Ed Minch wrote:
> Paul
>
> Having made (marine) blocks, I can’t imagine that any steps needed a unique
plane to accomplish.  Recently there was posted an 1696 wooden window sign of a
Dutch block maker, and on that sign were several carved workers, one of them
shaping a block with an axe.
>
> I was involve in this discussion somewhere a few years ago, and someone
presented evidence that “blocking” was an operation to square up pieces?? and
this small plane was developed for that.

Given the references to "hard wood", I think we may be talking about printers'
blocks,
and old directories certainly list "printers' block makers".

   BugBear