A Forkstaff, Mast, Spar or Rounding Plane
made by Atkin & Sons, Birmingham.
This small Forkstaff or Mast plane is coffin shaped and
is 7 1/4" long.
The blade is 1 3/4" across,
but only 1 1/2" of the cutter is in contact with the work surface.
Many Forkstaffs have parallel
sides and are usually about 8" long although jack size planes can be found.
They came in various diameters, from about 5" to 18" and were used by Mast
and Spar makers to smooth
the masts and spars after they were roughed down to the correct taper.
Judging by the
size of this one, it possibly would have been used by an oar maker.
As you can see, it is in pretty good condition for it's age apart from the
paint spots it's picked up over the years.
These planes are used to work convex cylindrical surfaces and came in different
widths and diameters.
They are more commonly known today as rounds as in Hollows and Rounds but
Hollows and Rounds
came in pairs or sets of pairs. Also, Rounds are generally moulding plane
size. Forkstaffs are bench plane
size or can even be jack plane size.
Probably made between 1850 - 1880 according to the upside down script mark,
Atkin & Sons.