Plow Plane Fence Adjustment

The fence of a plow plane must be held firmly at the chosen distance from its stock if the tool is to function properly. The problem of accomplishing this has seen a number of solutions over the ages. One of the earliest solutions was simply friction. The arms were sixed to fit tightly through holes in the stock, and the fence position was changed by hammering. Not a convenient method, cither for construction or use.

The early Wrentham planemakers employed two better ways of securing the fence setting. (Do you suppose these were developed to correct the old plows whose arms would no longer hold by friction?). What appears to have been the earliest improvement involved drilling and tapping holes through the top of the stock and fitting wooden screws to bear on the tops of the fence arms. Alternatively, mortises were cut through the stock next to the arm holes and fitted with wedges to bear on the arm sides. One early plow has both modifications, suggesting a period of experimentation. Both methods remained in use, the wedges predominating, even after screw arms became the preferred method.

For screw-fixed plows, the rear screw is normally positioned behind the iron. If the stock is too short to provide adequate room for the adjustment of the screw, we occasionally see the hole for the rear adjustment screw drilled at an angle to squeeze it in. One enterprising craftsman modified an English wedge-arm plow by discarding the wedges and adding wooden screws. The rear screw hole had to be drilled at an angle through the top chamfer, next to the side of the throat mortise.

Several Rhode Island planemakers used brass screws, rather than wooden, to secure the arms in position. The rounded tops of the arms were not plated to resist wear, presumably relying on bearing plates under the screw ends. TJ. Sheneman used brass thumbscrews with brass escutcheons on at least one of his plows. As it was a toted plane, the rear fixing screw could not be placed in back and had to be located alongside the wedge and iron. There was room enough to mount the screw vertically.

One more variation on the screw-fixed style was unknown (at least to this column) until recently. Tom Strader provided the accompanying photographs of a most unusual plow plane which uses horizontal screws through the nose and heel of the stock. These arc metal thumbscrews passing through tapped holes in brass plates, the plates being inlet into the stock and held by wood screws (much like the usual depth stop fittings).

Tom's inquiry to Don Rosebrook (author of a splendid book on plow planes') elicited the information that Don has such a plow (body only) and that he has never seen another. His plane, made by S. Rowell, Troy, uses slotted screws through the stock ends to lock the fence arms.

Strader's plane has no maker's mark, only numerous "WC. TREHERNE" marks. The absence of alternate methods of securing the arms implies that the plow (at least the stock) was not simply a modification of a standard tool, but was made with the intention of using the end screws. Other than this unconventional design, the plane appears to have been professionally made in an early English style. Brass endcaps on the arms are retained by single wedges. The fence is secured to the arms with rivets, not screws, through brass diamond inserts on the arm tops.

It is evident that this tool has seen much use (abuse?). The finial of the wedge suggests either that it was made hurriedly or is a replacement. The brass fitting holding the rear setting thumbscrew has been pushed out of its mortise (by overtightening?), and its retaining screws replaced. Brass strips installed on the sides of the arms (protecting it from the brass setting screws) apparently suffered in use. The one on the heel arm is held on with screws, the one on the front arm by brads-apparently after having been broken.

The genesis of this plow provides quite a puzzle. It is possible that the fence was borrowed from another tool and the stock made (professionally) to fit. Or perhaps you can propose a modification of a stock that reveals no trace of another arm fixing method.

The best scenario this column can offer is that an inventor brought his brainstorm to a professional maker for realization. In use, no advantage was found for the new screw location; it is likely that the rear screw made holding the tool awkward. The tool fell into the hands of a less than competent user who misused it for some time. Both Tom and the column would welcome another explanation. Even better, other examples of this type of plow.

Feedback

Karl West reports a fourth example (Figure 4) of the spring plane ("Plane Chatter," The Chronicle 57, no. 2 (2004) Figure 3). He acquired it in Plymouth, New Hampshire, several decades ago; crudely made, its fence was nailed on. It was recently resold at a Bud Steere auction. He also reminds us that pairs of planes, working from opposite ends of the work, were used to cut wide cornices.

Notes

1. Donald Rosebrook and Dennis Fisher, Wooden Plow Planes (Mendham, New Jersey: The Astragal Press, 2003).

J. M. Whelan's "Plane Chatter" is a regular feature of The Chronicle. He can be contacted at 38 Colony Court, Murray Hill, NJ 07974.

Copyright Early American Industries Association Sep 2004
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved