OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

276155 Bill Ghio 2022‑08‑15 Infill ID??
Ed Minch’s wife has begun thinking about what to do with his remaining tools, a
number have been distributed to family and friends. Interestingly, they are not
collectors and have gone for user tools (of which there were many). There are
still many tools  that will interest collectors and will probably go to auction.

There is an infill that, despite how many times I was in his shop over the
years, I don’t recall seeing. It is unmarked, other than “WC” which I take to be
an owner’s mark. The blade is well marked Auburn Tool Co. The front bun is like
you would see on a chariot plane. It is an 8 inch smoother and weighs a hefty 5
lb 7 1/2 oz. For comparison my Norris smoother of that size weighs a paltry 3 lb
15 oz. The steel sides are a full 3/8 inch while the Norris is 1/8 inch thick.
The bed is a brass plate that is 1/4 inch thick. Given the construction and the
Auburn blade I first thot it was a New York plane as I have seen various NY
infill miter planes. However, the blade has clearly been ground on both sides to
fit it to the chip breaker. The chip breaker has not been ground so probably is
original. The mouth is incredibly tight. I could not test it because the blade
is not sharp enough to cut warm butter. Clearly it was not one of Ed’s users,
yet it was located with his working tools and not on the collectables shelves
that are in another room.

So two questions: From the pictures, can anyone id this plane? And value? I
would think it is worth a bit but having never seen one like it, I don’t know.

Here are the pics: https://www.flickr.com/photos/77280442@N.../albums/7217772030
1334353/with/52288642250/

Thanks,

Bill
276157 Kirk Eppler 2022‑08‑15 Re: Infill ID??
In my oh so tiny world view of infill smoothers, I always think of the
exposed body screws as being a user made trait.  But not always, just makes
me think that way.

That horn out front makes me think of a user with a sense of style, not
wanting to blend in with the pack.

The side plate profile doesn't match anything I see when googling infill
smoother coffin.  Kinda high in the front dip between the blade and bun.

I'd value it at around 300+ if it all fits and works.  The last one I
bought had a sharp blade, but wouldn't work well due to a foul up between
the adjuster and the nut.  I'd take the time to sharpen it up, show it
works.

Kirk in Half Moon Bay, CA, winding up the easy work, on to the challenging
stuff, PLCs

On Mon, Aug 15, 2022 at 12:58 PM Bill Ghio via groups.io  wrote:

> Ed Minch’s wife has begun thinking about what to do with his remaining
> tools, a number have been distributed to family and friends. Interestingly,
> they are not collectors and have gone for user tools (of which there were
> many). There are still many tools  that will interest collectors and will
> probably go to auction.
>
> There is an infill that, despite how many times I was in his shop over the
> years, I don’t recall seeing. It is unmarked, other than “WC” which I take
> to be an owner’s mark. The blade is well marked Auburn Tool Co. The front
> bun is like you would see on a chariot plane. It is an 8 inch smoother and
> weighs a hefty 5 lb 7 1/2 oz. For comparison my Norris smoother of that
> size weighs a paltry 3 lb 15 oz. The steel sides are a full 3/8 inch while
> the Norris is 1/8 inch thick. The bed is a brass plate that is 1/4 inch
> thick. Given the construction and the Auburn blade I first thot it was a
> New York plane as I have seen various NY infill miter planes. However, the
> blade has clearly been ground on both sides to fit it to the chip breaker.
> The chip breaker has not been ground so probably is original. The mouth is
> incredibly tight. I could not test it because the blade is not sharp enough
> to cut warm butter. Clearly it was not one of Ed’s users, yet it was
> located with his working tools and not on the collectables shelves that are
> in another room.
>
> So two questions: From the pictures, can anyone id this plane? And value?
> I would think it is worth a bit but having never seen one like it, I don’t
> know.
>
> Here are the pics:
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/77280442@N.../albums/72177720301334353/with/5228
8642250/
>
>


-- 
Kirk Eppler in Half Moon Bay, CA 
276162 Bill Ghio 2022‑08‑16 Re: Infill ID??
Thanks for the thots. Jim Bode has over 200 planes that come up when you search
"infill smooth plane”. This one has the thick sides like Ed’s and has screws. No
other features leap out to me. I find no smoothing planes with the thick brass
bed and the prominent horn of this one. Looks like your pricin is in the
ballpark. Haven’t tried to sharpen it yet; too many “to do’s” on the list today.

Bill
276163 Bill Ghio 2022‑08‑16 Re: Infill ID??
Forgot this on my last msg:

https://www.jimbodetools.com/products/crisp-norris-no-12-smooth-plane-with-
rosewood-infill-pre-war-90001u
276166 Dennis Heyza <michigaloot@c...> 2022‑08‑16 Re: Infill ID??
Bill,

This plane reminds me of one I purchased from Pat Leach many years ago. The
length is the same, as is the sole profile (more or less), the primary
difference being that the metal body doesn't wrap around the heel like yours.
Nor does it have the brass pieces, assumed to keep the bed flat (I'd be curious
as to how well). Same exposed screw heads although most of mine are filed flush,
with only traces of a slot showing. The lever cap and screw appear somewhat
rough to me, again like mine. And mine lacks a horn.

I don't recall much about it, only name is N. Butts stamped into the infill,
front and back, but know Patrick said it was certainly user made. I wonder if
the metal bodies were available commercially or the whole thing was homemade.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: oldtools@g...  On Behalf Of Bill Ghio via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2022 12:15 PM
To: eppler.kirk@g...
Cc: porch 
Subject: Re: [oldtools] Infill ID??

Thanks for the thots. Jim Bode has over 200 planes that come up when you search
"infill smooth plane”. This one has the thick sides like Ed’s and has screws. No
other features leap out to me. I find no smoothing planes with the thick brass
bed and the prominent horn of this one. Looks like your pricin is in the
ballpark. Haven’t tried to sharpen it yet; too many “to do’s” on the list today.

Bill
276167 Spike <spikethebike@c...> 2022‑08‑16 Re: Infill ID??
It looks to me like a cast iron “build it yourself” deal. That would explain
the thick walls and high weight. Someone was selling those but I can’t remember
who.
 Best, Spike 


Sent from my refuge
276168 scottg <scottg@s...> 2022‑08‑16 Re: Infill ID??
There were several companies that sold infill castings.
I expect this is surely one of those.
My guess is, the original creator didn't know enough about planes to 
start with, and made his throat too wide. (I have done this myself when 
I was starting out)
   Then when he did figure it out, he realized all he had to do was line 
the blade bed with brass, and closed that throat right up.

People are always wanting planes to be factory planes. I guess those 
have higher value on the market.

But I love homemade. Custom made, artist created, if you are guilding 
the lilly.
But homemade means the most to me anyway.

http://users.snowcrest.net/kitty/scott/lilsweet.jpg

yours scott

-- 
*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html
276169 Bill Ghio 2022‑08‑16 Re: Infill ID??
> On Aug 16, 2022, at 1:34 PM, scottg  wrote:
> 
> There were several companies that sold infill castings.
> I expect this is surely one of those.
> My guess is, the original creator didn't know enough about planes to start
with, and made his throat too wide. (I have done this myself when I was starting
out)
>   Then when he did figure it out, he realized all he had to do was line the
blade bed with brass, and closed that throat right up.
> 

I suspect Scott is correct here. The extra brass certainly adds weight to the
plane but is critical to the throat. Could have been well planned, or a good fix
to an error. The stuffing is fixed with screws from both sides so has cracked in
the middle thru shrinkage. I doubt a manufacturer would have used wood that was
not optimally dried for the stuffing. Other than that it is very well made. The
screw that locks the blade down is steel while they typically seem to be brass.

Bill
276170 Richard Wilson <yorkshireman@y...> 2022‑08‑16 Re: Infill ID??
Ah yes - somewhere… I have an article from 18xx  decribing how to take the raw
casting and create your own.

..Hmm - must see where that is - when I have some spare time.


Richard Wilson
another 2 weeks and the space I call my ’study’ might have shelves and all the
stuff on the floor on the walls..
(47 years and counting - galoot time for getting it tidy) 




> On 16 Aug 2022, at 18:17, Spike  wrote:
> 
> It looks to me like a cast iron “build it yourself” deal. That would explain
the thick walls and high weight. Someone was selling those but I can’t remember
who.
> Best, Spike 
> 
> 
> Sent from my refuge
> 
>> On Aug 16, 2022, at 9:47 AM, Dennis Heyza  wrote:
>> 
>> Bill,
>> 
>> This plane reminds me of one I purchased from Pat Leach many years ago. The
length is the same, as is the sole profile (more or less), the primary
difference being that the metal body doesn't wrap around the heel like yours.
Nor does it have the brass pieces, assumed to keep the bed flat (I'd be curious
as to how well). Same exposed screw heads although most of mine are filed flush,
with only traces of a slot showing. The lever cap and screw appear somewhat
rough to me, again like mine. And mine lacks a horn.
>> 
>> I don't recall much about it, only name is N. Butts stamped into the infill,
front and back, but know Patrick said it was certainly user made. I wonder if
the metal bodies were available commercially or the whole thing was homemade.
>> 
>> Dennis
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: oldtools@g...  On Behalf Of Bill Ghio via groups.io
>> Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2022 12:15 PM
>> To: eppler.kirk@g...
>> Cc: porch 
>> Subject: Re: [oldtools] Infill ID??
>> 
>> Thanks for the thots. Jim Bode has over 200 planes that come up when you
search "infill smooth plane”. This one has the thick sides like Ed’s and has
screws. No other features leap out to me. I find no smoothing planes with the
thick brass bed and the prominent horn of this one. Looks like your pricin is in
the ballpark. Haven’t tried to sharpen it yet; too many “to do’s” on the list
today.
>> 
>> Bill
>> 
>>> On Aug 15, 2022, at 5:51 PM, Kirk Eppler via groups.io
 wrote:
>>> 
>>> In my oh so tiny world view of infill smoothers, I always think of the 
>>> exposed body screws as being a user made trait.  But not always, just 
>>> makes me think that way.
>>> 
>>> That horn out front makes me think of a user with a sense of style, 
>>> not wanting to blend in with the pack.
>>> 
>>> The side plate profile doesn't match anything I see when googling 
>>> infill smoother coffin.  Kinda high in the front dip between the blade and
bun.
>>> 
>>> I'd value it at around 300+ if it all fits and works.  The last one I 
>>> bought had a sharp blade, but wouldn't work well due to a foul up 
>>> between the adjuster and the nut.  I'd take the time to sharpen it up, 
>>> show it works.
>>> 
>>> Kirk in Half Moon Bay, CA, winding up the easy work, on to the 
>>> challenging stuff, PLCs
>>> 
>>>> On Mon, Aug 15, 2022 at 12:58 PM Bill Ghio via groups.io >>> mac.com@g...> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Ed Minch’s wife has begun thinking about what to do with his 
>>>> remaining tools, a number have been distributed to family and 
>>>> friends. Interestingly, they are not collectors and have gone for 
>>>> user tools (of which there were many). There are still many tools  
>>>> that will interest collectors and will probably go to auction.
>>>> 
>>>> There is an infill that, despite how many times I was in his shop 
>>>> over the years, I don’t recall seeing. It is unmarked, other than 
>>>> “WC” which I take to be an owner’s mark. The blade is well marked 
>>>> Auburn Tool Co. The front bun is like you would see on a chariot 
>>>> plane. It is an 8 inch smoother and weighs a hefty 5 lb 7 1/2 oz. For 
>>>> comparison my Norris smoother of that size weighs a paltry 3 lb 15 
>>>> oz. The steel sides are a full 3/8 inch while the Norris is 1/8 inch 
>>>> thick. The bed is a brass plate that is 1/4 inch thick. Given the 
>>>> construction and the Auburn blade I first thot it was a New York 
>>>> plane as I have seen various NY infill miter planes. However, the blade has
clearly been ground on both sides to fit it to the chip breaker.
>>>> The chip breaker has not been ground so probably is original. The 
>>>> mouth is incredibly tight. I could not test it because the blade is 
>>>> not sharp enough to cut warm butter. Clearly it was not one of Ed’s 
>>>> users, yet it was located with his working tools and not on the 
>>>> collectables shelves that are in another room.
>>>> 
>>>> So two questions: From the pictures, can anyone id this plane? And value?
>>>> I would think it is worth a bit but having never seen one like it, I 
>>>> don’t know.
>>>> 
>>>> Here are the pics:
>>>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/77280442@N.../albums/72177720301334353/w
>>>> ith/52288642250/
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
> 
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> 
> 
> 
> 



-- 
Yorkshireman Galoot
in the most northerly county, farther north even than Yorkshire
IT #300

Recent Bios FAQ