Item CP1 - Steer’s Patent
(1883) No. 307 Jointer Plane.
One
of the jazzier patent metallic plane, the 1883 patent of Steers is best known
for the composite sole that features dovetailed strips of rosewood alternating
with iron ribs. But despite the visual pizazz of this innovation the patent
also has other interesting features. One of these is a fine adjust feature of
the size and position of the mouth opening. This allows an easy initial setting
for soft woods, that allows the angle of the blade edge to be altered for fine
cutting of hard woods. This example of the Steer’s plane is an early one,
probably made sometime between the patent date of 1883 and the later time of
1887 when E. C. Jennings handled the manufacture and converted the blade
adjustment mechanism to the common Bailey form. The plane was likely made by
the first manufacturer, the Brattleboro Manufacturing Co, in Vermont. The only
mark on the plane is on the long and clean blade, that is marked, “Steer’s
Patent / April 11, 1883 / No. 307.”
The
plane is 22 ½” long, with a blade that is 2 5/8” wide. It is the equivalent of
the Stanley No. 7. The rosewood tote and knob are original (with distinctive
rods and nuts), and the original japanned finishes in the bed are better than
90%. There are some small patches of very fine pitting on the side walls that
an be brushed out. All of the proper screws for the fine adjust system and frog
base are present. There is some wear to the rosewood sole strips at the toe and
a couple of minor losses to the strips further back. But all in all this is a
nice used example of a very interesting plane. Good+
Price - $300.00