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Here
we have a tremendous and RARE triple iron complex cabinet moulder
by A. MATHIESON & SON of Glasgow. It is a very complex mould
and is basically unused. Not only is the plane stamped on the front
as usual but every iron is also stamped Mathieson.
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Here
we have a REAL RARITY. This is an early patented rosewood and brass
inclinometer level by A. MATHIESON & SON of Glasgow & Edinburgh.
It is stamped No. 56C and has Queen Victoria's patent symbol on
one side. There has only ever been two of these offered for sale
which just goes to show how rare they are. This example I saved
from oblivion having been about to be thrown away. This was when
I was an apprentice and long before I knew anything about tools,
I just thought at the time it looked nice.
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Not
as rare as a lot of people would like you to think but un-common
enough we have here a STANLEY, RULE & LEVEL Co. USA No. 101
1/2 bullnose thumb plane. Never published in any Stanley tools catalogue
and now highly collectable. This example is in pretty good condition
and has its original iron
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Probably
the nicest miniature plane in my collection, here we have a Superb
2 5/8" long miniature boxwood thumb plane. A beautiful piece
of boxwood with lovely scroll design wedge and thick parallel iron.
Unused condition. What a beauty !!!!!
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Here
we have seven various miniature boxwood planes all by the famous
maker EDWARD PRESTON & SONS of Birmingham. All are around 3
1/2" long and include 2 radiused rebates, 3 compassed rebates,
a quarter round and a tiny hollow. As you can see I love miniature
boxwood planes.
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Here
we have six various miniature planes by A. MATHIESON & SON of
Glasgow. Most of the Mathieson miniature planes are rare and do
not appear on the market very often. Included here we have the rare
brass fronted bullnose plane, a small block plane, an unused 3 1/2"
long by 5/8" wide rebate, a compass rebate, a very rare round
both ways rebate and a very rare 6" long boxed side snipe.
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Here
we have a fabulous quality large 10" long Scottish gunmetal
parallel sided smoothing plane. Has gunmetal lever cap and very
nice over-stuffed dark mahogany infill. It is in near unused condition.
It is a lovely coppery colour of gunmetal. A real quality Scottish
smoothing plane.
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Here
we have another Scottish gunmetal smoothing plane but this time
much, much earlier and smaller being only 7" long. It is more
the traditional Scottish pattern with the curved moulded cove front
and curved rear. This one has a typical Scottish shaped lever cap
with a lovely knurled tightening screw. The infill on this plane
is superb, it is a lovely almost burr walnut, the shaping to the
rear handle is perfection itself. The rear infill is also decorated
with scratch carving which includes a fish on both sides of the
handle. The time that must have been spent on making the infill
for this plane almost defies belief in today's times. Probably my
favourite Scottish plane.
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Here
we have an EXTREMELY RARE small rebate plane by SPIERS of Ayr. It
is only 6" long by 1/2" wide and is of dovetailed steel
manufacture. It has rosewood infill with original snecked iron.
This is the most un-common of all the Spiers rebate planes with
only very few having been found
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Here
we have a real SPIERS of Ayr rarity, many of you who have been to
our shop will have seen this plane. I still use it every day being
such a joy to use. It is a RARE specially made lighter model 25
1/2" long dovetailed steel jointing plane with gunmetal lever
cap and rosewood infill. It also has its original Spiers parallel
iron and back iron. For a plane of this length it only weighs 8
Lbs which is considerably less than a normal 25 1/2" long jointing
plane. It was specially made in the 1920's for use in a paper mill
in Fife for truing up the edges of certain types of paper, obviously
not 1 sheet at a time, that would be impossible but bundles of sheets
mainly larger sheets for architects use. I swapped a 17th century
oak coffer for this plane some years ago and am certainly glad I
did so.
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Here
we have another un-common SPIERS of Ayr plane, this time a very
early example of their improved pattern mitre plane. Dovetailed
steel construction with screwed sides and tongue and groove jointed
sole. Has the earliest shape long gunmetal lever cap and rosewood
infill. Also has its original snecked iron. Again this is a plane
I use on occasions as there is nothing better for difficult grained
woods.
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Here
we have a magnificent example of early Scottish plane-making. It
is a 13 3/4" long cast panel plane with nice shape gunmetal
lever cap with chamfered decoration. The walnut infill is one of
the best infills I have ever seen. The shaping is superb and must
have taken ages. It has a full length thick parallel iron by Mathieson
and is very heavy. A number of other tools dealers don't share my
enthusiasm for this plane but you have to be a skilled craftsman
to appreciate the work that has gone into shaping the infill of
this plane to such a high standard.
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Here
we have another RARE Scottish cast plane. This time an early extremely
low angled mitre plane. This plane has the feature of a separate
dovetailed in mouth piece to the sole which is a feature found on
quite a few Scottish cast planes as it would have been near impossible
at the time to cast a smaller enough mouth opening especially on
a plane of this low angle. Has gunmetal lever cap and very nicely
shaped walnut infill. Also has full length original blade. Again
another plane I use quite often, because of its very low blade angle
it is superb on tricky woods.
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Here
we have a lovely example of an early traditional shape Scottish
cast smoothing plane. It has the curved cove front and curved back
with the usual nice shaped Scottish gunmetal lever cap. The infill
on this plane is mahogany and is a lovely shape especially the rear
part. It has a near full length thick parallel iron by Mathieson.
This was the first wood in-filled plane I ever bought shortly after
I started my apprenticeship, I was so impressed with it I couldn't
get rid of my modern Stanley bench planes quick enough. So this
was the one that started it all !!!!!!!
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Although
when returning to Scotland after my apprenticeship I had accumulated
a few wood filled planes for using I was never all that bothered
about trying to acquire Norris planes preferring Spiers planes.
That was until I purchased this handsome plane. It is a very early
NORRIS of London No. 17 steel based gunmetal coffin-shaped smoothing
plane with gunmetal lever cap, rosewood infill and original Norris
thick parallel iron and back iron. I have to confess now that this
is the smoothing plane I use all the time, I can't heap enough praise
on it, it just goes to show that when Norris first started they
did make top quality planes which would rival anything. Since purchasing
this plane I have always been on the look out for an adjustable
version but with today's valuation on such planes I will just have
to be grateful with this non adjustable version.
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Here
we have the real star of the show so to speak and without any doubt
the best piece in my collection. It is an EXTREMELY RARE specially
made NORRIS of London No. 20E steel soled gunmetal shoulder plane.
It is adjustable having the patented 1913 adjustment system which
is rare enough in one of these planes but it is also SKEW mouthed.
Not only that but it is also COMPLETELY UNUSED retaining all its
original lacquer to the gunmetal and to the wood and has its original
green felt bag. The infill on this plane is EBONY and the blade
is obviously full length and original. I have never seen another
one of these planes with a skew mouth and certainly none in this
condition. I believe it to be unique, obviously having been specially
made for someone with an awful lot of money at the time. I have
never used it bit would imagine it would be un-surpassed even to
a Holtey.
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Now
we are back on miniatures again but this time metal ones. To start
with we have this incredibly rare early cast Scottish bullnose chariot
plane by D. GALLOWAY of Edinburgh. Gunmetal lever cap and over-stuffed
walnut rear infill. This particular pattern of bullnose chariot
plane is in my opinion a Scottish design and although not particularly
un-common up here this is the only one I have ever seen with a rear
infill like a smoothing plane with an enclosed handle, they usually
just have a shaped block at the rear. The size of this plane is
4 1/2" long by 1 3/4" wide.
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Here
we have a RARE dovetailed steel chariot or block plane by A. MATHIESON
& SON of Glasgow with gunmetal lever cap and original thick
parallel iron. As is not unusual for Mathieson planes the lever
cap is not stamped but it is stamped STEEL along the front edge
of the base and the iron is named which is definitely original.
Only Spiers and Mathieson made this particular design of plane.
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Here
we have another miniature Scottish cast bullnose chariot plane but
this time a really early example with one of the nicest long shaped
gunmetal lever caps I have ever seen on a miniature plane. It has
lovely moulded shape rosewood rear infill and original thick parallel
iron. The size of it is 4 1/2" long by 1 5/8" wide.
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Here
we have a RARE cast metal bullnose chariot plane by EDWARD PRESTON
& SONS of Birmingham No. 1348 in their 1909 catalogue. It is
a quality plane with adjustable mouth, gunmetal bridge and lovely
grained rosewood wedge. Comes complete with original thick parallel
blade. It has a very fine mouth. The size of it is 3 1/4" long
by 1 1/2" wide.
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Here
we have a VERY RARE and early miniature steel based gunmetal chariot
plane by JOHN MOSELEY & SON of London. It has an adjustable
mouth with lovely shaped gunmetal lever cap and original early Ward
blade. The size is 3 1/2" long by 1 1/2" wide and again
has a very fine mouth.
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Here
we have another VERY RARE miniature gunmetal chariot plane this
time by ISAAC GREEN of Pimlico in London. It has a gunmetal bridge
with a very nice shaped ebony wedge and original thick parallel
iron by Ward. Considering this does not have the steel sole and
the difficulty of casting at the time this has a tremendously fine
mouth. The size of it is 3 1/4" long by 1 1/2" wide.
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A bit
of fun this time we have a Scottish gunmetal miniature chariot plane
with a delightfully shaped boxwood wedge carved to look like a mans
head. The casting is not the best of qualities but the wedge is
superb. The size of this one is 3 1/2" long by 1 1/2"
wide
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Here
we have a VERY RARE set of 4 gunmetal violin makers planes all by
EDWARD PRESTON of Birmingham. In this set we have 3 round both ways
examples including the very rarest smallest size 1" long one
and one flat soled one. All have the original Preston blades. These
are the first miniature planes I ever bought some 15 years ago and
I have been hooked ever since.
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Here
we have a SUPERB boxed set of STANLEY, LONDON boxwood scale rules
in completely original un-touched condition. The original box is
mahogany with oval brass inlay to top. Has original key and most
rarely of all has the original key envelope. This is the most complete,
original set of these I have ever seen, I have never seen another
set with the key envelope. These date from around 1870 to 1880.
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Not
a tool as such but a very interesting piece none the less. We have
here a Scottish Mauchline piece in the shape of a coffin-shaped
smoothing plane. This is quite a rare shape for mauchline ware.
The picture on it is of "CRAIGSIDE" and is the earlier
printed type picture.
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Here
we have a very nice and rare 19th century dovetailed steel soled
gunmetal chariot or thumb plane. No makers name visible but a really
well made plane, the dovetails are really good especially where
the back piece of gunmetal has been dovetailed into the sides and
base. Has a steel bar with a wooden wedge. The wood infill is rosewood
and is all original. Also has a very nice thick parallel iron by
Buck which is original. The size of the plane is 4 3/4" long
by 1 5/8" wide and it has a very fine mouth. This is achieved
by the base being in two pieces and tongue and groove jointed at
the mouth as with early Spiers mitre planes.
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Here
we have another one of my RARE factory made miniature brass planes,
this one being a NORRIS of LONDON No. 28 steel soled brass chariot
plane. One of Norris's earlier pieces. This example has been quite
well used but still remains in pretty good condition. The size of
the plane is 3 1/4" long by 1 1/2" wide. The wood infill
is rosewood and it has a wide curved shaped bridge which has Norris
London and number 28 stamped on it. It also has its original Norris
London parallel blade. One of the more difficult Norris miniature
planes to find.
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Here
we have a lovely quality miniature steel based gunmetal rebate plane.
4" long by 1/2" wide. A lovely shaped casting with original
nice shape ebony wedge. No makers name but a really well made plane
with a very fine mouth.
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Here
we have another really nice miniature steel based gunmetal rebate
plane. This one is an even nicer shape and again has ebony infill.
The blade is a Ward and is probably original. The size of this one
is 4" long by 5/8" wide.
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Here
we have another miniature all gunmetal rebate plane, this one being
a bit earlier I think. An unusual shaped casting with a very fine
chamfered edge. Original walnut infill and superb thick parallel
blade by Sorby. Size of this one is 3 3/4" long by 1/2"
wide
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Here
we have one of the first small gunmetal planes I ever bought which
sort of started me off so to speak. It is a lovely quality early
Scottish gunmetal bullnose plane. Really nice shape with a chamfered
edge to the gunmetal, original dark rosewood wedge and really thick
parallel iron. Although there is no makers name visible I am pretty
sure this is a factory made example as the quality of it is much
higher than normal. It is very heavy and has a really fine mouth.
It is probably either a Spiers or a Mathieson plane.
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Here
we have two very small miniature brass rebate planes. Firstly a
very small 2" long by 5/16" wide compass soled rebate
with ebony wedge and original blade. Lovely curved shape of casting.
The other one is a slightly larger 2 3/4" long by 3/8"
wide bullnose rebate plane. Has rosewood wedge and what looks like
the original blade by E. Preston of Birmingham. I am not sure whether
Preston actually made this plane but the wedge is definitely a Preston
shape.
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Here
we have a VERY RARE small 6" long by 1/2" wide dovetailed
steel rebate plane by SPIERS of AYR. This is one of the most difficult
sizes of rebate plane to find today by Spiers. This example has
rosewood infill and rarely has the original snecked iron. The wedge
has had a small repair but that does not detract from the plane
at all. Has a really fine mouth as you would expect for a Spiers
plane.
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Here
we have a couple of more recent planes of incredible quality and
workmanship by Steve Chaplin of Nuneaton in the UK. Steve is a trained
jeweller / goldsmith and this is reflected in his work . Firstly
we have a remarkable, tiny, curved, dovetailed steel soled gunmetal
rebate plane . It is almost beyond belief how you could make a plane
as small as this of curved form of such high quality. This example
is only 2" long by 5/16" wide and is numbered number 36.
Secondly we have a very small 2" long by 7/8" wide dovetailed
steel soled gunmetal miniature smoothing plane. Has gunmetal lever
cap and very nicely grained rosewood infill. This one is numbered
number 58. Steve has not made many infill planes such as these,
only about 60 planes in total, as such they hardly ever appear on
the market and when they do they command quite a high price.
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Here
we have a very nice set of four early 19th century gunmetal violin
planes probably of European decent. They have steel bar bridges
with nice scroll shaped ebony wedges. The set contains a tiny 1
1/8" long round both ways plane, a 1 3/4" long round both
ways plane, a 2 1/4" long round both ways plane and a 2 3/4"
long round both ways plane. The set is really well made and are
quite heavy for their size.
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For
those of you who don't know me I love early Scottish levels of the
fancy type and I have quite a few of my own. Here are some of them.
This lot we have three examples by MATHIESON of GLASGOW. Two ebony
and brass examples numbers 014C and 014D, these are both very beautiful.
The other one is a RARE number 8C which is made of rosewood and
has a raised brass top.
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Here
we have three incredible examples of Scottish level making by BUIST
of EDINBURGH. In my opinion Buist made some of the best and most
intricate levels of any maker of the time. Dating from the 19th
century these three examples are all ebony and are all of incredible
quality, there is hardly any gap to be seen between the ebony and
the brass.
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Lastly
for the moment we have two more Scottish levels. Firstly a SUPERB
19th century ebony and brass inlaid example of real quality. One
of the nicest design levels in my collection. It does have a makers
name but it is unfortunately indistinguishable. The other level
is a very rare example by MacKAY, BURLEY & HEYS of GLASGOW.
This is an ebony level again with a revolving brass top part. Every
level of this design I have seen has been by Mathieson except this
one, I suppose this could also have been made by Mathieson but it
is not stamped Mathieson anywhere.
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