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Marples & Son Ltd (Manufacturer)

This jack plane was used by H. E. Longhurst, of Reading, who purchased it at the turn of the twentieth century and used it in his work as a joiner until his death in 1963. Jack planes are used for the preliminary 'trueing-up' of sawn timber.

1 plane: wood

MERL 'Handwritten catalogue' form – 'PLANE (JACK) // See attached notes. // [pencil sketch] // Marked: Marples + Son // Warranted Cast Steel // on blade stamped', MERL miscellaneous note - 'JACK PLANE // Donor: H.C. Longhurst... Reading // This plane was purchased by H.E. Longhurst, formerly of... Stanhope Road, at the turn of the century and used by him when he started work as a joiner until his death in 1963. // This plane is 17" long and made of beech. It was used for the preliminary "trueing-up" of sawn timber. The reason for the piece of beech let into the sole of the plane just forward of the mouth is as follows: After continual use the sole of the plane became worn and 'out of true' and required to be retrued with a trying plane. This had the effect of making the mouth wider until gradually it became too wide and interfered with the plane's working qualities. A mouth piece was then let into the position so the rear (and grain edge) of it was about 1/32" to 1/16" from the edge of the cutting iron when the plane was correctly set. // 24 March 1964'

1900 - 1900