A rare and early dovetail mitre plane with the unusual inverted cupid's bow bridge.

This form of mitre plane is not common with most mitres bearing the SPIERS name having the lever cap with screw arrangement rather than a bridge with scrolled wedge.

Clearly marked with the well known upside down 'SPIERS AYR' mark.

There is some debate over who actually made this specific style of mitre plane as examples have been found with other marks including SPEIR, SPEIR AYR, G RUTHERFORD and RUTHERFORD AYR.  Some believe it could be an alternative spelling of the SPIERS name used by another family member.

This particular plane has a side handle, more likely a post manufacture addition but which has clearly been in place for many years.

Cupid's bow rosewood wedge and front infill with a walnut bed for the 2 1/4 inch MARPLES parallel iron.

Tidy mouth, extended toe section.

10 9/16 inches overall length, 1 9/16" of which is the toe extension.

A rare and interesting SPIERS mitre plane.

Enjoy the photos.

Robert Leach

OLD HAND TOOLS