Item CP17 - Taber & Abbott ****
Patented Transitional Plane. Feb, 28, 1865
This
22 inch fore plane is a nice example of the early patent awarded to Wing Taber
and Thomas Abbott when they existed as a short-lived partnership, from 1865 to
1866 in Lowell, Massachusetts. The patent is for a metal “frog” set into the
body of the plane behind the blade, and supporting it. A forked metal wedge
holds the blade against the frog. The idea was to create a more easily
manufactured wedge that did not require the close fitting of the traditional
wood wedge. These planes were not very successful, and about a year after
receiving the patent, Wing Taber sold the rights to the invention to the Lamb
brothers of New Bedford, who created the Taber Plane Company to manufacture it.
Planes incorporating this invention, and made by the Taber Plane Co, are also
not common. This plane is clearly marked with the name and patent date on the
toe. The metal ‘wedges” of these planes vary a good deal, and this one is fixed
with a very nice heart shaped thumb screw. The plane is in very nice
condition, with little wear, but there is a chip from the top of the closed
tote. This is a rare plane, having a four star rating in AWPIV. Good+.
Price - $150.00