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lightwood
13th January 2009, 07:20 PM
Miniature Spiers smoothing Plane
6 inch long x 2 inch wide with a 1 5/8 inch blade.
This beautiful little unhandled smoother was found in a Central Victorian, Australian country town's antique center. The lever is marked upside down with the small Spiers Ayr mark. Very early side profile and screws for the infill and lever. c1855.
Sadly it was found by a good friend, and because he is such a good friend I couldn't tell Matt it was worthless and my best offer is $50.00 http://www.petermcbride.com/spiers_small/spiers6in_01_small.jpg (http://www.petermcbride.com/spiers_small/img/spiers6in_01.jpg)

It has a Ward tapered blade, and a Mathieson & Son back iron. I've NEVER seen one this small before, either in the flesh or in print.

http://www.petermcbride.com/spiers_small/spiers6in_02_small.jpg (http://www.petermcbride.com/spiers_small/img/spiers6in_02.jpg) http://www.petermcbride.com/spiers_small/spiers6in_06_small.jpg (http://www.petermcbride.com/spiers_small/img/spiers6in_06.jpg)
http://www.petermcbride.com/spiers_small/spiers6in_04_small.jpg (http://www.petermcbride.com/spiers_small/img/spiers6in_04.jpg)
http://www.petermcbride.com/spiers_small/spiers6in_05_small.jpg (http://www.petermcbride.com/spiers_small/img/spiers6in_05.jpg)


The rear infill is made in 2 pieces as expected, and the front is made in two pieces.
(http://www.petermcbride.com/spiers_small/img/spiers6in_08.jpg) Here it is with a later Spiers unhandled smoother....in a size we normally see. The plane is very similar to the 7 3/8 inch long smoother featured on page 31 of Nigel Lampert's work on Spiers. It has all the features noted including the extra thick sole with the tongue and groove joint either side of the throat, the two piece front and rear infills and the unique side profile. It also has a most delightful fine lever cap with an octagonal, decorated lever screw.

http://www.petermcbride.com/spiers_small/spiers6in_09_small.jpg (http://www.petermcbride.com/spiers_small/img/spiers6in_09.jpg)

Waldo
13th January 2009, 10:20 PM
Nice find. :2tsup:

Sadly I din't find any towns between Brisbane and Taree over Christmas with anything in them - only found one antique store south of Balina and it had nothing. :doh:

Chris Vesper
15th January 2009, 10:48 PM
Nice... very unique!

Thus very jealous...

Slow6
16th January 2009, 05:34 PM
Peter.
I saw that very plane in its cabinet a while ago and had a gut feeling it was worth while. (I'm almost positive he bought it in Daylesford??
I just don't know enough (yet) about the world of infills to pop the wallet out when I should.

ok.. so I know what he paid...... ummm... do I want to know what its worth??:C

lightwood
17th January 2009, 11:08 AM
Peter.
I saw that very plane in its cabinet a while ago and had a gut feeling it was worth while. (I'm almost positive he bought it in Daylesford??
I just don't know enough (yet) about the world of infills to pop the wallet out when I should.

ok.. so I know what he paid...... ummm... do I want to know what its worth??:C

Oh Slow6,
Yes it was from Daylesford, and he paid a little under the ticket price for it. He sent me a picture of it taken on his phone, but went back 2 weeks later to buy it. If I'd seen it I would have bought it instantly!
As to the value....that's hard to say. It's unique as far as I know. Looking at it compared to an improved miter plane, it should easily reach 4 figures, and then it has the famous "miniature attraction"...also it is from the very early Spiers years.....we won't know until and if it ever gets put up for sale.
Regards,
Peter

Slow6
17th January 2009, 02:02 PM
Oh Slow6,
Yes it was from Daylesford, and he paid a little under the ticket price for it. He sent me a picture of it taken on his phone, but went back 2 weeks later to buy it. If I'd seen it I would have bought it instantly!
As to the value....that's hard to say. It's unique as far as I know. Looking at it compared to an improved miter plane, it should easily reach 4 figures, and then it has the famous "miniature attraction"...also it is from the very early Spiers years.....we won't know until and if it ever gets put up for sale.
Regards,
Peter

Gulp:C

If there's one thing I learned last year it's go with my gut. I can think of four cases in the last few months where I have walked away because I couldn't be certain of something only to see the same thing with an extra zero a week later.. every time my gut was was saying "yes!" but my brain was saying "uuuuuuummmmmmmm......"

gut wins from now on I think:2tsup: