Thread: My Great, Great, Great Grandfathers Plane

Very cool.

I agree, very cool

Originally Posted by Phil Spencer

George Thwaites also made a blackwood hall chair in 1855 that measured 91.7 x 46.7 x 50.0cm and this chair is now in the National Gallery of Victoria under the artists name of George Thwaites & Son.

Being pre-decimal, I think you'll find the chair was 36" x 18-3/8" x 19-11/16".

What a great ancestry and towering work to aspire to. It would be a great accolade to your forefathers if you could replicate one of their pieces.

Originally Posted by Woodwould

Being pre-decimal, I think you'll find the chair was 36" x 18-3/8" x 19-11/16".

What a great ancestry and towering work to aspire to. It would be a great accolade to your forefathers if you could replicate one of their pieces.

I have to find one first WW, but I am wondering if sawdust is in the genes.

Originally Posted by Phil Spencer

I have to find one first...

Why not make a copy of the chair at the NGV? I'm sure if you explained your connection, they would let you take some measurements of it. If not, just take a few pictures of it with your phone – you already have the major dimensions with which to scale it.

Originally Posted by Phil Spencer

I am wondering if sawdust is in the genes.

Check the pockets.

love goggle, a bit of searching and I have discovered that he supplied some furniture to Government House in Victoria apparently it is in the State Hall. My next quest is it wangle an invite and identify it. Do you think the Governor would mind if I looked under his tables and chairs?

What a great story Phil, and very cool to have one of his tools to use and pass on.

Hi Phil,
I was sent a link to this thread by a friend who knows of my connection to your Great Great Great Grandfathers plane. Does the plane you have, have Thwaites' name stamped anywhere on it? The ends etc??

I'd really be interested to know and I think you might be interested to hear about a plane that I have of his......

cheers
Glen

Originally Posted by Glen Rundell

Hi Phil,
I was sent a link to this thread by a friend who knows of my connection to your Great Great Great Grandfathers plane. Does the plane you have, have Thwaites' name stamped anywhere on it? The ends etc??

I'd really be interested to know and I think you might be interested to hear about a plane that I have of his......

cheers
Glen

Hi Glen

There is no visible name stamped on the end of the plane, there are some hard to read manufacturers markings. I would be interested to have a look at the plane you have, I don't live to far away from you maybe we could meet up and have a show and tell PM me if you wish.

You might also be interested their is a sewing box attributed to George in the Ian Potter centre (gallery No 6) also there is a hall chair attributed to George in the NGV warehouse

Photos attached.

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Originally Posted by Phil Spencer

but I am wondering if sawdust is in the genes.

Don't know about ones Genes but it certainly gets into your blood!

What they said. Yes, way cool. !!!

Cheers
Pops

Originally Posted by Phil Spencer

I have posted about this plane previously since then I have found out some more information:

George was born in Yorkshire in the UK and he was apprenticed to the cabinet making trade. He commenced his own business and then moved it to London.

In 1842 George and his family immigrated to Melbourne bringing with them his plant, skilled workmen and apprentices. They sailed to Melbourne on the Himalaya.

He commenced his business at the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets in Melbourne very close to where Young & Jacksons is now located. He lived in a bluestone cottage that was owned by John Batman. The factory adjoined his residence.

He later built a three storey bluestone building at the rear of the Victoria Coffee Palace and with his sons Thomas and John built a very successful business that operated from 1842 to 1889.

George Thwaites made to order three large open bookcases one of which was a richly carved huon pine bookcase 12’6” in length and the other two were blackwood bookcases 6’6” and 5’6”. The bookcases were made for Sir Redmond Barry who was Chief Justice of Victoria in 1866 and the First Chancellor of Melbourne University (1853-1880). The huon pine bookcase was purchased from Sir Redmond Barry’s estate by Sir John MacFarland the Seventh Chancellor of the University (1918-1935). He had the doors enclosing the bottom shelving added. After his death it was purchased by the University.

George Thwaites also made a blackwood hall chair in 1855 that measured 91.7 x 46.7 x 50.0cm and this chair is now in the National Gallery of Victoria under the artists name of George Thwaites & Son.

George made all of his furniture by hand and was described in The Argus in 1937 in an article about Craftsmen of Present and Past: “one of the early makers, at a time before the general use of machinery in furniture manufacturer, was Mr George Thwaites of Little Collins Street, whose business was continued by members of his family. He supplied fine furniture and woodwork for many homes and public buildings”.

How cool is that!

Hi, Phil.

I am writing a book on early cabinet-makers, including your gggg. Very interested if you know more about his bringi ng with him his tradesman etc from England. I have a large amount of other infor about him and would be prepared to give you a copy. My email is [email protected] Best wishes. David

Have you done an archive search at the Vic branch of the National Archives? Loads of old info in there.

A fascinating history Phil. Whereabouts in Yorkshire?
cheers,
Jim