Hey gang

Wondering if anyone has clues as to the identity of this plane's maker? The
name has no impact on its usability, but I am making a wedge for a  Ulmia
plane, and really liked the shape of this one, so I may see if I can steal
elements of the shape, so that is the only reason it matters.


I bought this back in 2012 from Josh, with this description: " 1/4in
Dado Plane.
This 1/4in dado plane is in excellent condition, ready to work. The body is
near perfect with no chips or cracks and is perfectly straight with no
twist. The blade is sharp and clean, ready to work. Both blades are
full-length. The steel depth stop is regulated with a brass thumbscrew.
It's a rare small dado plane in top condition"  This was an expensive plane
by my standards back in the day, ~3x what bottom feeder me normally wants
to pay, so it was/is a beaut.

Couple of unique features (IMO)
The deep grooves at the bottom end of the chamfers
The shape of the wedge, deep curve, and ellipse overhanging the curve
The relief behind the nicker
The taper of the shaving ejecting "come" seems quite small on the right side

In the non Unique features,
1/4 marked on the heel end, no fancy font etc,
W Butcher on the main iron,
nothing on the nicker.

I went through Pollak 3rd edition, and didn't see any matching wedge
shapes.  The W Butcher iron makes me think UK made, though not definitely,
and the lack of showing up in Pollak gives me that same thought.

So if anyone knows the manufacturer, or sees any feature that points me to
say a country of origin, that would help.

Picture here, and to the right for 4 total images
https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Wooden-Moulding-Planes/i-x7NGkGL


Thanks all
-- 
Kirk Eppler in Half Moon Bay, catching up on a bunch of picture issues over
the weekend.

Kirk, 

A few thoughts … 

The height as a ratio to length of the plane looks like it might be different
than the usual ’standard’ of length in particular, and ratio of height and
length that seems common for roughly the last 150 yrs.  That might date it
somewhat older.

The grain of the wood used for the body suggests the wood might be other than
English or American beech, yet something closely related given the rays visible
on the heel end.  The grain waviness in the blank indicates the board might have
had less than perfectly straight grain, as was typically used to make these
planes.  Maybe these two clues are characteristic of a one-off build by a
craftsperson who needed it for his own work.

The iron may not be the original, or may have been modified from another plane
for the original build, so the Butcher origin may or may not mean anything.

Interesting plane.  Good puzzle.  

Charlie