adjustable throat spokeshave?

[Jeffrey Larsen]

I recently bought several old tools off the bay--spokeshave, 2 number 4 stanleys and a number 3 defiance, and 4 old stanley chisels for about 35$ shipped.

the Spokeshave caught my interest. Can't post pictures; the blade is held in like a stanley 63. However, there is a brass screww as well in the rough position it would be in in a stanley 151--however, this screw serves to change the size of the throat of the spokeshave. the body of this tool has a pretty floral design, and all in all, it is a lovely old tool--especially with the brass polished. With the blade polished up to 2000 sand paper, it is very sharp and cuts nicely with a wide or narrow throat making paper thin slices of oak with no chatter. can open it up wider for other softer woods.

Does anyone know what the lineage of such a plane might be? Is this an unusual concept, or am I just onece again demonstrating my lack of experience with old tools?

Jeff

[Bob Smalser]

I'd like to see a pic and am also interested in identifying the maker. If you can take a digital photo you can email it to me for posting.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/2594266/276187810.jpg

I think the best spokeshave ever made was the Snell Atherton by a long shot, and wish they'd made straight shaves. The reason being they have adjustable mouths, allowing you do cut any wood with them with any precision required. The fun part is these weren't made for woodworkers, they were made for cobblers to hollow the edges of leather shoe heels.

A neat use for these is "backing out" boat planks.....where lengthwise planks hit a curved vertical frame the inside of the plank needs to be hollowed to fit the frame. The usual method is to steam and clamp the hot plank to every frame....and a 20' boat might have 40 frames....and mark where the plank hits each frame. Then after the plank cools and sets, it is removed and the inside "backed out" or hollowed at each frame station with a "backing plane:"

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/2594266/276187815.jpg

With a set of these shaves, instead of removing the plank it can be clamped, cooled, fastened at the stem and backed out by shaving and fastening the plank to each frame in turn, as with using a shave instead of a plane there is room to spring the plank out and fit in the shave to make the cuts. Saves gobs of time.

[Marc Waldbillig]

Jeff,

Except for the floral design on the body, does the depth adjustment work and look like the one on a #53?

Cheers

Marc

http://sites.internet.lu/folders/marcilly/53a.jpg