Infill Shoulder plane

[Zsteve]

Hi Guys,

Found this thing at a swap meet of all places in a box of rusty junk. Its a Spiers of Ayr. wedge, blade and body all marked with the same number so it appears to be all original. Infil is dark rosewood, blade marked Thos. Ibbottson & Co.

Anyone got an idea of its age and value?

Cheers
Steve

[prozac]

Great find Zsteve!

prozac

[Fuzzie]

Good find. I suspect you didn't pay the $150-200 they go on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120232823259

[prozac]

Here's another. Item 180228505021

prozac

[Fred0]

Steve

You asked how old it is - Stewart Spiers made planes from 1840 to 1938. The plane you have is of a pattern the company made from 1880 to 1920. It is of dovetailed steel construction, invariably infilled with rosewood. They usually had a Stewart Spiers stamped iron. The Ibbotson iron in your plane is likely a replacement, you might check to see if there is a number stamped under the iron which, with luck, might be the same as the number stamped on the wood where the iron enters the rear of the plane and possibly on the under side of the wedge. If there are numbers and they match all parts would be original. Remember, when removing the iron tap the rear of the plane with a wooden or plastic mallet, never the wedge.

As to value - it would start at $100 and depending on the essential ingredient, condition, (eg pitting, alteration to the mouth, general abuse etc), and the iron and wedge being original could go to $250 - a superb condition plane could go higher than that.

Regards

Fred

[Zsteve]

Thanks Guys.

It is all original - iron is stamped with the same number as the rest of it. The Plane would clean up better than it looks in the current pics. Have seen on the web at least one other Spiers with an ibbottson blade.

Its not mint but its pretty good. HAs a very tight mouth.

Cant complain I guess.