| |
Birmingham
Planes
 |
It
has been said that having one of a particular item is decorative,
having two can be pleasing to the eye, but any more than that
constitutes a collection. In the woodworking world, there has
been much debate between users and collectors as to the importance
and validity of the preservation of older tools. It is easy
to get caught up in the acquisition of woodworking planes, in
this case, because of the never-ending variation of types that
were produced by certain manufacturers. That said — you
have our assurance that the planes shown here were obtained
for research purposes only and Lee Valley has not fallen into
the trap of collecting just to have the biggest or the best
pile. I also have it on good authority that in the future, there
will be strict enforcement of the catch-and-release program
for antique tools. Well, maybe.
George D. Mosher of Birmingham, Connecticut, took out patent
#309,400 in 1884 which claimed an improvement in the method
in which metal-bodied woodworking planes were made. However,
earlier patent #296,207, held jointly by Mosher and W.H. Ford,
outlined the prototype for this style of plane. The Birmingham
Plane Company (1885 – 1900) boasted an impressive list of principals,
including Solon R. Rust and O.R. Hayworth, all of whom were
inventors with their own respective tool patents; they formed
the governing body of the company. Given the highly sophisticated
molding and casting abilities of the American foundries during
that period, it is easy to see how these designs could be ably
executed and also a striking departure from the conventional
style of planes produced by the other American manufacturers.
They were, quite simply, distinct and appeared to be more robust
and to have fewer parts that could break. |
|
