paul womack wrote:
> paul womack wrote:
>> 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".

This one's even better (apart from the scan quality)

from Manchester Times - Saturday 15 September 1849

http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10152
/Manchester_Times_-_Saturday_15_September_1849.jpg">http://galootcentral.com/com
ponents/cpgalbums/userpics/10152/Manchester_Times_-
_Saturday_15_September_1849.jpg

Look at the woods; Holly, Pear (Oak, Sycamore).

Also the interchangeable language; "block makers" and the more
specific "printers block makers" are both used.

  BugBear