Norris 51-M Plane Review By: I.Ball
Category: Old Infill Planes
Extra Info: What is a Smoothing Plane?
Manufacturer: Norris
Plane Type: Infill
Model No: 51
The Norris 51 M plane is a 7 1/2 inch long dovetailed infill smoothing
plane made from malleable iron. This plane is also referred to as
the 'Norris 51 Annealed Iron Plane' or 'Norris 51 Malleable Iron Plane'.
The Norris 51 M is fitted with a Norris of London parallel iron plane
blade, cap iron, gunmetal screw cap and a blade adjuster
The plane body on the 51 M is referred to as a parallel side body. The
plane body is also referred to as dovetailed; the name given to a body
where the sole has been joined to the sides with the use of dovetail
joints. The dovetails can usually faintly be seen at the base of the
plane sides.
The plane is stuffed with wooden infills which consist of a front bun
and a closed rear handle.
The rear handle has the blade adjuster neatly built into a suitably
sized recess allowing the handle to remain as a closed handle.
The blade adjuster allows the blade to be accurately adjusted laterally
and moved upwards and downwards to set the depth of cut.
This plane usually has quite a deep mouth to cater for the thick Norris
cutter.
The Norris planes were the 'Rolls Royce' of their day and are still
considered in high esteem today.
As I understand it, there is a
Norris 51 plane
and a Norris 51M but not a Norris A51
as such, or should I say not a plane advertised as a Norris A51.
The 51 and 51M planes are often classed as a Norris A51 due to both the 51
and 51M plane having a blade adjuster like the blade adjuster on the
Norris A5's
and
Norris A6's.
The Norris planes with 'A' in the model number = 'adjustable' so in
theory it would follow that the 51 and 51M are A51 and A51M planes.
Please somebody correct me if this is wrong.
Length:
192mm (7 1/2 inch)
"Norris 51 London" - found on the face of the gun-metal securing cap
"Norris London, Patent No" - found on the face of the steel blade adjuster nut
"Norris London" - found on the top of the blade
"Annealed Reg'd No. 637729" - found on front end of plane
? - ? (1910's)
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