An interesting and unusual cast iron shoulder plane.  No obvious makers marks but with floral decoration to the top sections.

The unmarked adjustable blade has a hole which locates it onto the depth of cut adjuster.  Simple cap iron held in place by a brass cam.

We have never seen one before and our first thoughts were that it could be unique.  Further investigation by its current owner shows a very similar plane in volume 1 of Roger Smiths's Patented Transitional & Metallic Planes in America 1827-1927.  Listed in the 'interesting non-patented planes' section, the size and shape of this other plane is pretty close however the floral design is different and it has no cam to hold the cap iron.  The brief description describes it as 'Believed to be American'.

The plane shown here is 7 inches long with the cutter measuring 11/16" wide. 

The floral design does hint of that found on some of Stanley's planes and it is not something found on any British planes that we know of.  This leads us to concur with the belief that it is of American manufacture although it had certainly been in central England, where it was found recently, for a number of years.

Now part of a private collection.

Enjoy the photos.

Robert Leach

OLD HAND TOOLS