Peter McBride
Antique and Old Tools
Updated :- Wednesday, 29 July 2020
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Here is a representative selection of planes from my collection.
These Norris made infill planes are marked very boldly on the lever cap, and with STEEL on the front toe.
I think it's safe to say these are Norris made planes.
Apart from the very early and rare planes by Spiers, there are two distinct styles of Mathieson marked planes I own.
Firstly:- Early planes with no mark on the metal or levercap, and marked Mathieson on the wood with the identical STEEL punch used on the Norris planes.
I believe these were also made by Norris. The punch deteriorated over time with cracks and chips, seen as missing bits in the punch's impression.
Secondly:- Later Mathieson planes, marked into the metal or the on the levercap, and with the italic STEEL on the front.
I believe these were the last of the Mathieson marked infill planes, and were Mathieson made.
Five Planes marked Norris with the same STEEL punch
The punch is still fresh.
The punch looks very fresh still.
There is a faint crack starting to appear in the top of the S
Note the top of the S
Here the S looks like the top of the letter has finally broken away from the punch.
Two Mathieson planes marked STEEL with the same punch
A rarely seen plane. Only marked very faintly on the front bun with the genuine Mathieson mark. Very much in the Norris #5 style.
Marked with the same punch as the Panel Plane below. Note the top of the S
Another plane looking like a Norris plane, and marked Mathieson on the front bun only. Stamped with the same punch as the planes above.
Two Buck and Two Mathieson planes marked STEEL with the same punch as the Norris planes above.
Note the top left on the "T", and the top of the "S" missing. Compare it to the Norris jointer above.
I can see enough of the stamp to be certain it was the same as the one above, and it's a typical Norris #8 plane.
The 5 planes below, it is pretty safe to
assume, were made by Mathieson.
All the planes of this type that I have,
and have seen have the same italic STEEL mark.
Unfortunately there were many tools
fraudulently marked by a UK tool dealer, exploiting this lack of marks in
the metal on Mathieson tools. A fake MATHIESON & SON, GLASGOW punch
was stamped right where this Mathieson mark is usually seen in the wood.
See here how to recognise the Fake
Mathieson Mark and compared to some Genuine
Marks