I bought that box of planes from Craig's List and want to give some of them away as gifts. The first one is a molding plane and it has "J. Webber" stamped into the end of the body. Anyone have an idea when it might have been made?

 

 

 

Wanted to provide a little info to the recipient 

Hard to pin down, lew. The basic molding planes didn't change much over the years. Some were manufactured and other were home made. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference. The planes were not always stamped by the manufacturer and it was quite common for the owner to stamp his own name into the planes. So, without doing some really in depth research into the name you just don't know. J. Webber may actually be either the maker or the original owner.

 

Most of the molding planes I come across are mid 1800's to pre WW II. You just don't know for sure.

 

Have you tried doing research on the name as a plane manufacturer?

17 minutes ago, schnewj said:

Have you tried doing research on the name as a plane manufacturer?

Thanks for the information. The opposite end of the plane did have a different name stamped in but it looked more like an owner's type stamp. Individual letters rather than all stamped at once.

 

I found some references on eBay to J Webber planes but nothing definitive. I'll keep looking!

Although  I didn't find this one listed here, it might help someone else with research-

 

http://oldwoodplanes.co.uk/makers-marks/

You might also look to see IF there is a name stamped on the cutter? 

 

Sandusky,  Ohio Tool Co.,  Auburn Tool Co.   made a LOT of such planes...