Last week I had the pleasure of going back to the Midlands, the place where I was born, to meet an excellent fellow named Robert who had some wooden planes for sale. I’ve been hunting for a nice half, or full-set of moulding planes for a while. These Routledge planes were particularly attractive to me, being born in the Midlands, and Routledge was an excellent planemaker from the area.
Robert was passing on a collection of planes from his grandfather, who had been a cabinet maker. Rob turned out to be a very good salesman. As well as agreeing a deal on an extra bunch of planes and miscellaneous tools, I went back home with a bit more weight than I anticipated!
By the time I left, the planes were joined by some lovely Thos Ibbotson ‘pig-sticker’ mortise chisels, some Sorby and Marples carving chisels, too many awls and screwdrivers to list, and one other thing. Robert made me a deal which included also taking away his grandfathers home-made tool chest. A wondrous great mahogany beast, which will take a bit of work, but will be a nice piece when I’ve finished it. The Volvo was nearly doing a wheelie all the way back to London.
4 replies on “A day trip to Worcestershire”
Hi mate,
your snipe bills worth 100-140 pound and the side rounds 80-100.
very nice find and well sought after, most of mine end up going to USA that is when I come across them, not aften as I would wish.
best of luck
Thanks Gary. Yep, I’m keeping this set for my own use, I think. Been looking for snipe bills for ages, as you know! Just ordered ‘Moulding Planes in Practice’ by Matt Bickford, and am going to try my hand at making some nice profiles. If I find any more sets though, I’ll have to sell them off. I’m not really one for keeping stuff for the shelf. Although, having said that, the shelf is getting a bit full.
Gary,
Looks like you found a real legacy by a man that obviously respected
and took pride in his tools. I just purchased a Routledge beading plane
and was researching it when your blog appeared. Do tou have any pictures
of the tool chest.
Thanks for sharing.
Rex
Hello Rex,
Thanks for getting in touch. Yes, here’s the chest, I ended up keeping it.
http://hackneytools.com/2012/10/lovely-huge-old-tool-chest/
Did you get the beading plane for a specific project? I just sold some side-beads
to a chap in Germany, who was making a traditional door.
best
Gary