Thread: Need help identifying old Marples plane

IIRC these are Marples belated attempt to continue handplane production after wooden hand planes and their transitional type. Unfortunately it came at the end of handplane popularity and was not sold in big numbers. Peter (lightwood) would have the full history I'm sure.
Having said that, these are fine handplanes and very well made.
They used premium materials - including rosewood for the handles - and contained all the best features of the Stanley type planes on which they were based.
The blades are very good - thicker than the equivalent Stanley.
Properly tuned, these planes will really sing.
You are lucky to have one.
Cheers
SG

Thanks! That pleases me. I've got a lot to learn, but I'm enjoying it immensely. I might PM Peter to see what he knows.
Cheers

Originally Posted by Verbatim

I think the brass bits can be soaked in vinegar, and the sole can be lapped clean, the enamel can just be wiped clean, but what about the iron, chip breaker and cap iron?

Thanks guys!

Peter visits occasionally and has a wealth of knowledge.
You can wire brush the blade and cap-iron without hurting them. Even a wire buffing wheel will not affect them. Wire buffing wheels can score softer cast iron, but the steel in blades is very hard.
Lovely plane
SG

I can vouch for the quality of the Marples bench planes.
I love my M4. Heavier than a Stanley 4 and with a thicker blade.

I'm surprised that it didn't have a red base. I thought that most of the Shamrock line were red.

Mine still has a partial decal on the top of the rosewood handle as well.

I've briefly spoken with Peter and he suggested that the red ones were much more common. Either the black was before the red version, or vice versa. If I come across more info, I'll post it here.

Alice Frampton (Alf) from the Cornish Workshop has posted this elsewhere:

..............Commenced production in 1935 of the "M" Series
29 different models offered by 1938
Range reduced due to WW2
The X4, intended as a replacement for the no-longer available infill smoothers, was introduced in 1954
Production ceased by 1969
I have a Marples #4.5 which is a trifle unusual in being black rather than the more usual red. It's one heavy beast, weighing almost as much as the sought-after Stanley #4.5H. I can't honestly say I'm struck by better quality in comparison with my Records, but as they're both pre-war and perhaps the Marples isn't, that may account for it. Marples was finally swallowed by Record Ridgeway in 1983. ........



You can see her continued conversations on this topc at:
Re: Marples metal planes


FWIW I have only handled a number 5 Marples like this and it was a quality plane. It too was black - I have often regretted onselling it. I think someone from the Forum may have bought it.


Cheers
SG

Interesting stuff!

I took my plane over to Peter's last night, where he very kindly spent a substantial amount bit time sprucing it up and giving me some hand plane potted history!

As discussed - the black bases are quite a bit less common than the red ones. But it was the presence of a bevel angle measuring notch on the cap iron that brought Peter to thinking that it was a later plane - perhaps just after the Record takeover. (You can just make out the notch in pic 1)

HOWEVER... I've just been looking up, and it seems W Marples was sold to Record in 1962?? My Dad swears he picked this plane up in 1964 and reckons it was old then.... so.... I'm a bit confused now.

(Thanks again Peter!)

Alice Frampton (Alf) from the Cornish Workshop has posted this elsewhere:

..... It's one heavy beast, weighing almost as much as the sought-after Stanley #4.5H. I can't honestly say I'm struck by better quality in comparison with my Records, but as they're both pre-war and perhaps the Marples isn't, that may account for it. Marples was finally swallowed by Record Ridgeway in 1983. ........

I've a Marples M5. It certainly isn't a heavy beast, it's middle of the range for No.5s I've come across, weighing in at 2.16kg, as against 1.88kg for my lightest (a USA Stanley) and 2.32kg for my heaviest (a Rapier 500). Yes I know, I'm a sad case - weighing my planes .

Most disappointing was the very large mouth on the plane, at 5.25mm, as against most of my Record and Stanley planes being in the 4.40 to 4.75mm range.

Photo below shows plane as purchased (it was a bit rough )

Cheers, Vann.

Verbatim,
Brass tends to be depleted of the zinc by acid, read some where not to "soak" brass in vinegar! Maybe a light brushing in vinegar?
Graeme

Hi Verbatim,
Well I have just landed one myself so I will do a quick post on cleaning it up.
I will start by saying it is not in as good nick as yours and is red not balck. This is just a quick clean up to get it in working order as I dont want to do too much to it at this stage. Forwhat it is worth I wirebrushed the rust off the blade and chip breaker. Do not wirebrush near the back cutting edge of the blade. then a scrub with wd40 and 360 wet and dry. As said this is only a clean up. I checked the body with square and steel rule so no flattening to be done.
Looks like it lead a hard life but it is all solid and plenty of blade left. I saw it mentioned that the blade is thicker than a stanley and it is thicher than some stanley blades and at 88 thou the same as older stanley blades. I was worried to see locktite on some screws but after cleaning and fitting back together I see no problems so far. There was one problem to start with the laterial leaver end was very tight in the blade slot and had been forced on. This had chewed ragged burrs on the rounded end. This round end actually turns unlike stanleys and other planes I have seen. I filed off the burrs and all works fine.
Front knob had a crack but that was easy to fix. The picks tell the story. Blade has a fair camber so it was used as an all purpose plane and not as a smoother. Still some camber after a grind and sharpen but I did not want to grind away too much blade as I have 3 other No4s (getting sad). Gave it a run on some old bluegum and it really is a great worker. I got the pics out of order but you should still get the idea.
Regards
John
PS. Dont be mislead with the super glue in the pic on fixing the knob. I actually changed my mind at the last minute and used epoxy as I figured it would do a better job.

Looks great!

I've been very happy with mine since the clean-up and sharpen. I don't have a lot of experience with hand planes, but this has certainly been the most pleasant!