Thread: The Howkins Plane, Engineering Wonder.

How odd! What was its particular purpose, being that small?

Very good pics btw. The critical part is the lighting - good work.

Cheers
Brett

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

How odd! What was its particular purpose, being that small?

How Odd! is a good way of looking at it.
Howkins claimed the plane was suitable for Dado, Rebating, Ploughing, Matching, Moulding, inlaying,
Chamfering and Dovetailing.
With Howkins being an engineer, I think he was looking at the idea of working the timber more like
he would a piece of steel.
Trying to make a plane that work like a lathe or milling machine.
He was probably the only person who ever really new how to use it.
He could see outside the square, thats for sure.

That is a really nice looking plane.

I thought I might add the rest of Howkins Patent.
The hole thing is just brilliant, whether the plane could do all he claimed or not.

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I was staring at it trying to figure out what it was meant to do - seems like everything bar putting the kettle on for smoko!

I take it that it works like a sash fillister when rebating, i.e. the fence is on the opposite side from that being cut?

And how does it work as a plough? It looks like the sole is at least 25mm or more wide, & certainly wider than the blade so the only way it can cut a groove is by extra blade projection.

Certainly a fascinating bit of engineering!

Cheers,

Very interesting.......and I'm still slightly confused about how it works.


I wonder if Bridge City Tools knows about this plane?

Ian, I don't think Howkins ever ment to imply that his plane could put the kettle on for smoko!
But I'm pretty sure he did think it could mow the lawn, and then take the dog for a walk!
And you know I've got a funny feeling it probably could, at least in his hands.
I use the plane quite alot, it makes for a great little matching and rebating plane when doing light cabinetry work.
It takes some time to set, and there's alot of planes that can do the same job faster.
But where's the fun in that.
When the plane first came on the market the instructions on how to use it, were handwritten on a swing tag
tied to the plane with a piece of string. "No Joke".
I wish I had one, it would make for some interesting reading.
Although the plane itself is quite well known to a lot of collectors.
It seems odd that there is so little known about how it all worked and the man who made it.
I mean to say it was made less than a hundred years ago and in London.
Still it's a very interesting little plane, and i think I'm very lucky to have one.