General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

wood [including boxwood] and metal

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

24.1 cm

Width

4.5 cm

Height

13.5 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Industrial Technology

Category

Tools-Hand

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Dawson

Country

Canada

State/Province

Québec

City

Montréal

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

Presumably used c. late 1890s- late 1940s; possibly also used earlier.

Canada

Part of a collection of hand tools belonging to James Anthony (1883-1966), an English born and trained carpenter who came to Canada c. 1910 and worked in and around Ottawa, ON. Following the 1916 fire which destroyed the Parliament buildings and damaged the Library, Mr. Anthony was hired as a foreman with the restoration crews. Until 1920, he was involved in the rebuilding of the Peace Tower and the installation of new windows at the Library of Parliament. He later worked with various builders in the Ottawa area, retiring in the late1940s. After his death in 1966 the tools were given to his son Jack, who in turn donated them to CSTMC. [Ref. 1] Plane manufactured by John Dawson (active 1851- 1876), one of the largest and most successful Montreal plane makers. Census records for 1871 indicate Dawson's company employed 5 men and produced 5000 planes a year: only V.A. Emond's Quebec company equalled this output. Given that the firm operated for approx. 25 years, as many as 125,000 may have been manufactured under the Dawson name. In 1875 and 1876 the business was listed under Thomas Dawson, John's eldest son. [Ref. 4] Wedge is typical of Quebec made planes. [Ref.2]

Function

Used to produce an angled quirk or side bead pattern in moulding.

Technical

Like other narrow planes, bead planes become worn and can lose their shape and consequently the accuracy of their cuts. For that reason, boxwood strips are usually inserted in the sole to reinforce the area containing the quirk and fence. Sometimes a wide beechwood strip is fitted to the side of the stock, to allow for wear on the shoulder. [Ref. 3]

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

"J. ANTHONY" and 3/4" stamped into heel end of stock. "J. Dawson [in script/ MONTREAL" and 'J. ANTHONY" stamped into opposite end.

Missing

None.

Finish

Dark brown wood stock and wedge; boxwood re-inforced panel in sole; darkened metal cutting iron bears surface rust.

Decoration

N/A