About the Collection
I’ll start by getting one thing out of the way — I’m not an expert when it comes to woodworking planes. Far from it. I’d describe myself as an enthusiast who enjoys digging up whatever information I can about the planes in my collection and learning as I go.
Now, how do you describe a collection of around 750 planes? That’s a good question — and one I’m not sure has a neat answer. Some collectors focus on a particular maker, others on specific types, and some chase variations across different production periods. My collection doesn’t really fit into any one of those boxes. It’s pretty eclectic and probably borrows a bit from all of those approaches.
If I’m honest, it’s also a collection largely built on picking things up at the right price. I do enjoy a bargain. There are a few notable exceptions, though — like the Stanley No. 1 that was generously gifted to me by family and friends for my 60th birthday, the British infill planes, and the boxed Stanley No. 55 that I inherited from my father. But generally speaking, I’m what you might call a “bottom feeder” — always on the lookout for something interesting that others might have overlooked.
The aim of the collection isn’t perfection — it’s variety. I like having examples of different types of planes, and I’m quite happy for them to show the wear and tear of a working life. After all, these tools spent years being used, tossed in and out of toolboxes, and left on workbenches. That history is part of their story. I’ll give them a clean and do a bit of minor restoration if needed, but I’m not chasing showroom condition.
There are also a few parts of the collection that have a bit more of a story behind them. A good friend has permanently loaned me a group of planes that originally belonged to his uncle, a tradesman from the mid-20th century. On their own, they’re fairly common tools, but together they paint a really interesting picture of what a working tradesman’s kit looked like before power tools became the norm. (I’ve written a bit more about this in the blog post “A Tradesman’s Tools”.)
Another highlight was the chance to purchase a complete toolbox containing over 40 planes, many of which can be linked back to the original owner. That was a great find, and I’ve covered it in more detail in “A. Murray’s Toolbox.”
As for the blog itself — it’ll probably jump around a bit. I tend to pick out a plane (or a group of them), do some research, and then write about whatever I find interesting. Where I can, I’ll credit and link to the sources I’ve used.
And if you spot something I’ve missed, got wrong, or just want to add to the discussion, feel free to leave a comment — I always appreciate the input.
Below are the latest blogs related to my woodworking plane collection: