Revised 26-Jun-2008
TRINDERS' FINE TOOLS
NORRIS PLANES - A GUIDE
As the basis for our guide to Norris Planes
we have used a 12-page original Norris Catalogue, apparently dating from the
1930's. In order that the text can be read, and also in order to minimise
download times, we have provided separate illustrations for each plane type, or
group of types.
Even in the 1930's Norris produced a wide
variety of options for the cabinet maker to consider. Planes could be:-
- with or
without the Norris Patent Adjuster - where this is an option, the
adjustable version has 'A' preceding the number - A5 is the adjustable
version of the No. 5 Smoother.
- smoothers could be with
or without a handle
- where a smoother has a
handle, the handle can be open or closed
- smoothers could be
parallel-sided or curved-sided (sometimes called 'coffin smoothers'
because of the shape of the sole)
- some models were
optionally made in gunmetal with a steel sole - these models have a 'g'
after the identification number - the A50g is the gunmetal version of the
A50 smoother
- skew mouths were
available on some models as an optional extra
- for an additional sum,
on some models, an ebony wedge could be selected in preference to rosewood
- besides the steel
dovetailed models Norris also produced
- 'Strong
iron planes' - these were described as 'practically unbreakable', and
were very stable in construction.
- 'Tough
iron planes' - often referred to as the '50 series'.
- Additionally, of course,
most models were made in a variety of lengths and cutter widths.
Dovetailing of Metal Planes
Whilst there is no such illustration in this
Norris catalogue, it is fortunate that Mathieson considered it useful to illustrate how their
wrought steel planes were dovetailed together (click
for illustration of the construction of a rabate
plane). On an all-steel dovetailed plane it is often difficult to detect the
dovetails - indeed some Spiers' Planes are stamped
'DOVETAILED' to ensure that the effort (and extra cost) involved did not go unnoticed.
Types of Norris Planes
- Smoothing
- Panel and Jointing*
- Shoulder
- Rebate
- Mitre
- Bullnose
- Chariot
- Thumb
- Violin
*In the context of British infill planes, a
Panel plane is used for fine smoothing and trueing; Salaman in his Dictionary of Woodworking
Tools specifies the following sizes for Smoothing, Panel and Jointing
Planes of the Norris and Spiers types:-
- Smoothing - 7
1/2" - 8 1/2" long, with 2 - 2 1/4" iron
- Panel - 13
1/2" - 17 1/2" long with 2 1/2" iron
- Jointing - 20
1/2" - 27 1/2" long with 2 1/2" iron
THE CATALOGUE ILLUSTRATIONS
Jointing and Panel Planes
- Steel Dovetailed
Jointing and Panel, Rosewood infill:- No. A1 and
No. 1 (click for catalogue illustration)
- Strong Iron Panel,
Rosewood infill:- No. A13 and No. 13 (click for catalogue illustration)
- Tough Iron Bench
Shooting:- No. A54 and No. A64 (click for catalogue illustration)
Smoothers
- Unhandled,
- Dovetailed,
Rosewood infill:- No. A4 and No. 4 (click for catalogue illustration)
- Special
Cabinet, Strong Iron, Rosewood infill:- No. A14
and No. 14 (click for catalogue illustration)
- Open-handled,
- Dovetailed,
Rosewood infill:- Nos. A2, 2, A3, 3 (click for catalogue illustration)
- Closed handled,
- Dovetailed,
Rosewood infill:- Nos. A5, 5, A6, 6, A17 (click for catalogue illustration) - NB although
not stated in the Catalogue, the Gunmetal A17 is not a dovetailed plane -
click for an illustration of an A17 we have
recently sold. Occasionally one finds an original box - click for an illustration of the label on a box for
an A6
- General
Purpose Strong Iron, Rosewood filled:- No. A12
and No. 12 (click for catalogue illustration)
- Tough
Iron:- Nos. A61, A51, A50 and Gunmetal, Saw
Steel Soled:- A50g, A51g (click for catalogue
illustration)
Shoulder
- Steel Dovetailed,
Rosewood infill:-
- Nos.
7, A7; Gunmetal, Saw Steel Soled:- Nos. 20, A20 (click for catalogue illustration)
- Nos.
22, A22 (click for catalogue illustration)
Rebate
- Steel Dovetailed,
Rosewood infill:- No. 8 (adjustment not fitted) (click for
catalogue illustration)
Mitre
- Steel Dovetailed,
Rosewood infill:- No. A11 (click for catalogue illustration)
Bullnose
- Malleable Iron, Gunmetal
Steel Soled:- Nos. 25, A25, 27, A27 (click for
catalogue illustration)
Chariot
- Gunmetal Steel Soled
Adjustable:- No. A28 (click
for catalogue illustration)
Thumb
- Gunmetal Saw Steel Soled:- No. A31 (click for catalogue
illustration)
Violin
- Phosphor Bronze (click for catalogue illustration)
