Hardt Patent Smooth Plane
The patent for this design plane was issued on August 8 1893 to
Louis John Hardt from Yuba City California. The
patent shows a wooden plane, but the only known examples are metal bodied
planes like this one. There are only a handful of these
planes known, and almost all turn up here in California as this one did.
A pair of them were recently offered at a major tool auction and one brought
up to $9,000.00. The other one had major damage and still bought close
to 5K. I believe
they came in three sizes, that being a block plane, a jointer size plane,
and this the smooth at just under 12" long. All are rare.Roger Smith in his reference PATMPIA #1 gives a bit more detailed story behind Hardt, the maker, and what little is known about him and his planes. Roger surmised that Hardt had the body parts cast here in California, and then machined them himself. He then bought the frogs and cutters from Sargent, and those parts are proper and properly marked on this plane as they should be. Please be sure to look at all of the different pics to see the details. Roger surmises that Hardt probably only made one production run of these and that approx 7 or so are known confirming their relative rarity.
This plane has been refinished and looks great. The rosewood handle and knob look to be original and are in nice condition. The plane is marked in all the proper places, and has just one slight apology with a hairline crack at the edge of the throat on the bottom as shown. I have seen others with major chips in this area so it must have been a weak point in the design. The patented idea had to do with the front section of the plane being adjustable to control the width of the throat opening. It is well made and nicely machined, but the design idea seems like an odd way to accomplish a task that Stanley and others had already dealt with with, and are arguably better ideas. I suppose that is one of the reasons it is so scarce, being the design never caught on, or was accepted as better.
A nice example of one of the rarest patented planes that can found, with the added bonus of it being the only plane patented here in CA. A rare opportunity.
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DM-HARDT
Good +. . . . . $5950.00
Norris A5
Adjustable English Infill Smooth Plane Anytime
there is a discussion of the finest planes made the name Norris is one of
the first to be put forth.
The condition of this late model coffin
style A5 Norris
Smoother is exceptional. There is well over 95% of the original
ebonized finish remaining on the wood. The handle is nice, and there is about
50% of the decal label still on the handle. The throat is tight, and
the cutter full length and 2" wide. It looks to have the original
grind. It is a super nice plane throughout
with no pitting, rust or other problems. This plane saw very little use before it made it onto the collectors shelf a
number of years ago and is ready to be put back into service.
None Better.
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SD-NORRIS-A5
Excellent . . . . .$1295.00
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Spiers
AYR Walnut Infill Closed Handle Panel Plane
This 14" Infill Panel
plane is marked as to maker with a bold stamp on the gunmetal lever cap. The
cutter is marked but hard to make out, and the chip breaker is a Mathieson.
There is enough of a graphic on the cutter that someone better versed will recognize
the maker. The throat is nice and as fine as any English Mitre Plane.
It is in very nice condition in all respects. The chamfered or bevel edge
of the steel sides which are dovetailed to the bottom is a great feature.
There is no pitting or rust and this plane was carefully polished at one point and
that still looks great. There is one small repair to the infil that can be
seen in the pics at the rear corner.
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CYN-fill-2
Excellent . . . . .$795.00
Knowles
Type Infill Jointer Plane
This unusual plane is not marked which
is typical. This form plane is typically referred to as a Knowles types.
Knowles is credited with patenting the first metal bodied planes in the early 1800's.
The idea was slow to catch in the beginning, but it was not long before others were
mimicking the idea. The casting features to hold the wedge in are near identical
to the typical Knowles planes known, but this fellow thought applied handles and
knobs were a better idea than the cast ones on those. The other main difference
I see is the tail on this one that is not always seen. The casting is pretty
nice, and damage free. I think the wedge may be a replacement, but am not
sure. Note the chip in the handle. An interesting and very early metallic
plane.
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CYN-PLNS-KN
Good+.....$395.00
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Metallic
Plane Co. Patented Smooth Plane
This plane has one of the most
complicated and confusing blade and frog adjustment set-ups one could imagine.
It is little wonder it did not catch on. It is clearly stamped on the side
Palmer Storkes and Metallic Plane Co. of Auburn NY. This company tried a few
different designs over the years looking for one to make them famous. This idea
drove the potential customers away and straight toward Stanley / Bailey planes I
would think. Overall very nice noting the chipped tote.
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CYN-F-PLN
Good+.....$375.00
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Brass
Dental Plane
I have seen this mini brass plane offered for sale
a few times over the years, both at auction and on eBay. I can not seem to
find any published info on it, and I do not think it is in Roger Smiths books.
It is thought that they were made for the dental profession for sizing or trimming
of molds. It is an interesting and nicely made little block plane with ruler
increments in 32nds of an inch cast or scribed into the different sides. The
cutter is unmarked, and there is no other ID to be found. Different, and Unusual.
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CYN-PLNS-1
Good+.....$295.00
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Walkers Patent Plow Plane
Blades / Cutters
These look to be professionally done, and you can see on some of them that they
were cut from Starrett tool steel. I have never seen them offered
before and I can just imagine what they would cost to have made if you could
find the patterns.
CYN-WP-2
Excellent.....$395.00
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