Bensen & M'Call plane

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R

rac50

Well-known member
I just picked up a Bensen & M'Call rabbet plane out of Albany New York.  The blade is stamped Nash & Co.  Googling it shows no results.  Anybody have any info on this company?
Ross
 
Ross,
From American Wooden Planes,  Benson & M'Call, made planes in Albany NY in 1842. One year partnerships can be an indication of rarity. The rating for this plane is two stars, indicating that when a survey of tool collectors was made umpteen years ago, they estimated[/u] 100-250 examples were known.

From Directory of American Toolmakers, Nash was a known plane iron maker but the DAT doesnt report a date. Jones Nash was cited as a mark but they suggest it might have been Jones & Nash. Robert S. Jones was also an iron maker and no date is listed.

You might want to find a plane collector from the Albany region. They might be as interested in acquiring this plane as I would be interested in acquiring planes from Virginia or Washington DC. Yes its hard to believe that something good came out of Wash DC but that was back in 1855-1860.
John
 
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