Plane chatter

A Second Escapement For A Tongue Plane

The tongue plane of a tongue-and-groove match set uses two separate cutting edges. Each cuts a rabbet, one on either side of the tongue. Two separate shavings emerge, and in almost every example, these both exit from the same escapement on the right side of the plane. This apparently causes little difficulty, and choking is uncommon.

A tongue match plane with a second escapement on the left side of the stock appeared for sale on e-Bay, the on-line auction site, (no. 21 10262432). This vent was a simple circular hole, as seen in the photograph (Figure 1). (Thanks to Jim and Patricia Bode for permission to use this.) The plane was made by H. Wilson, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, around the end of the nineteenth century.

It took a bit of searching, but a second example of a tongue plane with the second escapement was located (M. J. Donnelly, 2000 Catalog, no. T5-44). This one was made by G. Eastwood, York, whose working dates are contemporary with Wilson (though a bit earlier) and who worked about eighty miles from Wilson. His vent was a compromise between a simple circular hole and a rabbet escapement.

We would like to learn if any of you have a similar plane, or if you have experienced difficulty in shavings clearance without the second exit.

(Thanks to John Walkiowak for alerting the column to this tool.)

A Tilted Wedge Mortise

Phil Sunderland provided the photograph (Figure 2) of a puzzling plane found in an auction box lot. It was made by Chapple Late Wilcox/Manchester around 1880. The profile has been altered to become a round, and the cutting edge now covers the full arc of the sole. It appears that the left side of the stock, as well, has been planed away slightly to open the left side of the iron mortise.

The puzzle arises from the slope of this mortise, about ten degrees from plumb. Perhaps the original sole profile held the answer to the reason for this, but the present tool does not divulge this.

The plane had a full life, bearing six owners' marks from its two incarnations. Have you seen another example of a canted iron mounting, or can you offer an explanation?

Unusual Matched (?) Pair

Trevor Robinson forwarded sketches (Figure 3) of a pair of planes by Browning of Rowe, Massachusetts; both are marked "3" on the heel. At first glance they appear a matched pair, but the cuts disagree. The smaller tongue and groove fit closely, but the larger groove is wider than its tongue. Have you a suggestion as to their use?

J.M. Whelan writes a regular column on planes for The Chronicle.

Copyright Early American Industries Association Sep 2002
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