Best Plane Book?

[jimi43]

Since I am already way down the road for going on the Black Run...I thought I might as well do some research into English plane making.

I would like to buy a good book on the subject as I get a great kick out of reading the history.

In the considered opinion of fellow skiers here....what would be the best book to get hold of?

I want to go back as far as I can...get extensive history of the great plane makers...the development of the planes through the years up to modern days...but would be happy with just up to the 50s.

Any ideas chaps and chapesses?

Jim

 

[Philly]

Not a whole lot of choice, Jim. "British Planemakers from 1700" has some interesting reading, Jim Kingshotts "making and modifying woodworking tools" is useful for metal plane making, there is some good history in Salaman's woodworking tool dictionary and also in Goodmans "history of woodworking tools". A book I really recommend is John Whelans "The Wooden Plane" - lots of history and making info - worth getting his other book "making traditional wooden planes", too.
No book covers the whole subject - I've picked out bits and pieces from these and many other books to put most of it together - the rest has been found out by "doing". Then it all becomes clear.
Hope this helps,
Philly

 

[AndyT]

I don't actually have a copy, but I believe that the answer is WL Goodman, British Plane Makers.

It's often referred to by collectors, as it is the best way to date collectable planes. It's based on research in censuses and trade directories to show when various makers were in business. But I believe it starts with a general historical survey.

I don't have a copy - I already have two well known American books on planes - see https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/two-books-on-planes-t40419.html - but someone else here must do. I believe Alf does, but I think she is only actively posting elsewhere these days.

You used to be able to get the book from Classic Hand Tools - but they don't list it any more. According to Bookfinder, the cheapest source is Amazon in the US but this seems to be for the 1978 second edition. I think there is a much enlarged third edition but am not sure.

Hope this helps!

 

[jimi43]

Cheers Phil....I got the impression that it wasn't that easy to find one suitable tome only.

I have been tempted by British Planemakers from 1700......

I think I will try that one.

Thanks for the feedback

Jim

 

[jimi43]

Cheers Andy...I will dig around with those recommendations also.

I wondered where ALF had gone...shame she's not around much these days...I enjoyed and admired her postings greatly.

Thanks mate

Jim

 

[toolsntat]

Jim, the real drooling starts and ends here 8) 8) :roll: http://rogerksmith.com/books.html

I have book 1 but not yet got the 2nd edition

Whoops just re-read this bit ".I thought I might as well do some research into English plane making." :lol:

Still good reads though :wink:

There is this one referred to here , mind you that's Scottish :? http://www.spiers.net/stewart.htm

Andy

 

[jimi43]

Hi Andy...of course the Bailey design is of significant interest also...but I wanted to look into the history in Great Britain....(not just England) so Scotland is very much included in my research and the name of Spiers figures greatly in my interest.

Some of the planes from the Ayr factory are up there with the best...and they tend not to command such a high price as the Norris equivalents.

The smaller independent makers are of great interest too...the way they merge and acquire as inductry buy-outs occurred.

Thanks for the link...fascinating...

Cheers

Jim

 

[AndyT]

I have been tempted by British Planemakers from 1700......

I think I will try that one.

Thanks for the feedback

Jim

- I just did a bit more checking - 2nd edition, 1978 was 182 pages = 3rd edition, 1993 was 514 pages, so clearly the one to go for, but the cheapest I could find is £150!

So, books on collecting become high priced collectibles! Perhaps you can find a copy at one of your early morning car boot treasure hunts - good luck - and if you find two, I'll double your money on the spare!

 

[eoinsgaff]

So where is ALF and why is she gone? Or maybe there is no reason. Just wondering...

Eoin

 

[Philly]

The difference between the second and third edition is the expanded section on makers stamps/names. The rest of the information is pretty much the same, so a cheap 2nd edition is worth getting.
Hope this helps,
Philly

 

[Ironballs]

So is "Plane Sailing" the autobiography, by P Edwards out of print then :wink:

 

[Philly]

So is "Plane Sailing" the autobiography, by P Edwards out of print then :wink:

Ha! Nice one :lol:
My long awaited plane making book will hopefully be out in time for Christmas. And there just may be a DVD to go with it.

Cheers
BusyPhilly

 

[Alf]

Not a whole lot of choice, Jim. "British Planemakers from 1700" has some interesting reading, Jim Kingshotts "making and modifying woodworking tools" is useful for metal plane making, there is some good history in Salaman's woodworking tool dictionary and also in Goodmans "history of woodworking tools". A book I really recommend is John Whelans "The Wooden Plane" - lots of history and making info - worth getting his other book "making traditional wooden planes", too.
No book covers the whole subject - I've picked out bits and pieces from these and many other books to put most of it together - the rest has been found out by "doing". Then it all becomes clear.
Hope this helps,
Philly

Phil pretty much has it covered; British Planemakers and The Dictionary of Woodworking Tools are the two titles I use most. If you want out-and-out history - and assuming it's still available - Christopher Gabriel and the Tool Trade in 18thC London makes for fascinating reading. But then, once you have that, you'll want a copy of The Tool Chest of Benjamin Seaton too, and I believe that's now as rare as gold dust. *looks it up on Bookfinder* Ouch. Yes, um, scrub that one then. I might just go and lock up my copy... Of course, by that time planes won't be the only thing you're interested in and you'll be wondering how hard it'd be to make a wooden brace, and incidentally how about some 18C style chisels? Or maybe that's just me... Another one that I haven't seen myself, but could be worth a look, is Early Planemakers of London by Don and Anna Wing.

And sorry about my disappearance. Life gets in the way.

Cheers, Alf

 

[jimi43]

AHHA!!!! The lady returns! Excellente!!!

Thank you all for your inputs....I am well impressed by the virtual library that I will have to acquire....(maybe not ALL Alf.... ) or search out.

At my local bootfair there is a guy who has the most obscure books you can imagine....

Only last week I purchased...for a princely sum of a squid of the realm...

"Advanced Grinding Practice.....Machinery's Mechanical Library Vol IV"!!!! a 350 page tome on grinding....

I passed on a similar volume on Worm Drive Design....(I'm building up the courage for that one!!!)

However...one of the "Home Workshop - only 5 shillings" books he had is worth its weight in gold....

Why...once I have made my work bench...I can set about building an air raid shelter and sealing my doors against a gas attack!!!!) I kid you not!!

Then I can completely strip my car engine...decarbonise it and put it back together ready for the picnic this weekend.... 8)

Pictures to follow...!!!! :wink: (sse my thread in the General Woodworking forum)

SO...I will print a little list and pass it to him this weekend and see what he comes up with on plane making from your recommendations....

Thanks very much lads and lasses! Welcome back ALF....we missed ya!

Jim