Help Needed on a Sheffield Maker, Please

[Argus]

Can anyone help me to identify a Sheffield maker, please?

Recently I acquired a particularly fine Pattern-Maker’s plane which came with large set of interchangeable bases; quite old, probably early 20th C.

Now, usually these have about six bases and blades as a set, assuming that none have gone astray. This one came with 12. All are the same fixing size and fit perfectly and are all in reasonable shape except that looking closer it became apparent that 6 were original to the stock and the other six were a set from another similar plane – a marriage. The six original bases have blades marked “ S Bishop – Sheffield”; the other six are very indistinct, but I worked out that they are marked “Thos. Ibbotson – Sheffield”.

All the items have been together a long time because they all bear the same two previous owners, the body and all the bases.

Ibbotson I can find in ‘British Plane Makers’ but I’m blowed if I can see any info in the books I have on ‘S Bishop’.

Does anyone have any ideas who the firm was and when they were in business?

 

[DonMc]

Without checking into this further, my database indicates there was a Samuel Bishop working as an edge tool maker from 1828 to 1845. First on Carver Street in 1828, then at 10 Young Street from 1833 to 1837, and finally at 166 Young Street by 1845.

Sheffield Records online also indicate there was a Samuel Bishop working as an edge tool maker in 1919.

Hopefully this helps a little.

Don McConnell
Eureka Springs, AR

 

[Argus]

Don, thank you, I'm indebted.

I'm inclined to the latter dates, because the 'S Bishop - Sheffield’ mark appears centrally positioned at the top of the blades in the same position on each, which suggests to me that they were purpose-made for this type of plane. It is very clean and solidly stamped - again the 1830s / 40s seems a little early for this style of plane. If Samuel Bishop was established in Sheffield during 1919, it suggests also that the firm was in existence in the couple of decades previous to that, which is where I think my plane’s origins lie.

Interestingly, all the Thos. Ibbotson marks are offset, slanted and partiality over the edges of the blades; they are also extremely small, poorly stamped and hard to read, which again makes me think that they may have been cut down from older steel and re-used.

Anyway, once again, many thanks.

 

[memzey]

Pictures please! I find myself intrigued as to the appearance of this plane.

 

[bugbear]

Pictures please! I find myself intrigued as to the appearance of this plane.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auct ... 2000ec4364

https://forum.canadianwoodworking.com/f ... ers-planes

BugBear

 

[Trafalgar]

Stanley made an aluminum iteration with interchangeable sub-bases:

http://www.woodworkersinstitute.com/page.asp?p=3686

See photos 1 - 5.

And lots more images here: https://www.google.com/search?q=pattern ... QINg&dpr=1

 

[bugbear]

Stanley made an aluminum iteration with interchangeable sub-bases:

http://www.woodworkersinstitute.com/page.asp?p=3686

Don't think that's a Stanley.

BugBear

 

[DonMc]

In doing some follow-up searching, I think my earlier reply was somewhat misleading due to being quite incomplete. This is an attempt to fill in some of the missing information. In brief, I believe there were a series of Sheffield "Bishop" firms, listed as edge tool makers/manufacturers, which succeeded each other. While there likely were antecedents, I'll start with the Samuel Bishop firm mentioned previously:

Samuel Bishop 1828 - 1845
Carver Street [1828]
10 Young Street [1833 - 1837]
166 Young Street [1845]

Mary Bishop (late Samuel Bishop) 1849
12 Hawley Croft

Elizabeth Bishop & Son 1852 - 1855
164/162 Young Street [1852]
166 Young Street [1855]

James Bishop 1854 - 1888
6 Court, Young Street, South Street [1854]
166 Young Street [1857 -1862]
142 Young Street [1879 - 1881]

James Bishop & Sons 1890 - 1925 ...
142 Young Street

The "sons" of James & Sons were James and Samuel, with Samuel listed as edge tool maker and principal in the James Bishop & Sons firm 1911 to 1919. I suppose it is possible Samuel stamped irons with his own mark during that period, but my inclination is to doubt this. On the other hand, there are gaps in the record on either side of these dates, so it is possible he was briefly in business on his own during one of those periods. Somewhat inconclusive, unfortunately, but that seems to be as far as I can go at present.

Don McConnell
Eureka Springs, AR

 

[Argus]

Thank you Don, that was most informative - much more research work than I expected - so you've definitely money in the bank with me.

It remains for me to sort out some photos, and the tricky bit is working out how to post them.....

The plane itself is a brass bodied mahogany infill affair with a squirrel-tail type handle.

All best from Wales

 

[Trafalgar]

Stanley made an aluminum iteration with interchangeable sub-bases:

http://www.woodworkersinstitute.com/page.asp?p=3686

Don't think that's a Stanley.

BugBear

By Jove, I think you're right! (couldn't resist the By Jove...)

 

[Argus]

As promised, here are some pictures. First, the two types of blade:
Thos Ibottson to the left, S Bishop on the right.

Next the plane: It may well be the work of an individual maker, alternatively the quality is good enough to be a commercial offering, though there are no makers' marks.
Of the bases in the foreground, the three at the rear are made of quarter-sawn Oak and were, I believe, original to the plane body; these are paired with their respective Ibottson blades.

The bases in the front are made of Beech and have an extra screw hole which can be seen in the centre of each which is not part of the fitment on this pane body; all are paired with their respective blades by S Bishop. An original owner in the past has written the various radii on the backs of the soles and inscribed some of the radii on the blades.

Apart from a little cleaning, at first viewing there does not appear to be much fettling needed to bring this plane to tip-top working order.
The fact that it has been married with other bases and blades in the past, suggests that this tradition could continue - all I need is a little Beech and some 1 inch by 1/8 inch tool steel.

All best from Wales, where after weeks and weeks of incessant rain, the sun is out at last; many thanks also to everyone who has responded.

 

[memzey]

That's a gorgeous looking plane! Glad I asked for a photo!