I have a plane that I have exhausted my information sources on, so I was hoping that someone else may have seen something like it. As far as I can tell, it started out as a pretty normal German-style wooden trying plane—about 22 inches long with a Goldenberg marked double iron about 2-3/8 wide. (Goldenberg et Cie was a tool maker in the Alsace Lorraine region.) It has a rather unusual diamond shaped strike button and the grain of the tote runs about 90 degrees off from what you would ordinarily expect, but all in all an average try plane.
The sole has been replaced, but that is not that unusual either, though it tapers from 3/16” at the toe to ½” at the heel. The part that is confusing to me is that ½” thick caps have been added to the heel and toe, making it about 23 inches long. Then the top and both sides were covered in veneer. The end grain of the caps is covered by the veneer on the sides.
I realize that this is a French-made, German-style wooden plane probably made over 100 years ago—but has anyone seen anything like these caps and veneer on a plane? Or at least hazard guesses as to why it was done? My best guess is that it was to hide the new sole.
The sole has been replaced, but that is not that unusual either, though it tapers from 3/16” at the toe to ½” at the heel. The part that is confusing to me is that ½” thick caps have been added to the heel and toe, making it about 23 inches long. Then the top and both sides were covered in veneer. The end grain of the caps is covered by the veneer on the sides.
I realize that this is a French-made, German-style wooden plane probably made over 100 years ago—but has anyone seen anything like these caps and veneer on a plane? Or at least hazard guesses as to why it was done? My best guess is that it was to hide the new sole.