R. Nelson Glass Check Plane, London 1820-1850

What's this thing? A glass check plane, made by R. Nelson, a London, England plane maker of the mid 19th century (1820-1850). Window sash planes are specialty beasts unto themselves. Perhaps most peculiar is the glass check plane. Most often seen are adjustable sash planes or paired left and right sash planes. Then there is the sill plane, the meeting rail plane. You get my drift.

The glass check plane was used by specialty sash makers when sash was needed that didn't match any available moulding profile. The Check is the rectangular section against which the plate glass is laid into bedding compound. More on that later.

Looking somewhat like a small tongue plane of the sort used in paneling and plank making, the glass check plane has an integral center mounted depth stop and an adjustable width fence. BTW, that's a small old fashioned calculator the plane is sitting on.

There you have it. The uncommon Glass Check Plane. I've never seen one by an American plane maker, not to say that there are some out there. If you want to read a bit more about window sash making, take a look at The Valley Woodworker and for a video introduction to sash making, this fine intro from the Zlotoff Tool Museum