The “Car Boot Sale” season will soon be upon us here. Although ‘Car Boot’ translates in some parts of the world to ‘trunk’, I’m not sure that Auto Trunk Sale means anything! Let’s say flea market.
The three antique planes shown here were my last really exciting find, although I’ve since had my share of sash cramps and other bits and pieces. They were on the grass in the dog target area, which was a good sign, and they had a decent coating of dust and surface rust. After an (outwardly half hearted) examination, I asked the price.
“£12.00 any good?”
“What about all three?”
“Yes, £12.00 for all three” What’s that- $US24.00?
I didn’t even insult him with a lower bid! Unusual nowadays that the specialist dealers hadn’t got there as the traders unloaded.
It wasn’t until I got home that I realised exactly what they were. I show them here after some light cleaning and a lashing of linseed oil.
This is a Badger Plane, believed by some to have been named after a C19 Londen Planemaker, Charles Badger. It’s a cross between a panel-raising plane and a panel plane. At first I’d thought it was just a bench plane until I noticed that the cutting iron is skewed and emerges at the side of the stock. Thus it can be used right into the corner of a rabbet. The iron, at least is by Mathieson.
The second one is a ’moving fillister’ - a rabbet plane with an adjustable fence. This appears to be quite a nice model. The undersole is adjusted by screws running in brass-lined slots & this one has three whereas I think two is more commonplace. The depth stop is adjusted by the brass thumbscrew at the top. Notice that the iron is preceded by a scriber that scores the edge of the rabbet.
Third one is a compass plane, i.e. it has a convex sole. The brass thumbscrew causes a steel insert in the toe of the plane to rise and fall. That seems to provide a little adjustment to the curvature that can be planed.
The next time (I live in hope), I’ll produce some ‘before’ pictures.
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.
18 comments so far
MsDebbieP
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10974 posts in 547 days
posted 107 days ago
have you pinched yourself to make sure you weren’t dreaming?
Great find!
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
YorkshireStewart
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568 posts in 288 days
posted 107 days ago
I enjoy that sort of dream Debbie. This season I’m dreaming of a #1 Stanley plane for $10.00!
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.
teenagewoodworker
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1676 posts in 155 days
posted 107 days ago
wow that is a nice find. i wish they had good things like that in big cities. where i live there are almost no flea markets and they best tools you can get in stores are pretty bad too. well nice find and i hope you enjoy it.
Daren Nelson
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278 posts in 292 days
posted 107 days ago
I like those alot !! Excellent find.
-- Urban logger, http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/
sidestepmcgee
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48 posts in 111 days
posted 106 days ago
very nice.i think i’ll go check my flea market this weekend.
-- eric post, tallahassee FL
Thos. Angle
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3246 posts in 349 days
posted 106 days ago
Nifty, nifty, Stewart.
-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon
Scott Bryan
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7733 posts in 208 days
posted 106 days ago
Very nice find Stewart. I really enjoy seeing these bargains.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
GaryK
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8182 posts in 375 days
posted 106 days ago
Some people have all the luck! Great find.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Kevin
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226 posts in 344 days
posted 106 days ago
Those are a great looking find. Good luck on the #1 too. That would really be a find.
-- Kevin, Wichita, Kansas
Douglas Bordner
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2247 posts in 450 days
posted 106 days ago
“Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?” Even Robert Browning might have been more prudent then to wish for a #1 at 10£, let along 10 USD. But who am I to burst your bubble, Stewart. It appears that you have achieved a superlative bargain. What’s next, a Spiers infill for a quid?
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Blake
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1792 posts in 261 days
posted 106 days ago
Great find! I love that little compass plane.
-- Dust collectors suck.
cajunpen
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5256 posts in 452 days
posted 106 days ago
Stewart you are a lucky man. Can’t find deals like that at the big flea markets anymore. But if you hit the smaller yard sales you can find some treasures at price you can afford. They look really nice.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
rikkor
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6435 posts in 261 days
posted 106 days ago
Wow, great catch Stewart. They don’t look like they have been abused at all.
-- Maplewood, MN
TomFran
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2329 posts in 381 days
posted 106 days ago
Great find, Stewart! You were in the right place at the right time. Those are some beautiful planes.
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
John Gray
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461 posts in 272 days
posted 106 days ago
GREAT FIND!!!! Waiting for the flea markets to open here in Illinois…....
-- Only the Shadow knows....................
Grumpy
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3752 posts in 237 days
posted 105 days ago
Good to see there are still treasures out there Stew.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
WayneC
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5693 posts in 484 days
posted 36 days ago
Incredible finds. Did I mention I want to come to the UK to go tool hunting. : ^ )
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
YorkshireStewart
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568 posts in 288 days
posted 36 days ago
Oh yes! A warm welcome awaits! A tip is to always look under the tables. That’s where the rust is!
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.