My 1920’s Spiers dovetailed steel infill panel plane would have cost around one weeks wages when new. According to Spiers numbering system, it is a No.1 steel panel plane (dovetailed) fitted with rosewood and gunmetal lever. Mine is 15 1/2 in. long with a 2 1/2 in. wide plane iron – and in 1930 would have cost 64 shillings in the UK.
These planes were available in lengths from 13 1/2 in. to 17 1/2 in. at 1 in. increments. All featured a 2 1/2 in iron, but broader irons were available at extra cost.
Stewart Spiers started planemaking in the 1840’s. It supposedly started with him buying a rough casting for 1 1/2 shillings, completing it and then selling it to a local cabinetmaker for 18 shillings. Initially the planemaking was an extra on top of his trade as a cabinetmaker.
He very quickly moved to dovetailed steel bodies on his planes and by the 1950’s had a wide range of planes available.
While Stewart Spiers passed away in 1899, his daughters continued the business. They sold it in 1922 and it traded under the Spiers name until 1933. Production was then moved from Ayr to Paisley but then ceased trading around 1937.
This copy of the opening page of Spiers 1909 catalogue shows some of their claims about the planes.
Of interest is the statement ‘LIST PRICES STRICTLY MAINTAINED’ – apparently Spiers sold through merchants as well as direct. Merchants were required to sell the planes at the list price so that they could not undercut direct sales. these days that would be considered price fixing.
If you are after more information on Stewart Spiers and some of the history – I recommend a webpage hosted by Martin Shepherd Piano Service – called ‘Spiers and Slater Mitre Planes‘.