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This downright plane is an unusual type of plane, in that it is a pull plane for making large circular mouldings in wood. It is a cross between a moulding plane and a rounding plane, and is engraved 'W. J. Brown' on each handle and on either side of the blade. The blade is also engraved with 'Cast Steel Warranted'. It was used by the donor's father, a carpenter and wheelwright, who was apprenticed at Alton and later worked at Wallace and Stevens at Basingstoke. It is stamped 'W. J. B' on the end of the stock.

1 downright plane: wood; metal; brass

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This ['moulding' scored through] [insert] downright [end insert] plane used by the donor's father is of an unusual type in that it is a pull plane for making large circular mouldings in wood. It may thus be described as a cross between a moulding plane and a rounding plane. It consists of a wooden beech stock 12.4 inches long, the ends of which are in the form of hand grips. The sole of the tool consists of a curved piece of brass 3 inches square with the .25 concave blade penetrating the centre of it. The shavings are discharged at the top of the tool. // See 51/36M.', MERL Recording form – 'Downright plane (similar to coopers) for moulding round pieces of wood. The blade is 2 1/2 inches wide, placed a brass plate. [pencil sketch] // Probably used by W. J. (William James) Brown (Miss Brown's father) who was a carpenter and wheelwright. He was apprenticed to Capt. Chawner of Alton and went as an improver to Wallace and Stevens at Basingstoke. This plane was probably used for window beadings, door parts etc.', MERL Catalogue Form (temporary) – ‘[page break] [pencil sketch]'