GGs,

This is a Cowell and Chapman screw arm plow plane.  Note the frame 
style... and the expired price estimate.
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/david-stanley-
auctions/catalogue-id-2850660/lot-13609724">https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb
/auction-catalogues/david-stanley-auctions/catalogue-id-2850660/lot-13609724

Here are a couple more pictures of other Cowell and Chapman plow planes.
http://billwebber.galootcentral.com/Cowell & Chapman.jpg
http://billwebber.galootcentral.com/IMGP0464.JPG
http://billwebber.galootcentral.com/Cowell n Chapman 2A.jpg

Now to the point.  Here are some pictures of my plane.  Note the 
similarities in the major frame and the walnut handle.
http://billwebber.galootcentral.com/1.JPG
http://billwebber.galootcentral.com/2.JPG

The fence is crude.  When pushed up next to the plane, the fence does 
not line up with the arms as evidenced by the rounded cut outs that are 
supposed to align with the fence rods. The fence has wooden blocks as 
extenders.  The brass bar is actually 3 pieces riveted together.  The 
thumb screw is crude, homemade looking.
http://billwebber.galootcentral.com/3.JPG
http://billwebber.galootcentral.com/6.JPG

The lever cap is crudely made of steel with red paint.
http://billwebber.galootcentral.com/4.JPG

The brass rods appear to be professionally made.  They are tight fitting 
with nicely knurled screw caps.
http://billwebber.galootcentral.com/5.JPG

Where do you think this thing came from?  My guess would be a factory 
piece, either rejected or lifted unfinished, and someone modified it or 
perhaps a maker attempt at something different?

So, the dilemma. I didn't pay a lot of money for this plane.  In 
addition to the things I've described, the skate is badly pitted, there 
is no depth stop, the wood is damaged/deteriorated, etc.  I'm tempted to 
keep the frame and the arms and rebuild everything else.  It would be a 
fairly time consuming project but not a big money investment.  I would 
wind up with a nice fancy plane and a good story to go with it. 
Actually, the only reason for my hesitation is the big asking price in 
the old auction listing.  I had offered mine on Ebay a few years ago 
with no takers.  I'm likely to take my own advice offered the last time 
one of you guys posed a similar dilemma which was "it's yours, do what 
you want with it"

I thought the plane was somewhat unusual and interesting and thought I'd 
just toss the discussion out here to pass the pandemic...

Regards,

-- 
Bill W.
Nottingham, PA
Woodworkers visit me at http://billwebber.galootcentral.com/