Mathieson & Son Wooden Smoother Plane

[Ahmic]

Good evening,
I just bought a wooden smoother plane online for $30 and was wondering whether or not I should be using it or shelving it as a collector piece? As far as I can tell it is a Mathieson & Son and is made from oak. I am actually not sure about the wood species but it does have rays like quarter sawn oak. It has 2 1/4 stamped on the back and the body and iron have Mathieson & Son Glasgow. From reading online it looks like post 1856 the stamp was changed to say Glasgow and Edinburgh, so I think this one is pre-1856. It also has what I think is the owners name stamped on the body (V Woodhouse) I have sharpened the iron and will use it on a regular basis unless it is worth shelving. Any info you can provide greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Mark
Canada

 

[Chems]

I'm sure once morning arrives here (currently 2am) there will be more knowledgeable types along to answer your question but from a quick look on ebay a few Mathieson & Son planes have been sold for very little money so I would say its not worth shelving and get using it!

 

[bugbear]

From reading online it looks like post 1856 the stamp was changed to say Glasgow and Edinburgh, so I think this one is pre-1856.

Most of my Mathieson tools only say Glasgow, so I suspect the stamp changed back at some stage well after 1856.

BugBear

 

[lwilliams]

Your plane is made beech, I am sure. "V. Woodhouse" is an owners mark. Mathieson was a good planes and their are a lot of them out there. If you're looking for collector value, you'll have to wait quite a while. Use it and enjoy it.

 

[Ahmic]

Thanks everyone for your feedback; I will treat this just like any other plane. It is nice to know that a tool made over 100 years ago is still working as well as it was back then. A real testament to the quality that tool makers put into their tools back then.

Thanks again

Mark

 

[Chris Knight]

BB,

According to my copy of Goodman, Stamps with only Glasgow are all post 1876. After 1876, nearly all stamps were formed with letters arranged on a curve.

Pre-1876, stamps are all with words in straight lines and none had Glasgow only.