Esteemed Gentle Galoots,

While you east-coast (US) Galoots were at PATINA, some of us west-coast Galoots 
were at the PNTC meeting in Seattle. A 24" wooden jointer plane followed me home
, and in it was an iron marked HUMPHREYSVILLE MFG CO. Actually, the "HUMP" part 
isn't legible, but the rest fits, including the length of the word. 

A trip to the archives tells me that this company was in business in Seymour, Co
nnecticut from 1852 to 1904. Another source says that they went out of business 
in 1873. Seymour was apparently called Humphreysville until 1850. Yet another so
urce says that the Humphreysville Manufacturing Company dates back to 1810, when
 it made woolen and cotton goods and paper. Col Humphreys, for whom the town der
ived its earlier name, was an aide to General Washington during the American Rev
olution.

This particular iron is tapered and laminated. It appeared to still have the 30-
degree factory grind still on it, albeit with a bit of pitting (more so on the b
evel than on the back, thank goodness). There is no mushrooming on the top end, 
as is often the case with a well-used iron in a woodie. The business end cleaned
 up well and took a nice edge.

There are no identifying marks on the wooden plane body. It, too, looks as if it
 has seen little or no use. In fact, the layout lines for the bed are still visi
ble on one side. 

It would be interesting to know how this plane and iron made their way from Conn
ecticut to Washington state, and whether or not they started out their lives tog
ether or were joined together later in their respective lives.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I could narrow the date range for thi
s iron? My wild guess is that it dates to about 1870.

Best regards,
Chuck Taylor
Everett, WA, USA

      
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