Another plane id help thread

[johnnyrsa]

I need help identifying another plane I bought. I took a bit of a gamble buying it but the price seemed reasonable..
I don't have the plane with me to check for any makers marks and the seller also couldn't tell me if it had any. The plane iron is obviously not the correct one, looks way too thin to me. It looks a bit like an early Norris #13 to me but it's probably a clone from another plane maker (maybe Scottish?) Any help would be appreciated.
Sorry for the poor quality photos, I didn't take them:













The poor thing obviously needs a little tlc.

[hiroller]

I'm no expert but there certainly is a close resemblance to a Norris 13 according to this:
http://www.norrisplanes.com/norris-n...oothing-plane/
The brass looks better than user made but the extra wooden weetbix behind the blade looks a bit dodgy!

[lightwood]

Johnny,
Great find!
Looks to me like a Norris product.
They did make planes that were sold under retailer's marks. Some were made and unmarked, other than just on the blade.
Buck is often seen, MUSGRAVE is another. Also I have a smoother stamped with the rarely seen Green, of Pimlico mark.
Some were also marked "Mathieson" and were most likely made by Norris.
Have a look at the front of the base and see if there is a stamp.
Might say PATENT METAL.
Here are some pictures of mine to compare....pretty similar???
Regards,
Peter

[Heavansabove]

One hundred or so years go you could buy all the components you needed to make an infill, probably even pre-cut timber blanks, from multiple suppliers. From the photos the plane blade and chipbreaker look like Stanley products, that might explain the extra bit of wood. Getting correct bits might prove a difficult (expensive) process, otherwise should be fixable.

Cheers
Peter

[johnnyrsa]

Thanks Peter, seems like you were right again! The plane arrived today and it is marked "Buck" on the lever cap, there is also something written underneath which I can't make out. Stamped "Patent Metal" on the front exactly like yours. It's actually in better shape than it looks on the photos I posted, should clean up pretty well.
So what you're saying is that Norris made planes and marked them as "Buck"?

Cheers
Johnny

[BigJimbo]

What a great find, that would have been a fantastic experience, can't wait to see the after photos.

[lightwood]

Thanks Peter, seems like you were right again! The plane arrived today and it is marked "Buck" on the lever cap, there is also something written underneath which I can't make out. Stamped "Patent Metal" on the front exactly like yours. It's actually in better shape than it looks on the photos I posted, should clean up pretty well.
So what you're saying is that Norris made planes and marked them as "Buck"?

Cheers
Johnny

Johnny,
....walks like a duck, quacks like a duck..hehehe.
Buck sold many tools that were marked by the makers with the Buck name.
It was very similar in my profession at the same time. Even up until the 1980's there were retailer's and other manufacturer's punches being used on jewellery items made in subcontractor's workshops.
I have a collection of punches from Louis Orbuck, a jewellery maker working in Melbourne from between the wars to post WW2.



I've seen claims that "ALL" Buck planes were Norris made, but that isn't correct.
Below is a picture of my Buck marked planes.
Some of them are obviously Spiers made.
Under the Name 'BUCK" on your' plane it might say one of these addresses.
242 or 245 or 247 TOTTm COURT Rd.
That will help date the plane. (From WL Goodman's book on British Plane Makers)
245 - 1834 to 1861
245 - 247 1862 to 1866
247 - 1867 to 1879
242 - 1880 to 1930
Your plane is most likely the 242 address. (can't find the box containing reprints of Norris and Buck catalogues )
My Norris 13 has a parallel blade 2 1/4 inch wide, and 3/16 inch thick, and the throat opening is VERY fine with that blade.

Regards,
Peter

[johnnyrsa]

I think the real challenge for me is going to be finding the correct blade and cap iron for it, I seriously doubt I will find one in South Africa and the ebay prices are just ridiculous.

Here is a photo of the Buck stamp, there doesn't seem to be any address number:



The handle needs a little fixing:

[lightwood]

I think the real challenge for me is going to be finding the correct blade and cap iron for it, I seriously doubt I will find one in South Africa and the ebay prices are just ridiculous.

Johnny,
Just by chance I poked my head into a local junk shop yesterday....there was a wooden Mathieson plane with a parallel Mathieson iron in it.

They wanted $40 for the plane. I looked at it for a while, and decided against it.....might reconsider that... if it is the right width are you interested?. I think it was close to 2 1/4 inch.
The back iron should be alright, providing the length from the bolt hole to the front edge is short enough so the lever screw doesn't hit it. They just get filed down so they sneak under the lever cap.

Regards,
Peter

[johnnyrsa]

Johnny,
Just by chance I poked my head into a local junk shop yesterday.... if it is the right width are you interested?

Regards,
Peter

Thanks Peter but I think I'll just keep an eye out over here, one is bound to pop up for sale somewhere. Wooden Planes normally sell for R200 - R300 over here which is about $30. I actually found a Preston blade at a local antique shop the other day for my Preston infill which I am slowly busy restoring.
Would Buck planes have come out with Mathieson or Ward blades? I see most ones I find on google has either a Ward or a Mathieson blade.

I was considering buying the wooden plane below (it has a Ward blade) but the seller can't seem to remove the wedge from the plane for me to see how much life is left in the blade. The cap iron seems to be sitting quite high on the blade which suggests to me there isn't much of the blade left. What do you think?

[lightwood]

Thanks Peter but I think I'll just keep an eye out over here, one is bound to pop up for sale somewhere. Wooden Planes normally sell for R200 - R300 over here which is about $30. I actually found a Preston blade at a local antique shop the other day for my Preston infill which I am slowly busy restoring.
Would Buck planes have come out with Mathieson or Ward blades? I see most ones I find on google has either a Ward or a Mathieson blade.

I was considering buying the wooden plane below (it has a Ward blade) but the seller can't seem to remove the wedge from the plane for me to see how much life is left in the blade. The cap iron seems to be sitting quite high on the blade which suggests to me there isn't much of the blade left. What do you think?

That blade looks like it's tapered.
A parallel blade is preferable. The plane was designed to use one, and it will keep the throat opening consistent.
I rarely buy wooden planes unless they are in a tool chest or part of a job lot. (I seem to be given plenty of them)....but I always look out for those with a parallel blade installed.
I think some early plane owners preferred a parallel blade in their woodies, and replaced the tapered blades.
Most of the Buck planes I've seen have either Ward or Buck marked blades. I think I've seen an Ibbotson fitted as original also.

Regards,
Peter