Over a year ago, there was a discussion in this thread https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/block-plane-for-planing-blocks-t30907.html about a really solid plane that Neilyweely had bought at auction.
I've spotted what I think is a similar one on ebay here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110530254133 - solid metal casting, designed to run on its side like a shooting board plane, narrow blade.
And now there's a comment on the listing from someone in the US selling a similar one again - see listing here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-Printers-Shoot-Block-Plane-Harrild-Sons-/160433391756
- and he is positive it's a printer's tool, for shooting edges of printing blocks. Which does all sort of make sense, given that they would have to be accurately dimensioned and square, to lock up in a forme.
So maybe the mystery is sort of solved - but I can't account for the apparent connection to the United Shoe Machinery Company - unless they made stuff for printers too!
I've spotted what I think is a similar one on ebay here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110530254133 - solid metal casting, designed to run on its side like a shooting board plane, narrow blade.
And now there's a comment on the listing from someone in the US selling a similar one again - see listing here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-Printers-Shoot-Block-Plane-Harrild-Sons-/160433391756
- and he is positive it's a printer's tool, for shooting edges of printing blocks. Which does all sort of make sense, given that they would have to be accurately dimensioned and square, to lock up in a forme.
So maybe the mystery is sort of solved - but I can't account for the apparent connection to the United Shoe Machinery Company - unless they made stuff for printers too!
