Birmingham

Cox & Luckman began making planes on Darwin St in Birmingham in 1839. In 1876, however, the firm became known as Cox, Luckman, & Son. The company was a well-known manufacturer of planes and tools , but also of fire-iron and fenders. From 1855 they are also listed as producing weighing machines and bedsteads.

According to the Furniture Gazette published March 10, 1883:

The firm of Cox, Luckman, & Son, Birmingham, fire-iron manufacturers has become dissolved by the retirement of Mr. George Luckman. The business will however be continued…. and the style of the firm will be Cox, Luckman, & Sons”.

I was recently offered a complete half-set of hollow and round planes, stamped with the former name, ‘Cox & Luckman’, dating these planes between 1839-1876, which is a pretty wide spread. I’d love to know a bit more detail about this firm if anyone has access to more details, ideally narrowing the date when these planes might have been made. The planes are in excellent condition, coming from a carpenter’s workshop and having been stored in dry conditions. Great to find a complete half-set from another renowned Birmingham maker, they are as good, if not better, than the Routledge set I found.

Routledge moulding planes — Excited to have such a great collection of moulding planes in such wonderful condition. The gentleman who owned these really looked after them.

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.

Routledge snipe-bill plane — Boxed snipe-bill with makers mark, the other snipe-bill is just as crisp.

Routledge 'round' moulding plane — Makers mark, ‘Routledge, 64 Bull Street’, BIRMINGHAM’.

Routledge side-round moulding plane — Again, matching pair is in fantastic condition for age.