More seriously old and small planes

[Branson]

Looking at all the prices, I think this guy's client list would be good to have.  But back to the planes:

"Brass 17th/18th Century Instrument Maker's Planes. A comprehensive set ranging in length from 1 1/4 to 4 1/2 inches long."

[scottg]

Yikes!! These are spectacular!! Just completely superb.
 I missed the link or mention of who had them for sale?

 I am in a quandary how they were made. The front folded lip would waste an enormous amount of brass sheet if they were cut out as one piece and folded?? Is there a a joint I am missing?

 But just looking at them and thinking, sure gave me idears today.
 Suppose you started with seamless brass tubing?
Heat up a 3/4" tall ring, and press in an oval shaped tapered mandrel??
   Seems like you could press out bodies pretty quick.
   Fit the bases after they were pressed??   
 yours Scott 

[Branson]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-Brass-17th-18th-Century-Instrument-Makers-Planes-/110920270823?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d35d03e7

Jim Bode, seller.

I thought just might catch your eye.  I'm thinking that despite the decorative nature of those front folded lips that there was a practical application.  Then again, well done brazing wouldn't leave much evidence on brass bodies.  I've seen it on brazed iron bodies and on dovetailed copper seams.

>But just looking at them and thinking, sure gave me idears today.

I thought it might...<g>  Fit the bases after they were pressed, braze and file were my thoughts.

[scottg]

Jim,......... shoulda known  heeheheh
 He takes advantage of free listing specials they run on ebay.
Sometimes (like this time I'm sure) he puts up stuff he doesn't really want to sell at all.  Its his own personal collection.
  More like a museum display to make his other items, that he really does want to sell, look better to be in such company.

   They do look pretty easy to make.  I really like the oldschool silver solder that has a little cadmium in it.
 The cad is poison and will kill you, but the miniscule exposure I am ever going to take is ignorable in that amount. 
   The stuff flows like water well below the melt point of brass or bronze, and it is the perfect color of med brass to boot!  Its just hard to find now and all silver is a scandal.
   yours Scott

[Branson]

Speaking of solder, Scott, a dozen years ago or so, there was talk at a smithing convention about a copper solder.  I think it was a Japanese product.  I haven't seen anything about it since then.  You know anything?

[scottg]

Nope never heard of a specific copper (with no tin or zinc at all?) solder.
 Regular braze is 90%+ copper of course.
Maybe it was a just copper color that blended in?

 Speaking of copper, did you see the kettle on the Roadshow last week?
An apple butter kettle. Pure copper and must have weighed 50 pounds. It had dovetail joints all up the side and around the bottom and a juicy fat heavy rolled lip all around. Must have been 1/4" thick! Just spectacular.
The appraiser thought early 1800's.
    yours Scott
 

[Branson]

Yeah, it was specifically copper.  It could only be used on copper.  I was thinking at the time it could be puddled into a mold for some fast decorative bits and pieces.

The downside of not doing TV is that I miss programs like Antique Roadshow.  That apple butter kettle sounds way cool.  I assume it was an American piece?  I've got a couple dovetailed copper pieces (not so heavy as that!) so I've done some research into that.  Mostly, dovetail seams in copper went out in the 1700's.  I'll bet that's a better date for the kettle.  The only exception I know is copper smithing in Russia, which was still using the dovetail seam in the early 1900's.  They used it on both domestic and export copper ware.