Over the holiday period I received an e-mail from Carel Ballack, who stays in South Africa. Carel had purchased a Spiers plane from a second hand dealer for around $18 US, and was kind enough to send me some photo’s of his lucky find. The plane itself is in a nice condition. Although it has some minor damage to the front bun and to the spur with a replacement blade and lever cap screw, the body of the plane is in very nice condition.

To me this is an ideal plane for a restoration project. It would take very little work to get it back to an excellent user plane, with a little extra work it could be a collectors piece.

Anyhow this got me thinking about where else in the world Spiers planes have turned up. If you have any photo’s or stories of these beautiful planes and how they turned up in your neck of the woods please let me know. It all adds to the Stewart Spiers story. How many of today’s tools will be around in a couple of hundred years

(with thanks to Carel)

Unboxing of three Clifton Anniversary Planes (2000 – 2010), opened for only the second time since purchased in 2010. All serial number 20/25. Made in Sheffield (England).

Broke my golden rule again, Never buy from the online shop. Anyway, I saw this Norris and decided to give myself a treat. This is the 2nd time in as many weeks that I’ve broken this rule, bringing my number of Norris planes to seven. the plane is in a nice condition, so I will add it to my collection without any refurbishment.

As a long time collector of Spiers planes, I have been on the lookout for Through Much Tribulation by Nigel Lampert. I have tried several times to secure one from the online store but until now have been unsuccessful. I saw this one and made an offer to the seller, who accepted my bid.

If the reports are to be believed this is the definitive book on Spiers planes. This one will be read and reread over and over, it’s not one for a glass case.

My next task is to get a Mathieson catalog, which I have also been searching for.

If you are at all interested infill planes there is a group that I have joined on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/851641525018912/ The group is dedicated to the use and collection of this type of plane. It has quite a few noted members who have a fountain of knowledge on this subject and they can be called upon to answer questions from the beginner to seasoned collectors like me.

I purchased this Norris from the online shop. Mostly just as a change of tack. I had just finished restoring two very nice Spiers panel planes and was about to start on a Mathieson Smoother when I noticed a beat up Norris online. Although I see myself a Spiers collector I still have an interest in the other makers.

When I received the plane it had the usual surprises. The adjuster was loose and bent, the lever cap screw was too big to fit into the adjuster and there was a crack to the handle. “Nothing to see here,”

There isn’t much that can’t be put right.

The plane is now in my workshop and I’ll see how it goes.

A couple of days in the workshop and you have the above result. Over the coming years, the japanning will get richer and the brightwork will dull, job done.

GTL of 12-13 Chiswell Street, Finsbury (London, EC1) was a tool supplier that operated between the 1920s and 30s . The tools they had on offer were aimed at the DIY and amateur carpenter market.

GTL’s newspaper adverts suggested that rather than spending money on leisure activities, you could instead make money by investing in their tools or a tool chest: “MAKE EXTRA MONEY IN YOUR SPARE TIME WITH THE ALL BEST BRITISH G.T.L. TOOL CHEST AND HOME REPAIRING OUTFIT”.

“A FEW SHILLINGS BRINGS YOU THE G.T.L. TOOL CHEST AT ONCE ON A SEVEN DAYS APPROVAL“. The balance to be paid by small monthly sums to suit your pocket.

“NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED” – a free instruction booklet supplied with every tool chest contained 200 working illustrations to ensured immediate success.

Initially, the guarantee was that all the tools supplied would be manufactured by British subcontractors. “BETTER  THAN EVER VALUE” in the 1938/39 catalogue the guarantee then became “FINEST SHEFFIELD TOOLS.”

The best known GTL tool is the brass plane, often described as having a ‘Norris-type’ adjuster.

Today I went onto my favorite web forum The Antique and Vintage Tool Forum, subdivision Infill Plane collectors. As usual, there was a question from a newbie on whether or not he should restore the damaged infill in a plane that he had just purchased. To my mind, the question is, are you capable of restoring the plane back to a reasonable condition. The plane below, a 13 1/2″ Spiers of Ayr, was in a sad condition when I purchased it. A week in the shop and it was completely restored to spiffy.

My answer to the guy asking the question would be if you can go ahead if you can’t leave well alone.

If you were to buy a similar plane to the one above from a modern infill plane maker it would cost around $1800.00 USD or more. This Spiers (the pinnacle of plane making) can be bought for $300.00, Where is the antique value in that. It is just an old tool.

Sandusky 3SC (corrugated) plane

Listed in Horst Auction website as: Unusual “The Victor” Patent, brass-framed adjustable blind nailing plane with adjustable pitch & extendable arms. Stamped: THE VICTOR, JOHNSON’S PATENT.

Not entirely sure how this plane is used. The previous one listed on the web reads as above. This one has most of its original plating + a blade and blade holder and seems to be complete.  Going for sale on the online store.