Thread: Unusual plane with aluminium body

Well; it’s got me stumped! Regardless of how shabby the decal looks can we get a picture? Also the blades; can we see them pulled out of the handle?

Having multiple blades indicates to me it’s more of a plough than a rebate; looks like the manufacturer has tried to combine both styles in one body.

There were quite a lot of interesting aluminium planes developed in the 50’s & 60’s; especially in the UK. Lewin, Pemuvar and Concraft are examples but I don’t think this was made by any of those three. I do like the concept of having the blades in the handle; from memory no other plane other than the later model of Stanley RB10 had anything similar.

Chief Thanks for your interest in the plane.

The decal (or what's left of it) is on the body in front of the handle. There are 7 blades in total - 6 in the rubber holder in the handle (3 on each side) and there is a 12.5mm (1/2") wide blade in the plane body. The widths of the six in the rubber holder are 3mm, 9.5mm, 6.3mm, 8mm, 4.7mm, and 11mm - see photo. My calipers are metirc only but it seems to me the blades are imperial e.g 1/8", 3/8", 1/4", 5/16, 3/16" and 7/16" which would perhaps suggest the plane is English made.

The plane came from a deceased estate and it doesn't look as though it has been used for many many years. The blades show virtually no sign of use.

Thanks again

IMG_2298.jpg IMG_2299.jpg

Its a plow plane but I have not seen that one before. Keeping the blades in the handle is a nice practical feature. Just a guess it is European perhaps eastern European.
Stanley did a basic aloy plow plane in the 60tes.
Ploughing grooves using a simpler Stanley - Paul Sellers' Blog
Likely other makers did the same.
Regards
John
PS reread your post and if the blades are imperial my European theory is shot.

Hi Therapy,

looking at the Logo I think
it could be made by Woden Tools. I do have
a few old books which I will dig out.

Martin.

Martin

Woden did make planes both wooden and metal, but I can't see anything like Therapy's plane prior to 1957, which is the latest catalogue I can find. Perhaps you have some later books. The logo does look as though it could be part of "Woden."

Regards
Paul

Hi all,

My catalogues are both from the early 60s.
One of them has a few planes in but the other one
has not. This is there filister 78 which is like other ones.

Martin.IMG_20230330_170305.jpg

Pretty sure it's by a UK manufacturer called Mitor,
I'll see if I can find some pics.

Regards

Jim

I have the smaller Mitor 88 but I downloaded some pics and info for the larger Mitor 95
when I was looking for info online.
Regards Jim

95.jpg 95 cutter adjustment.jpg 95 sheet better.jpg

Well done, Jim! Not too many mysteries remain unsolved here (an occasional weird object defies the brains trust ). Once google found it, I remembered your post on your accidentally-acquired 88 last year, in which you provided some info on the 88.

I wonder why the 95 isn't marked with the maker's name? I'm guessing it would have been a bit uncomfortable if cast in raised letters on the side of the large hollow handle, but you'd think they could have found somewhere to put it on what must have been their flagship model???

Cheers,
ian

Thankyou everyone for your input and thanks to Jim for identifying the plane as a Mitor. The knowledge of members and their preparedness to share it is a major benefit of these forums.

When I saw Made in England and Mitor cast into the body of the plane in Jim’s photos I thought: “How did I miss that?”. I have just checked the plane again and there is no brand name or country of manufacture on it.

And Jim, I have now found your Mitor post of July last year Mitor Plough Plane

The plane is going to be sold as is. I will ensure the purchaser knows about this post.

Thanks again

I know you were after an identification, but I think it's a fascinating tool.

That plow plane really harks back to a bygone age when carpenters would carry these planes onto the jobsite (pre-electric routers). They would have be light (hence Aluminum body), easy to use (that looks like no Stanley 45 and 55 in terms of setting up), and compact (the cutters in the tote is the best example of this). It was definitely not a workshop tool - that square tote would be murder on the hands for long use, the easy set-up also means limited flexibility and finesse. It also illustrates the diversity of plane makers in the UK (and US) and the market for hand tools pre-WWII.