These pictures are of a senior vise president's retirement gift. We made it out of 1/8" thick sterling silver. Somewhere I have color pictures,but I can't find them right now. If you wish,I could show the color pictures when I find them.
This is a type of 18th.C. miter plane. the wood stuffing is Brazilian rosewood. Notice the sneck on the iron,so it wasn't necessary to strike the body of the plane. This would have been of wrought iron originally.The plane was 8" or 9" long,with a 2" wide iron.Although the iron has a sneck,there is still a sacrificial screw on the back of the plane's body.
The box is mahogany,lined with pool table type broad cloth. I made a rosewood adjusting hammer,because I needed to fill in the large blank area that was in the box with the plane only inside. It filled out the space nicely. You can see a little turn button that holds the hammer in,just visible. You can see our shop label inside the lid.
Our company engraver,former engraver to a U.S. president,engraved the dedication. The president always took this engraver where ever he went. When he decided to make a presentation,he'd have the engraver take a piece of silver hollow ware,and engrave it right on Air Force 1.
Mr Birney was a B 17 pilot in WW 11. I thought he was a genuine person,and enjoyed making this for him.
We had it rhodium plated so it would never tarnish. That would cost thousands today,just for the plating. The days of big gift giving came to a close as a few more years went by.
Once again,I made the hooks. SHOULD have gotten some cast!!!
Not sure if this gift was for shaving employee salarys !!.