HISTORY OF THE WOODWORKING PLANE
Some scholars feel that the Hebrews developed the first woodworking planes, using a stone chisel inserted through a wooden block. Other experts credit the early Egyptians with its discovery. Iron plated planes with wooden cores were found in the ruins of Pompeii which date from 79 A.D. Roman carpenters used a variety of hand-held planes including grooving, moulding and rabbeting types. The Romans also produced the first cast iron planes, complete with front and rear knobs. Early Americans used mostly English made woodworking tools prior to the year 1800. Between 1810 and 1840 about two dozen planemakers were engaged full time at the activity, mostly around Philadelphia and New York City. Wooden plane production peaked a couple of decades later and then plummeted when Stanley began to mass-produce Leonard Bailey’s iron-bodied planes starting in 1870. A massive advertising program, coupled with aggressive pricing and a nationwide distribution network soon eliminated most of the competition. By the year 1900 over 3 million Stanley ”Bailey” planes had been sold. Stanley Rule and Level Company went on to manufacture over 250 different models of woodworking planes. |
