Tool Talk

Woodworking Forum => Woodworking Forum => Topic started by: skipskip on July 10, 2011, 10:07:54 PM

Title: Bewley plane
Post by: skipskip on July 10, 2011, 10:07:54 PM

I found a Bewley warranted plane this week.

pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skipskip/sets/72157627041490399/

I cant find much about them inline.

what is this style of plane called?

where to find more info?

thanks

Skip

Title: Re: Bewley plane
Post by: scottg on July 11, 2011, 12:14:00 AM

Probably cause its English?
 I am not sure of that, but it look identical to lots of other English wedge arm plow planes.
The fence is boxwood lined. That's nice. I bet it was a former owner who did that.
 I like homemade or owner improved tools.
  Lots of collectors want everything all factory original, but that bores me to tears.
 yours Scott

Title: Re: Bewley plane
Post by: walker on July 11, 2011, 02:18:46 AM

hi skip,could be robert bewley leeds yorkshire.dates 1798-1845.late mark.
plough plane.early planes would have name in zigzag border.
 brian

Title: Re: Bewley plane
Post by: Lewill2 on July 11, 2011, 07:49:30 AM

"Bewley Warranted" on 2 lines is the A1 mark listed in "American Wooden Planes" They were plane makers in NY NY 1822 - 1832. Rated as 2 stars for rarity, between 100 and 250 examples known at the time of publication around 2003. The boxwood boxing on the fence could be original to the plane. Many makers offered this on their planes. 

Title: Re: Bewley plane
Post by: dowdstools on July 11, 2011, 02:21:08 PM

+1 on what Lewill2 said.

Lynn

Title: Re: Bewley plane
Post by: scottg on July 12, 2011, 12:57:43 AM

Wow NY!! Cool
 Sure looks like an English plow.
I'm jealous, I never did get any of the plane books.
 Just don't see enough early stuff to warrant them.
  yours Scott

Title: Re: Bewley plane
Post by: Lewill2 on July 12, 2011, 11:13:55 AM

American Wood Planes IV is my go to book for American makers. With over 120 plow planes in my collection I figured I needed some reference materials to understand what I have and what I am looking at. It comes in a full sized soft bound and a "Pocket sized" soft bound, about 4 1/4 x 11 for the pocket sized version. Big pockets I guess. They list all known makers and show the different variations of each makers mark. They also rate each maker and the various marks for rarity. There are always makers that aren't listed but it is the best bang for the buck in my opinion.

I also have a British Plane Makers book.

Title: Re: Bewley plane
Post by: scottg on July 13, 2011, 10:42:15 AM

Thanks for the recommendation. I got it saved.
 Of course Pa, yeah, that is a completely different planet.

 The beginning of time was the gold rush in 49, and it took another 20 years for even the smallest refinement to filter out to the boonies away from San Francisco. 
 In a hard scrabble river town 800 miles north of SF and another 600 south from Portland?
Where the most popular building construction was a wood bottom 1/2, and a canvas upper??
And 2 empty whiskey barrels filled with sand and a plank of wood made the bar? 
   You can imagine how many early tools I see. 
 Well worn logging and mining tools is the pinnacle of local swag here.
   
 Its why I build tools myself. Nothing special is ever going to fall in my lap here. 
  yours Scott