John Holland was born in 1830 in Riby, Lincolnshire to John Holland and his wife Mary. John and Mary took their infant son for baptism to the parish church in Riby on 4 July 1830, some eighteen months after their older son had been baptised in the same church. Little has been found about John’s early life, though church records confirm that his father was a labourer.  By 1852 John had moved to Sheffield, where he worked as a joiner. Whilst living there he met Sophia Swann (sometimes written Swan), who was working as a servant for the Wick family. On
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NIGHTINGALE lock down art planes, I had David Winder commission this identical pair of left and right hand skew mitre planes and name them “ever together” in memory of my late parents Sylvia & Neil. David has only recently started to make planes during COVID hence his naming himself NIGHTINGALE after the covid hospital. I believe these planes to be the first ever identical pair of right and left skew mitre planes made, David 76 yrs old even made the dovetailed box with the brass fittings. He has used Mexican cocobola for the infills bronze sides and steel sole, super
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So here we have the finished skew mitre Plane that David Winder commissioned for me using 3000 year old bog oak for the infills, carved face in the front bun, David has aged the bronze so it doesn’t look new, what a plane don’t you think? I love the plane that much I have gone back to David for a second commission, watch this space it’s going to be special.
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I met David Winder today, a relatively new plane-maker from Burnley who has made only a few planes at present and has stamped them Nightingale, I asked why Nightingale? David told me after the hospital due to covid. David is hoping to make more planes and will commission any style, hoping to have one in my collection in the near future, a great guy adding some nice different detail to his planes 👍 should you wish to enquire about any of David’s planes his contact details are catlor@live.co.uk or mobile 07799320140 well worth a chat
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I was asked by a fellow friend as to what this was used for, and it had me baffled, well it turns out it was made between 1880-1900 a French skirt lifter, used for holding skirts up when playing tennis or cycling, who knew that
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As a tool dealer and collector over the years I have been offered many tools some of value others not so much, This is a plane that I have just been offered, never seen one like it before, nicely dovetailed sole and  just look at the detail in that handle, could this be a rare plane? Must admit it has made me smile for hours on end, when I told the lady who sent me a photo that the handle was an old toilet roll holder she laughed too. must admit it does have character and art written all over
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  This is a fantastic home made little plane that would be used to cut a V groove on a piece of timber, it measures 8″ long by 1 5/8″ wide, it has been formed in 2 pieces and glued together the iron is a SJ Addis V jointing tool number 39 that has been removed from its original probably boxwood handle, the tang has been formed into a mushroom shape to prevent injury I would say, The wedge is so nice and cut so that it has a V at the underside to sit into the iron V shape,
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This is my Henley Optical Mitre Plane, one of only 150 planes ever made, they were all stamped with a number, this one being number 21, made in Henley on Thames Oxon. this plane is in original box and paperwork dated 1976. I thought it would be a good idea to see if we can find the whereabouts of the other 149 planes, I do believe number 1 was kept by the Henley Optical company? so if you are a lucky owner of one of these planes it would be great if you could let us know where you are
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