History of Small Violin Planes??

[David Beard]

Were these part of classical making, or a later development?

 

Does anyone know the history?      Are small planes part of the Strad Museum's tool inheritance?

 

 

I'm curious.  Also wondering about buying these.  So far I haven't.  I've just been using fine feather cuts with the gouge, followed by scraping.  I don't feel like I'm missing out by not having these, but maybe I'm wrong?  Wondering both about their value and their historical place.

 

Are there other makers who don't really use small planes?    My smallest plane today is about 3 inches long.

[Jim Bress]

Small planes were used by Strad. http://kevinleeluthier.com/stradivari_tools/StradivariusTools.htm  

[Christopher Jacoby]

I love them. Don't go cheap, though. I had to replace every chinese knockoff I bought in school to save money. Ibex is king.

[David Burgess]

"History of Small Violin Planes??"

 

I'm waiting for someone to post a photo of a 1/2 size violin with wings and a propeller.

[saintjohnbarleycorn]

ha.

 The planes in the pic seem to have much more of a belly curve and longer than you see today.

[nathan slobodkin]

There are lots of patterns of planes and I think they've been used by violinmakers for many years. As someone else commented there are small planes in the Strad museum. I personally don't like the Ibex planes particularly, they are nicely made but are a bit wider than I like. I have 12 planes in four different sizes from about 2 inches long to a half inch. Most of them are the ones which were being sold to the students of the Cremona school in the early 80's. they are nicely shaped but a bit light some people might want to add a bit of lead inside . I have some others which are are copies made of Simone Sacconis' planes I think all of the comercial planes will need some modification as do just about any tool you buy. They are basically blanks.( The Ibex are an exception but as i said I don't like the shapes) I had blades made for mine from high speed steel hacksaw stock and have regular, toothed and flat soles in each of the four sizes with different colored wood wedges so I don't grab the wrong one by mistake. There are sets of three planes  from Gunther Dick   available through H. Core  Co. or International Violin  that would be a good start for a beginner.

[David Beard]

I guess I might try making some planes about the size and shape of the ones in the museum.   That sort plane design does look too difficult to make.   I like the little bend curls at the back end of the blades.  Looks like that would aide in setting and adjusting.

[bmccarthy]

If you've $4200 to spare here's a "Stunning 16th Century Violin Plane" for sale on Ebay. You can of course get an equally stunning plane for less than $100 but this one has a lot of "history" attached to it. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stunning-16th-Century-Violin-Plane-/330869154279?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D5677875579288611520%26pid%3D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D330869154279%26

 

[Joe Doe]

I imagine that thumb planes existed prior to the violin making era and were used for other purposes, they were just "adopted" and modified by violin makers.

[fiddlecollector]

I`d like to see him prove that its 16th century!

[TimRobinson]

Item 133 on page 11 of this catalog: www.hansbrunnertools.gil.com.au/Marchsalefinal.pdf

was 3 AMT planes. Apparently not made any more, they remind me of the Ibex. Does anyone know the story?

Regards,

Tim

Edit: Sorry, am unable to insert link as a link.

[Berl Mendenhall]

I`d like to see him prove that its 16th century!

I'm with you, that plane looks mighty suspicious to me.  Way to suspicious to drop $4200.00.

[bmccarthy]

This guy sure knows how to charge. $10080.00 for this " 7 Brass 17th/18th Century Instrument Maker's Planes" http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-Brass-17th-18th-Century-Instrument-Makers-Planes-/330864679325?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d0912599d  It's a nice set but that price seems way over priced to me. Having said that, he's a serious dealer so probably knows the market very well. 

[captainhook]

Item 133 on page 11 of this catalog: www.hansbrunnertools.gil.com.au/Marchsalefinal.pdf

was 3 AMT planes. Apparently not made any more, they remind me of the Ibex. Does anyone know the story?

 

AMT (American Machine and Tool Co.) was a good company (maybe still in business but not selling tools). I should have bought a set when they were available and cheap. Probably made in Taiwan but seem to be close copies of Ibex. I bought their "pull gouges" and cabinet scraper set. All high quality. I don't know when they quit the tool business, but it was several years ago. Many years ago I had a small table saw that they sold for about $20 without motor. I sincerely wish I had kept it.

[saintjohnbarleycorn]

AMT was a good company (maybe still in business but not selling tools). I should have bought a set when they were available and cheap. Probably made in Taiwan but seem to be close copies of Ibex. I bought their "pull gouges" and cabinet scraper set. All high quality. I don't know when they quit the tool business, but it was several years ago. Many years ago I had a small table saw that they sold for about $20 without motor. I sincerely wish I had kept it.

I also have the pull planes, but I do not use them that much, what do you use them for?

[captainhook]

I used to use them mostly for hollowing plates but don't much anymore. I have too many choices and tend to forget that they are in the drawer.