Fales' Patent Variable Bench Plane.

I got some new planes from the States recently.

One of them is a Fales' Patent Variable Bench Plane.

I've been after one for a long time.







The plane was patented in 1882 by Amos Fales he lived at the time in Denver.

He produced four patents covering his plane the last in 1886.

By which time he'd moved to Rockfall, Connecticut.







The plane was manufactured by Otis Smith a gun maker also in Rockfall.

A lot of people think that Otis was the Smith of Smith & Wesson fame.

But that Gentleman was Horace Smith.







It came with many parts gaining a reputation as being one of the most complicated planes ever made.

I'm not sure exactly of the number some say around 160 others as many as 240.

I was lucky enough to get quite a few of the forms 74 in all.

From that 33 are matching pairs so I did pretty well.

Most of the time Fales plane are only found with one or two of the forms if that.







I only have one blade the large in the middle of the picture.

The two in the plane itself are incorrect ones.

Still I think it's better to have more of the forms, blades can be made a lot more easily.



I don't think for one minute I'll ever be able to get all of the parts.

But it will be great fun trying.



Cheers

Trev.