Revised 14-Apr-2000
TRINDERS' FINE TOOLS
MATHIESON PLANES - A GUIDE
As the basis for our guide to Mathieson Planes we have used an
original Mathieson Catalogue (click for
illustration of cover). It is the 8th. edition, an impressive
hard bound volume, with some 160 double pages. There is no date
explicitly indicated, however reference is made on the title page
to a Gold Medal, received in the 1886 Edinburgh Exhibition. Mathieson
also received a Gold Medal in the Melbourne Exhibition of 1880,
and Prize Medal at the London Exhibitions of 1851 and 1862. Alexr.
Mathieson & Sons Ltd were established in 1792.
In order that the text can be read, and also in order to minimise
download times, we have provided separate illustrations for each
plane type, or group of types. Mathieson's note that 'the engravings,
though generally representative, are not to be held as binding
as to details'.
Dovetailing of Metal Planes
It is fortunate that Mathieson considered it useful to illustrate
how their wrought steel planes were dovetailed together (click
for illustration of the construction of a rabate plane). On an
all-steel dovetailed plane it is often difficult to detect the
dovetails - indeed some Spiers' Planes are stamped 'DOVETAILED'
to ensure that the effort (and extra cost) involved did not go
unnoticed.
Types of Mathieson Planes
- Wrought Steel Planes
- Smoothing
- Panel*
- Jointing*
- Mitre
- Rabate
- Shoulder
- Thumb
- Chariot
- Bull-Nose
*In the context of British infill planes, a Panel plane is used
for fine smoothing and trueing; Salaman in his Dictionary of Woodworking Tools
specifies the following sizes for Smoothing, Panel and Jointing
Planes of the infill types:-
- Smoothing - 7 1/2" - 8 1/2" long, with 2
- 2 1/4" iron
- Panel - 13 1/2" - 17 1/2" long with 2 1/2"
iron
- Jointing - 20 1/2" - 27 1/2" long with 2
1/2" iron
THE CATALOGUE ILLUSTRATIONS
Smoothers
Smoothing Planes - Wrought Steel, Dovetailed, Fitted with Rosewood,
Gun-Metal Lever
- No. 842 Improved, without Handle
- No. 843 Improved, with Handle
- No. 844 Parallel Sides, with Handle
Click for illustration of Nos. 842, 843,
844. These Smoothers were available with 1 3/4", 2",
2 1/8" and 2 1/4" irons; Nos. 843 and 844 had the option
of a closed handle. Click for original
prices.
Panel Planes
- No. 845 - Wrought Steel, Dovetailed, Fitted with Rosewood,
Gun-Metal Lever (click for catalogue illustration).
This Panel Plane was available in the following lengths - 11 1/2",
12 1/2", 13 1/2", 14 1/2", 15 1/2" and 16
1/2"; the standard iron was 2 1/2"; optionally 2 5/8"
and 2 3/4" irons were available. The 11 1/2" to 13 1/2"
lengths inclusive had flush ends, as the Panel Plane illustration;
on the 14 1/2" to the 16 1/2" panel planes the sole
projected at heel and toe, as the Jointing Plane illustration.
Click for original prices.
Jointing Planes
- No. 846 - Wrought Steel, Dovetailed, Fitted with Rosewood,
Gun-Metal Lever (click for catalogue illustration).
This Jointing Plane was available in the following lengths - 20
1/2", 22 1/2", 24 1/2", and 26 1/2"; the standard
iron was 2 1/2"; optionally 2 5/8" and 2 3/4" irons
were available. Click for original prices.
Mitre Planes
- No. 847 - Improved Mitre Plane - Wrought Steel, Dovetailed,
Fitted with Rosewood, Gun-Metal Lever (click
for catalogue illustration).
- No. 848 - Plain Mitre Plane - Wrought Steel, Dovetailed, Fitted
with Rosewood, Gun-Metal Lever (click
for catalogue illustration).
Both the Improved and the Plain Mitre Plane were available in
the following sizes - 8 1/2" x 2" or under, 10 1/2"
x 2 1/4", 10 1/2" x 2 3/8", 10 1/2" x 2 1/2"
(widths refer to iron width). Optionally any Mitre Plane was available
with a skew mouth. Click for original
prices.
Rabate Planes
- No. 849 - One Iron, Square (i.e. not skew) Rabate Plane
- Wrought Steel, Dovetailed, Fitted with Rosewood, with Wedge.
- No. 850 - One Iron, Skew Rabate Plane - Wrought Steel, Dovetailed,
Fitted with Rosewood, with Wedge.
Click for catalogue illustration.
- No. 851 - Two Irons, Square (i.e. not skew) Rabate
Plane - Wrought Steel, Dovetailed, Fitted with Rosewood, with
Wedge.
- No. 852 - Two Irons, Skew Rabate Plane - Wrought Steel, Dovetailed,
Fitted with Rosewood, with Wedge.
Click for catalogue illustration.
Rabate Planes were available in the following sizes - 6"
x 3/8", 6" x 1/2", 7" x 5/8", 8"
x 3/4", 9" x 3/4", 9" x 7/8", 9"
x 1", 9" x 1 1/8", 9" x 1 1/4", 9"
x 1 1/2", 9" x 1 3/4". Click
for original prices.
Shoulder, Thumb, Chariot and Bull-Nose Planes
- No. 853 - Shoulder Planes, Wrought Steel, Dovetailed, Fitted
with Rosewood, with Wedge. 8" long, were available in following
widths - 1", 1 1/8", 1 1/4", 1 1/2". Click
for catalogue illustration.
- No. 854 - Thumb Planes, Wrought Steel, Dovetailed, Fitted
with Rosewood, with Gun-Metal Lever. 5" long, were available
in following widths - 1", 1 1/8", 1 1/4". (Not
illustrated).
- No. 855 - Bull-Nose Planes, Malleable, Cast Iron, with Rosewood
Wedge were available in following widths - 1", 1 1/8",
1 1/4".
- No. 856 - Bull-Nose Planes, Gun-Metal, with Ebony Wedge were
available in following widths - 1", 1 1/8", 1 1/4".
Click for catalogue illustration.
- No. 857 - Chariot Planes, Malleable, Cast Iron, with (Rosewood)
Wedge were only available in 1 1/8" width.
- No. 858 - Chariot Planes, Gun-Metal, with (Ebony) Wedge were
only available in 1 1/8" width. Click
for catalogue illustration.
Click for original prices.
Levers and Screws, with Rivets for Wrought Steel, etc.
Planes
- No. 859 - Gun-Metal, Best as in Mathieson Planes
- No. 860 - Brass, Second Quality
Available in 2", 2 1/8", 2 1/4", 2 3/8", 2
1/2", 2 5/8", 2 3/4". Click
for catalogue illustration, and for original
prices
