3000... I'm not getting my hopes up (that would be like seeing "stanley" and assuming it is a #1 instead of a beat up $4) but until I research/hear further I'll keep this untouched and unused
And now my google search made my head turn a bit.....
I have three planes marked "Israel White" (1830-37ish) He is the maker who made the plow plane that was sold for $31,000 a while back... I thought, "how neat... planes from this guy---" but as he made "thousands" did not think too much about it... These two are quite pretty-- I don't know what they are for, but they are pretty---
Then I got to this plane.... the workmanship is very detailed (dovetailed pieces etc)
I did some more looking and discovered this passage here
http://books.google.com/books?id=zsBdW5 ... ne&f=false
"even though white's business inventory listed several thousand planes, very few that are stamped with his eagle-stars logo exist today making them very collectable and highly valuable with collectors"
does anyone know where I can go to find out if this is worth something? I understand that this is not a intricate plow plane and is not worth huge money but I do not want to sharpen and use a plane that may be of historical or collector value (in other words, I don't want to ruin a collectors item)
Anyway, this was an e-bay lot for $200 plus shipping... I think I may have done ok, especially if I can sell one or two and "flip" this lot... no matter what I hope to have a couple of useful planes/ and plane irons (these suckers are HEAVY and THICK) Again, any hints/tips/advice is very much welcomed.
Lawrence