Boatbuilder Tools of David Lowe Battery Park VA

 12 Sep 24:

I got to visit the Mariner's Museum to look at the boat builder tools of David Lowe, who built boats in nearby Battery Park in the mid 1900s. 

Any comments on the types and uses of tools would be appreciated. I'll number the photos, so if you comment, please reference the number. (Notes in parentheses are from our boatbuilder friend Doug, aka Bilge Rat)

1. 

2. (Image 2 is a standard Jack plane, used for any long straight lengths. Note the striking button on some of the planes, a sharp tap on the button frees the blade by releasing the retaining wedge.)

3. (Images 3 and 4 look like a compass plane for inside curves, such as the edges of a plank or combing etc.)

4. (Images 3 and 4 look like a compass plane for inside curves, such as the edges of a plank or combing etc.)

5. (Image 5 a rebate plane would have been used on the underside of plank edges to fair them after fitting. Also the underside of gunwale rubbers or rubbing stakes. Could also be used to fair the garboard plank land on the keel.)

5.a.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10. (Images 10, 11, 12. A type of Rebate plane to fit under a cap rail to fair up the surface below. For example, a rubbing strake or rail beneath the gunwale rubbing strake or rail, where there's a size restriction between the two, or a slight overhang on the upper one.)

11. This seemed like a rabbet (rebate) plane that cut a groove, maybe a gain?

12.

13.

14.

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16. These beading planes were interesting, but I am not sure what they were used for. Interior cabinet trim maybe? (The beading planes were more likely to be used for fancy trim, such as cabinet doors etc, there'd be very little, if any, use externally or internally on the hull itself. Many boat builders and carpenters used to make them for one off jobs, then keep them if any repair was needed with the same beading trim, I know a man who has over 120 different beading planes that he's acquired over the years and us still adding to them, he's into antique furniture restoration and having a beading plane to match existing beading saves a lot of time. Other than that, he will make one to fit.)

17.

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22.

23.

24. DL are the boatbuilder's initials David Lowe.

25. Not a plane.

26. Rabbet plane 

27.

28.

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31.

32. We have only a guess as to what this is called. A veneer saw? Or small plank saw?

33.

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36.

37. Adjustable width tongue plane.

38.

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43. Not a plane.

44. Combination tongue and groove double plane.

45. 

46. The adjustable width tongue and groove planes together after 4 decades. One was stored on the shelf and the other in a locked cabinet. Security measure?

All comments or questions appreciated!