An interesting small MATHIESON dovetailed infill smoothing plane.

A 7 inch long rosewood infill smoothing plane by MATHIESON with some London maker features.

Stamped 'A MATHIESON & SON GLASGOW' with the Star & Crescent trade mark on the front infill.

Whilst this example appears to be a MATHIESON 842 improved smoothing plane it does show a number of features more typically found on planes produced by Norris of London.

The rear infill, back of the lever cap and cap iron are all stamped '4'.

This numbering system is almost always present on early planes by Norris and those produced by Spiers of Ayr.

Some collectors of infill planes already believe that the major British manufacturers such as Norris, Spiers and MATHIESON also supplied unmarked planes to each other.

The cap iron is also of the type used by Norris and Buck, without the brass collar to take the screw.  Almost every infill plane by MATHIESON that we have seen uses a cap iron with the brass collar and is usually complete with a MATHIESON trade mark.

Peter McBride has done some wonderful work relating to the 'STEEL' marks used on planes by Buck, MATHIESON, Norris and Preston however this plane is not stamped making it even more difficult to pinpoint its acual manufacturer.

A great little smoothing plane that raises a few questions.

Enjoy the photos.

Robert Leach

Old Hand Tools