Many thanks to Richard Cohen again, who sent me this link to a new video by photographer and filmmaker Shaun Bloodworth, called ‘Last Man Standing’.
The video shows craftsmen assembling Clifton planes and making Thomas Flinn Saws at Thomas Flinn & Co, the UK’s last traditional plane and saw makers in Sheffield. Hard to believe this giant industry is now reduced to one company. I very much hope the current renaissance for hand-tool woodworking creates a boost for them.
A decent bandsaw is always a nice addition to the workshop. I found this excellent rebuild review on the Kellogg Furniture website. The Oliver 217-D was built in 1942 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and commissioned by Douglas Aircraft Corporation in Santa Monica, California. Clark clearly found and dealt with lots of problems throughout, but ended up with a fine machine. Look at those proportions! What a stunning design.
I loved this post over on MVFlaim’s blog about his Kruse & Bahlmann plane restoration. Take a read and discover the extra surprise he got when he worked on the plane.
I’ve been pretty busy here with house purchases, holidays and the day job, but slowly getting back to tool-pickups and selling. I’ve had some interesting tools coming through the doors just recently, so will be posting a few as I get them cleaned up. My web guy continues to employ the undercover skills of a special agent, so for the time being the completion of my sales page on the website remains a dream.
The first nice plane this week is a lovely skewed rebate with two depth stops, made by the French firm, ‘Aux Mines de Suede‘. It has nice sharp irons, one of which is a nicker held in by a supplementary small wedge. The wood used by this firm for their planes is a very dense, heavy wood, which keep an excellent profile. I believe it’s Cormier wood? I’d also call this a badger plane if it had a rear handle and no depth stop, but not sure whether that applies to this configuration. As ever, I welcome your input, dear readers.
No, not more news about a new mobile phone service, but I now have some pics of another Norris 6G, courtesy of Darryl Hutchinson at Classic Planes. Darryl’s pictures are below and I think you will agree my own plane hardly differs. Compare the pictures below, good to see another one in the wild.
Darryl’s plane
My plane
Darryl’s plane
My plane
Darryl’s plane
My plane
Darryls plane
The only noticeable thing being the lack of screw under the handle. (As Paul Blanche pointed out in the comments on the page, these planes sometimes came without.)
So, yes, I’m naming this a rare Norris 6G.
(Update 27.02.2016)
A reader has kindly sent me some pictures of his own Norris 6 plane. It has the same very long horn on the tote and also no screw under the handle. it certainly makes me feel better about my own plane being completely original. Here are the pics from the kindly reader.
