Adjustable pitch plane

[greg Forster]

While searching for a patent for Stanley #40 ( no luck yet), I found this plane patent.Patent No. 216,698 June 17, 1879

[Ron Brese]

Greg,

There was actually an adjustable pitch plane manufactured in the land down under that was patented by a Mr. Watkins. Very few examples are around, therefore I would imagine them to be quite collectable. As usable planes there was a problem in adjusting the mouth in conjucture with the pitch. The only way to do it on the earlier planes was to adjust the frog forward, which left the back of the iron sometimes unsupported which led to undersirable performance. Adjusting the frog whenever the pitch changed I would imagine was quite a hassle also, so popularity waned. Once adjusted to scraping pitch I quess the mouth wasn't as critical. I understand the Bridge City adjustable plane deals with these issues, but I've not actually had my hands on one.

Ron

[Ian Smith]

Here is a little bit of info on the Australian adjustable pitch plane.

http://www.htpaa.org.au/watkinson.php