There seem to be a number of Australian plane makers who have a very limited product range. Whittingslowe Engineering are one of these with only a single model of block plane.
Who Was Whittingslowe?
William Thomas Whittingslowe was born in Wales in 1888. He received his education in England and, at the age of 18, emigrated to Canada where he worked in various engineering firms for four years. After gaining experience, Whittingslowe moved to South America to further his engineering career.
Around 1912, Whittingslowe arrived in Australia. He worked across various states before settling in South Australia in the 1920s. There, he established Whittingslowe Engineering, specializing in ironworking and knife manufacturing. During World War II, his firm produced a significant amount of bladeware and also designed and built manufacturing equipment for General Motors Holden. Whittingslowe passed away in 1956 in Murray Bridge, South Australia.
Whittingslowe Engineering was one of the two Australian companies that produced the Australian Army Stiletto, also known as the Australian Commando Knife. These stilettos were issued to independent companies—specialist troops who preceded the SASR and the Commandos—in New Guinea, as well as to members of Z Special Unit and likely M Special Unit.
In addition, Whittingslowe Engineering manufactured large quantities of the Australian Army Clasp Knife. The most commonly found World War II Australian-made clasp knives were produced by Whittingslowe.
http://www.australianmilitaryknives.com/whittingslowe.html
While most of the Whittingslowe Engineering information available is about their knives, it seems that they also manufactured razor blade paint scrapers, a range of kitchen gadgets and a block plane.
The Whittingslowe Block Plane
Only one model has been seen with this brand, ‘WHITTINGSLOWE PRODUCT’. It is a pressed steel block plane 177mm (7”) long and 50mm (2”) wide. Blade width is 1 1/2 in.
The steel used for the body is 3mm thick.
These were produced between 1947 and 1959. Probably to meet a post war need before imported block planes became readily available.
It is similar to a Stanley No.110.
I don’t know what grade of steel was used for the plane body, but it doesn’t seem to rust.
Some Unique Features
The blade tightening screw goes right through the lever cap. there is a raised boss on the underside of the cap but it is smaller than that used on the Stanley No. 110. I presume to give enough thread to enable a firm fitting it is threaded right through the cap. When the blade is tight, the screw doesn’t protrude.
The rod holding the front knob goes right through the sole and can be seen as a welded circle on the sole.
The blade is supported on a cross bar whereas on the Stanly No.110 it is supported on a post cast into the body of the plane.
The ends of the 2 crossbars and the top of the rod holding the front knob have a distinctive ‘+‘ pattern. I’ve tried undoing the front knob but it seems to be permanently fixed, not screwed on.
