The Family Tools...aren't Family Jewels
I have a small collection of vintage hand planes, which I believe belonged to my Great Grandfather – Grandad Kemp. He was already very old and retired when I was a young lad in the 70's; but in his day, he was a carpenter. So we're talking around 1930's to 60's...in a time when there probably weren't a lot of power tools.
My Dad gave me this lovely collection a few years ago – They'd been sitting in a box, for probably most of my life, up until now.
It would be wonderful to imagine visiting Antiques Roadshow, only to discover your vintage hand planes were worth fifty thousand dollars. But it’s highly unlikely that would be the case and even if it was; I wouldn't really care.
If Grandad Kemp was a carpenter...like Jesus...he would have been a humble man, without requiring a lot of finery. His tools are probably the equivalent of the modern day tradie using brands like Makita and Milwaukee; instead of highly priced Festool power tools.
Some of today's highbrow hobbyist woodworkers (who often call themselves 'fine woodworkers') love to spend thousands of dollars on hand planes. But these are designer tools, that are created not only to work well, but look good on a shelf – say in the background of a YouTube videos.
It's the equivalent of a show car. The difference between driving it to the car show, or it coming on a trailer – which is called a 'Trailer Queen'...
Anyway. I enjoy using Grandads planes from time to time. And when I can create artisan shavings with them, I have a sense of connection with my family heritage, plus it also makes me feel like a real woodworker.
One of the common problems with these old planes is a cracked rear handle. You can buy off the shelf replacements, but they're usually upwards of $70. So I've fixed one so far with some glue. And after a bit of sanding and polishing it's come up quite nice. Still got one to go.
I don't intend to go full resto on them. Because if it's an old vintage tool, I want it to still look old – not shiny and new.
My collection includes: a Shelton No:9 Smoothing Bench Plane (circa 1932-1954 – After that, they sold out to Stanley)
Record Number 4 Smoothing Plane (circa 1931-1950's – as it has a Rosewood handle. Future models had beech handles)
Plus 3 wooden bodied planes circa 1940's or older – one I can identify is by Marples & Sons, Hibernia, Sheffield, England. A Swedish Horn Hand Plane – which is one of my favourites to use...
