MARPLES had moved totally to the new facility in Stubley Lane, Dronfield in 1971 and remained there as Wm.Marples & Sons until 1983 when they became part of the Record Ridgeway Group.
So at least [and probably earlier] from c.1971, MARPLES produced and marketed inferior tools put together for the Chain Store market and commanding a lower price for the House owner.  [ Somewhat similar to the STANLEY Handyman series of tools.]

 Below is an excerpt from the History of MARPLES, and is pertinent to DRONFIELD, but unfortunately the writer is unknown.

So from the above information I can deduce no time frame when Planes were produced at ‘Stubley Lane’ and marked ‘DRONFIELD‘.  When ‘C&J Hampton‘ bought out MARPLES in 1962 I find it odd that they would not have closed down the Plane making at Stubley Lane [if indeed that section was even in operation at that time!], because this quality of plane would not have fit well into the RECORD way of thinking.  Apparently the castings were made by ‘Quality Castings‘ of Wolverhampton [denoted by a QC mark under the handle on the base,… but not always.] this being a Company that produced forgings for many of the great tool manufacturers in England.

I have purposely bought many DRONFIELD planes in order to write this plane study and the results can be seen below but the study may well change as new information is found.  I have found no information anywhere such as a Catalogue, Pamphlet, Brochure or Advertisement that gives any information on the DRONFIELD planes, so I am working in a vacuum and using pure deduction to write this section. I have only found FOUR types of plane marked DRONFIELD and those are No. 2, No. 4, No. 5 and 110.   The No. 2 Block Plane may have entered the market shortly after the introduction of the No. 4.

DRONFIELD No.4 Plane:

Type 1

The No.4 never had a Frog adjustment screw and No.4 was cast in the base behind the front knob.      The only indication that these are ‘DRONFIELD” planes comes from the so annotated Lever Cap which may be painted gloss Hammered Grey or Gloss Hammered Black.   On each side of the rear handle are cast  ‘MADE IN‘ and ‘ENGLAND‘.   The Lateral lever is a single piece of unmarked plated steel which has a downturned butterfly wing type of finger adjustment area at the top and a stamped out circular area to engage the blade at the lower end.   Colour of the Base was Black, but the top of side rails and the actual sides were not painted; Frog was Black; Handles were Beechwood with a varnish finish; Lever Cap was with a ‘Hammered Silver’ finish; Cap Iron and Blade had an almost squared top profile [see below]. The rear edge to the plane was also painted Black, but not the front edge.  The ‘Butterfly’ Lateral lever was fixed to the frog with a wide Copper rivet. Mouth width was 5/16″and the mouth area was painted all the way to the base. The letters cast as ‘ENGLAND‘ were 1.9/16″ wide. The Cap Iron has the stamped inscription at the top…..  ‘Correct Angle for Cutting Iron <25‘ . [More later]  and the letters on the cap iron were large.  The circular blade depth adjustment wheel was made of Brass with a Zinc plating and has fine parallel knurling separated by a circular notch in the middle.  The ‘Y‘ lever [Stirrup] was a 2 piece affair and was held in the Frog by an Iron rod. The tops of the screws holding the Lever Cap to the Frog were ’rounded’. The hole in the Lever Cap, to accept the holding screw, was ‘indented’ and straight. Total length  of the plane is 9.11/16″. 

Type 2:

 

The only differences that I can find between this and a Type 1 is the fact that the Rod holding the Stirrup to the Frog Assembly now is a pressed steel hollow circular tube and not an Iron rod., and the top side rails are now painted.
Type 2a:
The example below throws a wrench into the study in that, although the sides rails are painted on the top and the handles are of wood, the base colour is a reddish pink. 

Type 3:
This plane is the first of the plastic handled Dronfield planes and is over-painted Satin Black.  It has a Black painted base and frog  [not Ogee], and a hollow rod to hold the 2 part Y lever depth adjustment assembly. The screws holding the frog to the base are now ‘Cheesehead’, but in all other aspects this plane is very similar to a Type 1 , except that the tops of the rails are painted. [5/16″ mouth; 9. 11/16″ long.]  The box lid has a thin green/blue paper affixed over the cardboard .]

Type 4:
This plane has a major difference to Type 3 in that it has plastic handles that have now been over-coated with a Dark varnish. However the mouth width, measured at the sole, has been reduced to 1/4″ from 5/16″.

Type 6:
This is a major change because the Handles are now un-coated Black plastic but the base is still ORANGE. The total length has been decreased from the previous 9.11/16″ to 9.1/2″ [A new Casting]. The Lever Cap still has a Hammered Dark Grey Paint but DRONFIELD is not now surrounded by Orange paint. The Lateral Lever is now  fixed to the Frog with a Small headed Iron rivet.[not Copper]  The mouth width remains at 1/4″ however, the rod to hold the stirrup to the Frog Assembly has now been backdated to a solid steel rod. The Black Frog is now OGEE, and the hole in the Lever Cap is now Kidney-shaped. The Lever Cap holding screw in the Frog is now flattened, not rounded. This major change may have occurred when C&J Hampton took over the MARPLES empire c.1962.

 

DRONFIELD No.5 Plane:

I feel sure that these planes would have followed the same configuration and ‘Types’ as shown for the No. 4 planes above.  However they are rarely seen.  Example below:

DRONFIELD No. 2 Block Plane

Type 1: 
The first DRONFIELD No.2 plane had Beechwood handles finished with a dark red/brown varnish, and had all of the characteristics of the Number 4  Type 2 plane.

The base was painted a Maroon colour [including the tops of the side rails], as was the Lever cap all over. The front edgeof the base was not painted, unlike the rear edge.  The end box label is in accordance with the No.4 plane box label and probably was used across the range of DRONFIELD planes.  But the box was covered in a unique pattern paper not seen since. See photo below. The No. 2 Block Plane Type 1 had an un-marked blade of 1.3/4″ Wide and  3.9/16″ long, with a straight across top edge. The handles were secured on fully screw cut steel rods by Aluminium Nuts. The plane base was 9″ long and 2.5/32″ wide. The Cast lever cap was painted Gloss Maroon all over and the Lever cap screw had a Black plastic circular head.   It was marked No. 2 behind the front knob and marked MADE IN ENGLAND each side of the rear handle. The mouth width measures 1/4″.  But this is the only Type that had the word DRONFIELD cast into the front lower area of the Lever Cap.

Type 2:
These planes followed Type 1 in having Beech wooden handles finished with a dark red/brown varnish. The base and lever cap are painted gloss Black including the top rails of the sides.  The front edge is not painted, but the rear edge is.  The end box label is in accordance with the No.4 plane box label.  The box lid has a green/blue thin paper covering to the cardboard. The Type 2 Block Plane had an un-marked blade of 1.3/4″ Wide and  3.9/16″ long, with an arched top edge. The handles were secured on fully screw cut steel rods by Aluminium Nuts. The plane base was 9″ long and 2.5/32″ wide. The Cast lever cap was painted Gloss black all over and the Lever cap screw had a Black plastic circular head.   It was marked No. 2 behind the front knob and marked MADE IN ENGLAND each side of the rear handle. The mouth width measures 1/4″.  But nowhere was it marked as ‘DRONFIELD’ unlike Type 1.

 

 

Type 3:
The Type 3 Number 2 Dronfield Block plane coincides with the Type 5 Number 4 plane in that the base is painted Orange including both front and rear edges. It has 2 Black plastic/polypropylene handles and came housed in the same standard Dronfield box with no wax rust preventative paper 

The Pocket Catalogue of February 1933 introduced a new line of wooden planes called ‘BB‘ Brand Beechwood Planes. ‘BB‘ officially standing for ‘British Beechwood‘, The above quote from the 1938 Hard Cover Catalogue is significant, although it does not mention that these planes were introduced as a lower priced competitor to MARPLES ‘Shamrock Brand‘ Hand Made Planes and also does not indicate that these were machine made planes [only indicating that these planes were priced lower because of ‘new manufacturing methods’]. They are first seen in the February 1933 Pocket catalogue, but it is strange that they are not shown previously with any fanfare or indication that they have been ‘newly introduced’, which leads me to suspect that they may have been on the market for a few months prior to that date. The quality was always not equal to the hand made planes and the range of planes available was quite limited. The different planes were introduced at different times and not all together on one date…see the sections below. However they were good quality user planes for anybody but the strict Master Craftsman. It is strange that MARPLES never did ascribe Item numbers to these planes and they were always listed by name only. It is hard to judge, given insufficient evidence, whether these planes were produced during the War, but it would stand to reason that the Hand made ‘Shamrock Brand‘ planes may have thus suffered in favour of the Machine made ‘BB‘ planes during that confrontation. [Because many of the Hand Craftsmen would have been conscripted into the Forces]. I also cannot presently state that all the planes were supplied in cardboard boxes as I have only seen boxed examples in some of the planes, but it seems most likely. Below you will see a small leaflet that was included with BB planes to indicate that only a very light coat of Linseed Oil ‘occasionally‘ was recommended. So many of these planes turn up with an incorrect full coat finish. All these planes would be supplied with ‘Tapered blades’, as opposed to ‘Parallel blades’ and the ‘BB‘ planes were not made from the same quality ‘Quarter Sawn’ Beech as the Hand made planes…..you will find some slightly inferior wood here, more so in the later issues. The 19cm x 14cm advert [below] is c.1933.

Therefore I will be writing about the individual planes and will try to show you good examples of each, all except where I cannot locate photographs. Please note that all dates are plus/minus 3 months.

Double Iron Smoothing Planes:

These planes were introduced in Feb 1933 in blade widths of 2″; 2.1/8″; and 2.1/4″. The 1.3/4″ size was first available in Sept. 1935.

But around March 1964 only the 2″ and 2.1/4″ are listed. They are not listed in Cat. #15 of 1965 so may have been available 2/33 – 6/64. The introductory prices varied according to size and were 5/6d – 6/- each.

You may find this Mark on the toe of later planes:

 

Single Iron Smooth Plane:

This is a small almost one-handed block plane of 6″ long and having a blade 1.1/2″ wide. It is eventually described as being of Polished Beechwood, the only wooden plane so described, as MARPLES always issued their planes with no additional surface coating. So why this plane is Polished is a mystery. Available 12/34-6/64 and introduced costing 3/- each. Listings after c.1954 seem to call this plane a ‘Toy‘ Smooth Plane.

Double Iron Trying Planes:

These planes were 22″ long with a 2.1/2″ wide blade and only ever supplied with a closed handle. Available 2/33 – 6/62    In 1938….10/- each… but a ‘Price Reduction‘ insert in this Catalogue states that the price is 10/6d!!

Double Iron Jack Planes:

These planes were supplied in 3 sizes: 16″ long with a 2″ blade; 17″ x 2.1/8“; and 17″ x 2.1/4″. Available 2/33-6/64, but in March 1964 only the 2″ and 2.1/4″ sizes are listed. From early 1950s onwards they were available with either an ‘Open’ or ‘Closed‘ handle.

Below is a 2.1/4″ Double Iron Jack plane in the box:

Double Iron Technical Jack Planes:

These planes were slightly smaller than the Double Iron Jack Planes, had a Boxwood striking nub in front of the mouth and a stepped down [‘sunk’] lower rear handle area.          [These characteristics were shared with the ‘Shamrock Brand‘ Hand Made planes.] They were manufactured in 2 sizes, 14″ long with a 1.3/4″ wide blade and 14″ x 2″.   Available 2/33- 6/64. 1933 prices are 9/- each. From early 1950s onwards they were available with either an ‘Open’ or ‘Closed‘ handle.

Skew Rabbet Planes:

These came initially [2/33] in 3 sizes of 1″; 1.1/4″; and 1.1/2″. All priced at 3/6d in 1933. In 4/35 the 3/4″ size was introduced. Available 2/33-6/64, although in March 1964 only the 1″ and 1.1/4″ were offered.

Adjustable Rabbet and Fillister Plane:

This adjustable [‘moving’] bottom fence plane came with a 1.1/2″ wide cutter. It was offered for sale between 1/34 and 6/62.

Fixed Grooving Planes :

These were first supplied in 2/33 with a single 3/16″ Iron and could be had for 4/- in 2/33 & 3/3d each in 1938. They were available for only a short time between 2/33 and 6/40. Another victim of Mr. Hilter!

Moving Grooving Planes:

Although these planes may sound very ‘Hip’ they served a worthwhile function. Introduced in 2/33 at 6/6d each they came with 3 blades, 1/8″; 3/16″ and 1/4″ widths. A ‘Price Reduction‘ insert in the 1938 Cat states their new price as 5/6d each. These planes were available 2/33- 6/62.

Plough Planes (Wedge Stems) :

These always came with a matched set of 8 Irons [1/8″- 9/16″] and the complete plane could be initially bought for 15/- in 2/33. These planes also had a Screw Stop plate actuated by a brass Thumbturn screw on the top of the plane.  Available 2/33- 6/62.

Plough Planes (Screw Stem):

Again, below is another casualty of Mr. Hilter in that this plane was only available 12/34- 6/40. The arms and securing nuts each side of the body were all of Beech, but the nuts were ‘polished’. 1933 price of 17/6d each.

Single Iron Roughing Planes:

The real introduction of this plane is in question. It is first seen in the May 1938 Hard Back Cat. but does not show in the October 1938 Pocket Cat. or even that of the March 1940 Pocket Cat. Perhaps nobody remembered to update these smaller Catalogues?? They were issued with Square Irons as standard in 3 widths, 1.1/2″; 1.3/4″ and 2″, but round nose Irons could be supplied at the same price on request. It would therefore appear that this plane was available 5/38 – 6/62.  Because they were ‘Roughing’ planes and subjected to hard use in hogging down a board’s surface not too many of these planes can be found intact. Therefore they may now be considered to be somewhat ‘rare’.

 

I have a BB plane with a rounded edge original cutter that has this label affixed to the wedge. The label size is 2.1/2″ x 1.5/16″ wide.:

Presently I do not know whether this label was a standard label on these planes or whether these planes were destined for export only.

BB Plane Labels:

So far I have found only 2 styles of paper labels that were affixed to the Left hand side of the BB plane bodies. I believe that the BLUE label is the earlier version and may have been replaced by the more colourful variety around 1936.  This earlier version indicates ‘BRITISH BEECHWOOD‘ whereas the later coloured variety shows ‘BEST BEECH‘.

 

The Wedge label seen below is quite rare and it is a wonder that any at all survived. I do not know when these labels were used, but probably only on the earlier BB planes.

Here is what is says:

                         MARPLES                          

This is a MARPLES “BB” PLANE.
It is made from  BRITISH BEECH,
the best timber for the job.  The
hard close grain only found in
British Beechwood means that it
will weather better and withstand
the weather better than Europ
ean timber.
The cutting iron is faced with
MARPLES world-renowned
Crucible cast TOOL STEEL.
especially heat treated to retain a
keen cutting edge without const
ant regrinding.
First cost is not everything. As
Plane makers for more than 100
years we fully GUARANTEE this
tool.
Wm Marples &Sons Ltd.
SHEFFIELD,  England.

 

The cardboard box always had the colourful label, shown below, attached to the Top of the box. But I have discovered that 2 styles of this label exist, shown right below.  You will note that the label marked ‘Best Beechwood’ appears to be later than the one marked ‘British Beechwood’.  [Also note that the ‘British Beechwood’ label shows that the  plane is made of ‘Fine Selected English Grown Beechwood’]. 

And the end of box label followed these lines:

 

BB Planes ‘stamp’.

The image below depicts the only stamp that was used to mark the Toe of all BB planes.

 

OTHER WOODEN PLANES

The name ‘BB‘ Plane seems to have ceased when C&J Hampton [RECORD] took over the Marples firm c.1962 but planes [shown below] are listed in the 1965 Catalogue.  These did not carry the ‘BB‘ insignia, but were a continuation of that line until c.1968.  These planes were numbered #2694 to #2699 and the toe was marked as being Wm. Marples & Sons.

Known as the ‘M78 Duplex Rabbet and Filister Plane‘ it was first listed in the 12/34 [December 1934] Pocket Catalogue and appears to have been in continuous production until c.1964. At that time MARPLES was under the control of C&J Hampton [RECORD] and so in the 1965 Catalogue the M78 single arm plane was replaced by the MA.78 Rabbet and Filister double arm plane having a removable wooden front knob attached at the front blade position. This front knob was no innovation by RECORD as they stole the idea from the WODEN W78, who in turn inherited the concept from WS TOOL’s A78 [see my site wstoolsbirmingham.com] who first introduced the front handle. The MA.78 was produced 1965-1969 and thereafter, through various Company name changes until it was designated #778 in October 1979. At this time it was purely a RECORD plane and was a MARPLES in name only. Even this RECORD #778 was only listed until 1990 and was then not listed in 1991. I do not consider the MA.78 a true MARPLES plane.

The catalogue text below is as it appeared in pocket catalogues of 12/34; 4/35 and 9/35 and it was only in the 3/36 Pocket Catalogue that we get a picture of the tool, and the spelling is changed to ‘Fillister‘. It is interesting to note that there was only the one picture of the M78 shown from 3/36 through 1964 and this had been perpetuated after the war even though the base casting and lengths were changed! Austere times indeed! After WWII the name was changed to an ‘Iron Rabbet Plane‘ and then changed again in the 1959 Main catalogue to ‘Iron Rabbet and Fillister Plane‘.

Here are some prices of the M78: 12/34-3/36 10/6d 9/36-3/40 11/3d 12/49 24/3d 11/51-1955 28/6d 9/55 31/6d 12/59-8/61 34/6d 9/61-4/62 36/- 3/64 39/6d 4/65 MA78 45/- 11/69 MA78 50/- 3/86 Record/Marples 778 £36.43

By the time that the 1965 MARPLES Catalogue was issued the MARPLES Company had to march to the tune of their masters, C&J Hampton Ltd. So the single arm M78 was then replaced by the [admittedly much improved] double arm MA.78. I do not know why MARPLES clung tenaceously to the single arm plane when the Double Arm design had been around since c.1945 [WS A78]

To date I think that I can identify 5 different Types of M78, but it is difficult to assign specific colours to the base, fence, depth gauge and Lever Cap of the different Types because these items are all interchangeable, and to know that an example is ‘all correct’ is hard to judge.

Type 1: Although advertised as being 8.1/2″ long, they were in fact 8.5/8″long, nose to end of sole under the handle. The base colour is Black and the Lever Cap is Red. [But may have been Black!] The Depth Adjusting Lever was not painted, remaining as uncoated plain steel. The Black painted fence is 5.9/16″ long and always remained so. The Nickel plated bolt through the Lever Cap is 1″ total length with a fine parallel vertical knurling. The Lever Cap remains unpainted underneath and on the extreme lower ground side edges. The stampings on the 5/64″ thick blade are sideways and are 3/4″ wide. The blade has 9 notches underneath for adjustment using the 2 pronged Depth Adjustment Lever. The large Thumbturn screw that secures the side Depth Gauge remained always with no central ‘diamond’ motif, had a ‘shoulder’ and an accompanying washer. The Thumbturn screw that secures the fence to the nickelled arm is larger than on later planes and has no ‘diamond’ central motif. [see later]

Type 2:   The only difference that I can find is that the Depth Adjustment Lever is now painted the same colour as the base [Black] and the Lever Cap lower edges are now painted. [As with other MARPLES planes the conversion to a RED base may have occurred around 1944.]

Type 3:   This variety has a Black Lever Cap on a Red base, the latter of which is still 8.5/8″ long. The shoulders of the blade support casting are square. The Lever Cap again has the sides totally painted, and the Bolt that holds the Lever Cap now has a more coarse knurling. The Depth Adjustment Lever is painted Red. The Thumbscrew to hold the fence now shows a central Diamond pattern on both sides and is smaller than before. [This is typical of MARPLES planes post War.]  Blade markings are shown below. and are 9/16″ and the blade is 3/32″ thick and has 9 or 10 notches underneath to engage the Depth Adjuster Lever.

 

 

Type 4:

This is a VERY rare plane. It still has a Black Lever Cap [unpainted underneath] Red base with Red fence and Depth gauge. It still has square shoulders to the blade support castings and a ‘diamond’ motif to the small Fence thumbscrew.[Not the thumbscrew to the depth gauge]. The blade has 10 notches underneath to engage the Depth Adjuster Lever [which is still painted]. Some Type 4 planes may have the round water transfer on the top of the handle, but on mine this is found just forward of the handle underneath the rear blade support [see below]. But what sets this plane in a different realm is the fact that the MARPLES SHEFFIELD ENGLAND raised casting on the body has been ground away [or maybe some other words were ground off]  and a Brass plate installed over it by rivets [see below]. 

Type 5:

The Red body length now is really 8.1/4″ long. [actually 8.3/16″] The blade marking has changed and may be of either 2 as shown below. The Lever Cap bolt has been shortened 7/8″ long but is still Nickel plated. The 3/32″ thick blade has 10 notches on the back to engage the Depth adjustment lever . The MARPLES SHEFFIELD ENGLAND casting on the side of the plane is very different than before…..image below. The Box has the same old picture on the end label which still indicates that the plane is 8.1/2″ long, and’Filister’ is still spelled with only one ‘L‘. MARPLES therefore only used the one end box label print throughout the years of production of the M78.

Below is a picture of a Record Marples 778 Box.

Below I note some differences between the pre-war Black M78 and the Post war Red M78…presently not ascribed to any one type, merely generalisations. More work to be done here.

MARPLES MA.78

By the time that the 1965 MARPLES Catalogue was issued the MARPLES Company had to march to the tune of their masters, C&J Hampton Ltd. So the single arm M78 was then replaced by the [admittedly much improved] double arm MA.78. I do not know why MARPLES clung tenaceously to the single arm plane when the Double Arm design had been around since c.1945 [WS A78]

As previously mentioned the MA.78 was a double arm Duplex Plane produced under the control of C&J Hampton, but in direct competition to their RECORD 778. The MARPLES MA.78 had a painted Black Hardwood front Knob, a Water Transfer which lacked any artistic quality, and was identification stamped on the lower Right hand side of the body.

The MARPLES M120 was very similar to all other number 120 planes from other manufacturers as it had a screw feed blade adjustment but no lateral blade adjustment. The M120 had no predecessor in the MARPLES line, unlike the M102 and M110. It started life when other ‘M‘ planes were introduced by MARPLES around February 1933 when it was priced at 5/6d. This price was maintained, in a stable economy, until at least March 1940. Sometime shortly after this date it was omitted from production only to re-appear around November 1951 at a price of 15/-.  In 1965, under the then ownership of C&J Hampton,  it appears with a ‘Record‘ style Lever Cap, Alloy wheel and continued in this guise until at least November 1969 when it was priced at 23/3d. It was dropped from production shortly after and   C&J Hampton then only manufactured their RECORD 0120 Block Plane.

The following M120 Type Study should be very close to the M110 Study on this site.

Type 1:

Like the 110 series of Block Planes, I have to assume here that the first Type of 120 plane, which was introduced in Feb 1933, may well not have had any cast number marks on the base, so the following is drawn from inference that the 120 would be similarly produced.
Paint: Black base with machined smooth sides.

Body: The Cross-bar is not painted and the mouth slope is similarly clean. There may be ‘V’ valleys at the sides of the mouth on each side.

Cap: Is painted RED except for the upper leading front edge slope and underneath from the leading edge to approximately the hole in the Cap.

Blade: At this stage I can only make a guess as to the possible stamp that would have been used on this blade, and that it may have been BM3 and it would certainly have had 10 milled out arc slots on the underside to mate with the Depth Adjusting mechanism.

Wheel: The wheel would be Black all over with Large castellations, as shown below.

Knob: Probably fixed with the now standard ‘hanger bolt’ and made of dark stained hardwood, or at this age more probably full real Rosewood.

Depth Adjuster: This was engineered exactly the same as the standard Stanley 120 mechanism, and this really needed no improvement.  At this time I feel that the adjuster would have been nickel plated.

Box and Labels: The colourful top label would have included the words ‘Manufactured By‘ and the end box label would have had the Red line at the top of the label.

Type 2:

Paint: The Base is still painted Black and with clean machined flat sides.
Cap: Is painted RED all over, no exceptions.
Blade: Probably the same as Type 1 in having BM3 markings.
Wheel: Is 3/16″ thick at the perifery and painted Black.
Knob: Is 1.13/32″ high and again secured to the base by a hanger bolt. It may be either dark Hardwood or Rosewood, but it is difficult to tell.

Box and Labels: May well be the same as the Type 1.

Type 3:

Paint: Type 3 has the reverse colour profile, the base is Red and the Cap is Black. I believe that this would date this Type from about 1944 onwards. But as you can see in the ‘History” section the M120 was dropped from the Marples Plane line around this time and was re-introduced in 1951. Thus Type 3 is either the last Type issued prior to being dropped in c.1945, or the first to be re-issued again in 1951. But based upon my observation that the casting seems to be ‘cleaner’ than the next Type 4, I would suggest this Type 3 is approx 1944. There is a total lack of brochures or any other information on Marples Tools between 1940 and 1950.   So the base is painted Red, the sides machined clean and square, and the front and rear ends are clean. The cross-piece is Red.

Body: The base is about 2″x 7.1/16″ but the actual length will vary according to the person who finished it. The mouth slope is cleaned of paint and has grooves each side. The mating surfaces of the blade support and sliding adjustment sled are similarly clean.  ‘WM MARPLES & SONS’ and     ‘SHEFFIELD’ are cast in raised letters in front of and behind the Knob and  M   120 are cast either side of the knob. The cross-piece is inserted from the user’s Left and is screwed into the Right hand side piece. The Rear edge has a cast raised ‘half cone’ and the marks ‘ENGLAND’ and the Triple Shamrock appear just forward of it.

Cap: Is painted Black all over, all except for the lower half of the underneath towards the leading edge. [As shown in the example below]

Blade: The blade has markings [below] and these are 11.5mm wide and 4.5mm high with the blade having 10 milled slots on the underside for adjustment.

Wheel: Is painted Black, and still measures 3/16″at the perifery but now has a longer nose. [but this may have been at the finisher’s discretion]

Knob: Is now quite stubby at 1.7/16″tall, made of dark hardwood and finished with a yellow varnish. It is attached to the base with a 1.1/4″oval headed machine screw which is countersunk into the top of the knob. This is a different attachment method from that of the ‘Hanger Bolt’.

Depth Adjuster: Is Nickel Plated.

Box and Labels. The end label has the ‘Red Line’ at the top and the top label does not have the ‘Manufactured By’ line.  The Type 3 box lid does not have the ‘thumb’ cutouts on the long sides.

Type 4:

This is the first M120 plane that was re-introduced around 1951.

Paint: The base is painted RED all over, this includes the cross bar and the back and front ends.  However the sides remain machined clean as before.

Body: The body in this post war edition appears cast slightly rougher than pre-war Type 3, and it has no grooves at each side of the painted mouth slope. The cross piece is now inserted from the RIGHT and is therefore screwed into the Left cheek.  Half a cone is still cast on the base at the middle of the rear end.

Cap: Is painted Black all over.

Blade: The blade still has 10 milled slots on the underside to engage the blade depth adjustment mechanism. But it now has the following stamped in markings.

Wheel: The wheel again is a rougher casting than pre-war but still painted Black.   The nose may be stubby and ground off [finisher’s discretion].

Knob: The knob now shows a more shapely form at 1.1/2″ tall than is shown in Type 3. and is manufactured from a dark hardwood [mahogany?],  finished with a clear varnish and affixed to the base by a hanger bolt.

Box and Labels: There are a few subtle differences between the top lid coloured label used on the Type 3 and that label used on the Type 4.         Type 3 is shown below on the left and Type 4 on the right.

Type 5:

Paint: This Type is painted RED all over except the machined clean sides. The sloping mouth is probably painted Red too.

Body: This body casting is totally different to the Type 4 casting. The painted cross rail is inserted from the right but is only a wedged fit and therefore not screwed into the left cheek . It can therefore cannot be extracted. The front raised cast lettering has now changed to read ‘MARPLES’  and ‘SHEFFIELD’ with a wider font than previously. Also the   M  120 letters have been spread wider away from the knob.    The Major change is that there is no longer a half cone cast at the rear of the plane and that the plane body now only measures 6.3/4″long.

Cap : Is painted Black all over with the usual round water transfer applied to the palm rest.

Blade: The blade can now be identified as now having 11 machined slots for the blade depth adjustment and shows a BM3 marking.

Wheel: Is still painted Black and has a long nose.

Knob: Now appears to be ‘stubby’ like Type 3 at 1.1/2″tall.  A thin light varnish has been applied over a dark hardwood and the knob is fixed to the body again with a hanger bolt.

Depth adjuster: This metal now seems to be not plated with anything.

Box and Labels: Are probably as the same as before.

Type 6:

This is what I shall call a Type 6 and it was put out under the ownership of RECORD tools (C.&J. Hampton Ltd) after this conglomerate purchased the tool making section of MARPLES in 1962. The plane is now named MA.120.

Paint: Naturally RECORD tools put their own colours onto the MARPLES brand at this time, which is why this Type is painted BLUE all over, except the mouth being clean as shown here:

Body: The body has now increased to a length of 7.1/16″. The cross piece is inserted and screwed in from the right and is now Nickel Plated.  The top of the rails are painted BLUE and the outside cheeks are machined square and clean. On the front of the plane is cast ‘MARPLES’ in front of the knob and MA 120 is cast behind the knob.  ‘MADE IN ENGLAND‘ is now cast behind the depth adjustment Knob and there is now again no rear half-cone.

Cap: Is obviously now painted BLUE all over and does not have any ‘windows’ on the underside. The Palm rest now has a very plain MARPLES yellow transfer.

Blade: The blade now seems to have been reduced in width to 1.5/8″ wide,  but still retains the 11 machined adjuster slots on the underside. However it now carries the Record/MARPLES stamped in mark.

Wheel: Under RECORD control the wheel was automatically changed to the standard RECORD alloy wheel with a steel threaded central insert.

Knob: The knob is reduced to just 1.1/4″ high and is secured by a shorter hanger bolt than was used previously. There is a thick dark varnish applied over a probably hardwood knob.

Depth Adjuster: Now does not appear to be plated.

Box and Label: The internal box has been modified by the inclusion of a curved piece of cardboard intended to control the movement of the plane within the box, and therefore to reduce damage of the plane during transit. The label on the end of the top is similarly as austere as the new label on the Palm rest. It would appear that artistic merit was totally out of favour in the ‘design’ studio at RECORD.

The M75 Plane, an utter copy of the STANLEY 75 plane, was introduced to the UK market at the onset of the ‘M‘ series of planes, in February 1933.

The picture below was used throughout the manufacture of this now rare plane…Feb/1933- c.6/1940.

This plane was manufactured in exactly the same format from 2/33 through c.1940. The last listing I have for this plane is in the May 1938 catalogue.

From 2/33 to 3/38 the spare cutter was listed at 9d each, but then on till 10/38 they sold for ..one shilling and one pence!

It should be noted that the much better bullnose plane, the M77, was introduced in August 1938, and this was a more adjustable Bullnose Plane. The M75 had an Adjustable mouth but this was very difficult to adjust and was very coarse in the adjustment. So it is no wonder that the old M75 was de-listed shortly thereafter

The price of the M75 was introduced at 2/3d . This continued until Sept 1936 when the plane price was increased to 2/6d.   Consider this that the whole plane, including the cutter, was available for 2/6d. So the plane was worth 1/5d!

The body was always 4″ long [with the mouth totally closed] and 1″ wide. The rear edge was painted black, but the front edge was clean.

The lever screw was always 7/16″ wide, 3/32″ deep with a fine parallel knurl and nickel plated, and the Lever Cap was 2.1/4″ long and 5/8″ wide.

You will only ever find these planes with a Red Lever cap on a Black base.

The mouth adjusting slotted bolt was nickelled and the head was 3/8″ wide, 1/8″ deep and it was 7/8″ long

The new blade was 3.5″ long and had a useable length of 1″.

It is no wonder that the M75 was discontinued with the advent of the much superior M77. This latter plane although being  much easier to adjust was much more expensive.!

 

The MARPLES M110 plane really started in 1933, when the ‘M‘ line was introduced, but this plane transitioned from one named No. 3107 that had been manufactured since c.1925 [at least if not by MARPLES it was factored in by them]. The earliest recorded date that I can find for item No. 3107 is in the MARPLES Centenary Edition Catalogue of 1928. But I believe that this plane [as well as the smaller No. 3105 Block Plane (M102)] may well have been manufactured and offered for sale since c.1925. There is no indication in the 1928 catalogue that this [or the 3105] was being introduced as a New Tool.

In the 1928 catalogue the 3107 is shown at a price of 40/- dozen (an Ironmongers Cost Price, since at that time these catalogues were geared to the trade only.)  The picture below is of the 1928 catalogue listing.

Please note that the front knob is most unusual and therefore different to all other 110 block planes, of all makes. It is however exactly the same as shown on the box label and catalogue print. However  the Pressure Cap adjusting ‘wheel’ is more ‘coarse’ than shown in either illustration.

I am not able to exactly date the manufacture of the plane that is shown above but it is likely that the first 3107 planes had Black Caps (similar to #3105 [M102]). The length of the 3107 is stated as being 7.1/2″ in June 1930 but changed to 7″ in the Feb 1933 cat. [or maybe it was changed in the Sept/32 catalogue]  Therefore my 7″plane shown here is from 9/32? onwards.

Also my earliest example [shown] has the MARPLES logo and wording raised cast on the base in front of the knob, whereas the box label/catalogue picture shows no markings.

The February 1933(2/33) soft cover catalogue introduces a ‘New” line of ‘M‘ planes which included the M110.  This advert stated that the M110 was 7″ long and had a blade width of 1.5/8″.

The No. 3107 Block Plane in whatever form, persisted up to the 9/35 catalogue and was therefore a brief competitor to the M110 because it was priced 6 pence less than the M110 which sold for 3/6d.

{A similar situation existed with the M102 block plane and its’ rival the No 3105 [for which you may wish to visit the M102 page]}.  The 3107 was available for about 10 years 1925-1935 and it might appear that the only reason MARPLES continued this internal competition was to use up back stock of the old 3107 until that stock was depleted. There just seems to be no other plausible reason.
What follows will be my present attempt to put an order to the issues of the M110 style Block Plane according to date sequence.   Under these Type headings I will list any perceptible changes that I have found to be different from the previous Type. I will try to categorise the study according to the major notable physical differences which would occur in : Paint; Body; Lever cap;Cutting Iron and Markings; Wheel; Knob; Box and Labels.

Again, I have difficulty in differentiating the blade markings as MARPLES seemed to have had quite similar blade stampings on their planes that spanned some 20 years.   So faith should not be placed on these blade markings to identify a plane Type/Date.  Remember that the blade is the first item to be ‘swopped’.

Type 1:

Like the M102 (3105) the first type of M110 block plane was introduced named #3107 around 1925 when it was priced at 3/4d.   This price was maintained until at least March 1932 catalogue.  The Feb 1933 cat. shows the 3107 priced lower at 3 shillings and this price was maintained into the Sept/35 cat. which is the last listing of the 3107.

Paint: The base was always advertised as being Black japanned and the very first 3107 was probably supplied with a Black japanned Cap.  My early example has a Red Cap. The Black is found all over the plane body except the slope to the mouth and the top of the blade supports.

Body: As discussed above the body changed from an initial offering of 7.1/2″in 1925? to 7″ after 9/32?  The sides were left as they came from the casting process and were not machined flat. My pristine plane shows that a wavy line of Shellac was applied to the machined bottom surface as a rust preventative. I also believe that the first 3107s did not have any raised casting letters or symbols, but by 9/32? it did [my example].

Cap: The first caps were probably Black but changed to Red by at least 9/32? No paint was used in the groove for the cross piece[below left] or on the lower back of the cap below the cutout. Note the very early water transfer.

Cutting Iron: The blade was supplied slightly thicker than subsequent issues but still measured 1.5/8″wide and 4.1/2″long when new.   Only the bottom half of each side was cleaned from the original casting and the BM1 marking is feint.

Wheel: The japaned black cast iron wheel is 1.5/8″wide (across the largest diameter) and is 1/4″thick at the perimeter.   The finger grooves [castellations] may have been finer in the earlier issues, according to the box/catalogue illustration. See photo above under ‘Cap’.

Knob: A very different Red-Mahogany coloured hardwood front knob was issued, which was awkward to use because it had no top indentation in which to register the index finger.   The knob was screwed onto a cast threaded post arising from the base and it was 1.1/2″high with a convex top.

Box and Labels: Initially the end of box label [left below] would have read 7.1/2″ but I doubt that the label would have changed significantly in any other aspect. The box lid label is shown below.

Type 2:

The Paint and Body are the same as Type 1, but the Cap is Red all over except for the lower half of the underside. The Cap received the same early water transfer as Type 1.

Blade: Has BM2 markings and is cleaned bright on both sides.

Wheel: The wheel is what sets this Type aside from all others because it is made from solid cast brass and painted black and has the same dimensions as previously.

Knob: Is now  1.3/8″high and made from mahogany with a dark finish, but remains screwed onto a threaded post cast on the base. Rather than having a convex top as per Type 1, it has the more normal slightly concave indentation on the top.

Box and Labels: Unknown at present.

Type 3:

This Type existed until at least 2/33 and at a price of 3 shillings.

Paint: Is the same as Type 1/2 and is still japanned black on the sides.
Body: The one notable difference between this and previous Types is that this issue has cast in ‘valleys’ at each side of the sloping mouth [whereas previous Types had the sloping mouth extend totally from side to side.]

Cap: Is painted a Red/Orange colour over all surfaces and has a Water Transfer applied to the palm rest as shown.  NOTE: this is the ‘MARPLES‘ only transfer, not the ‘Wm.MARPLES and Sons‘ transfer.

Blade: Exactly the same dimensions as before with a bright clean surface all over . The BM3 blade as shown has letters 1mm high.

Wheel: Is as per Type 1, cast iron and japanned Black, but may be now thinner at only 5/32″ thick at the perimeter.

Knob: Is now attached via a ‘Hanger Bolt’, which is itself screwed into the base.  The top part of this bolt is a standard Wood Screw thread to hold the  Hardwood Knob. which is  painted Black and  1.13/32″ high.

Box and Labels:
The end label still shows that it is a #3107 plane, but has now been modified to read: ‘MARPLES BLOCK PLANE’.
The Box Top label is now the familiar coloured label, shown below.

Type 4:

This is the first issue labelled simply as M110 and was probably in production from Feb 1933 and priced at 3/6d.

Paint: Is still Black japanned, but the sides of the plane are now machined clean during production.

Body: The mouth slope still remains clean as does the crossbar and the ‘V’ grooves at the sides of the mouth are still present. However the base casting still has no letters to indicate that this is indeed an M110 plane.

Cap: Is painted RED all over, except that of the top leading edge and the lower half of the underside.

Blade: Has BM3 stamp.

Wheel: Has the same Black paint as previously but now again has a 1/4″ thickness at the perifery.

Knob: Has now assumed a brown finish over the hardwood base and at 1.5/16″high is still secured by a hanger bolt.

Box and Label: For the first time these show that this is actually an M110 Block Plane and presumably is now manufactured directly under MARPLES supervision, which is probably why there appear to be modifications made to the plane.

Type 5:

Paint : Is the same as before
Body: The same as before
Cap: Is now painted RED all over, back and front.
Blade: Still the same BM3 markings.
Wheel: Has now been reduced to 3/16″thick at the perifery, but is still painted Black.
Knob: Is still held by a hanger bolt and is probably hardwood [Rosewood is most unlikely although the finish has a Red/Brown tone] and is 1.13/32″ high.

Box and Labels: Presently unknown.

Type 6:

This Type shows a real difference to all the previous planes. I think that the colour changes occurred towards the end of WWII, approx 1944.

Paint: The Body is now painted RED [although the cross-bar and slope to the mouth remain cleaned] and the Cap is painted BLACK.  This is a total reversal of the previous Paint scheme and is also found on the Bench Planes.

Body: As above, the body is now painted Red but the sides are still machined clean and the body is now marked with raised letters WM. MARPLES & SONS and M 110 in front of the knob and SHEFFIELD behind the knob.   NOTE HERE: The words SHEFFIELD behind the knob and the word ENGLAND behind the blade supports are both 1.1/2″ across.

There is now no V shaped groove [valley] at either side of the mouth slope. and the cross-bar may be clean.
Cap: The Cap is painted BLACK all over.

Blade: This all bright blade may either be found to have the BM3 or BM4 blade stamp.

Wheel: Same as before.

Knob: A Hanger bolt still retains this dark mahogany coloured hard wood? knob which is approx 1.5″ high.

Type 7:

Paint: The Body is still painted Red all over [except the slope down to the mouth and the top bearing surface of the blade supports ] and the sides of the plane are still machined clear.
Body: Totally as before but now the word ‘SHEFFIELD‘ that is cast behind the knob is reduced to 1.1/4″across and the word ‘ENGLAND‘ behind the blade supports is now only 1.5/16″across. This is therefore a totally different base casting to that of the Type 6 plane.

The photo below shows the body castings of Type 7 on the left and Type 6 on the right and it is easy to see the differences in the sizes of the words indicated above.

The Black cap has a small MARPLES SHEFFIELD ENG. water transfer applied.

Cap: Is still painted Black all over.

Blade: This is probably BM3, but maybe otherwise [see Type 8]. As cautioned before, we cannot rely on blade stampings to date any plane, as these stamps are very hard to date and blades can be switched.

Knob: This knob now appears somewhat shapeless with a minimal waist. It was probably made from Mahogany and varnished a medium Brown but still secured via a hanger bolt.

Type 8 :

This type is exactly like Type 7 but the front Mahogany knob is held in place  by an oval head machine screw that is countersunk into the top of the knob and screws into the base.  A similar situation occurred with the M120 c.1945.  { the blade marking is the same as shown}.   Maybe this is of a similar date but it is not known for how long this modification existed before the hanger bolt method was re-instituted in Type 9.

Type 9:

Paint: The base is RED all over including the mouth slope, top of blade supports and the cross-bar.

Body: Has the same castings as a Type 8, but may show a small parallel valley at each side of the mouth slope beside the side vertical walls. The outer sides are still machined bright and clean.

Cap: Is still Black all over

Blade: May have BM3 stamp or as per Type 8, and is bright all over.

I have recently [10/17] purchased an MIB plane which is a Type 9 in most respects and is priced at 12/3d. This price puts the plane around 1953/54. The mouth and cross piece are as original and painted, along with the front and back edges. It has a BM3 blade, but the front knob looks to be of Mahogany and is grain-painted to look like Rosewood with a good shapely profile at 1.7/16″ high.
The Black cap has a small MARPLES SHEFFIELD ENG. water transfer applied. I do not know whether this plane was produced at the beginning or the end of Type 9.

Wheel: Type 9 like the Type 8 has more grooves on the perimeter of the wheel and the nose has been increased in length. Note below: Type 7 on the left and Type 9 on the right.

Knob: As seen here and made of Mahogany, but may have received a thick coat of light coloured clear varnish and still retained via a hanger bolt.

Box and Labels:
In all other respects the top label is exactly the same as previous issues except that this Type label seems to have the words…. ‘Manufactured By‘ missing. The end label now has a bar of RED at the top.

Type 10:

In 1962 half of the MARPLES company was sold to C&J Hampton Ltd (Record), and half to the company of William Ridgeway & Sons Ltd. I believe that RECORD continued to manufacture the M110 under the MARPLES banner until around 1970 or at least until the MARPLES Company was moved to Dronfield [just outside Sheffield] in Derbyshire c.1971/2.

When RECORD took over the manufacture of this plane it became almost identical with the RECORD 0110. It was named MA110 and was priced at 17/9d in Nov/.69.

Paint: The Body and Cap are now painted a BLUE all over, except the mouth slope, the now nickel-plated cross bar ; the sides and the front & back ends.

Body: Measures exactly 7″ long and the base is cast much thicker than before, which gives the plane more weight. The mouth slope has been cast having less of a bearing area for the blade, as shown below. V- shaped valleys can be seen each side of the mouth next to the side walls.

The casting shows MARPLES infront of the knob and the new designation MA110 behind the knob. At the heel is cast MADE IN ENGLAND.

Cap: Is painted the same Blue all over and can be seen to now not have the previous ‘windows’ cast on the underside. It is a somewhat rough heavy casting and is an example of the degradation in hand tool quality which occurred World Wide around this time. The palm rest shows a quite plain yellow transfer.

Blade: Machined clean all over and marked with the BM5 stamp.

Wheel: RECORD supplied their regular Block Plane wheel to the Type 10 MARPLES MA110. It is a solid Alloy casting on a threaded steel post, with Multiple fine straight knurlings as a finger grip around the perifery.

Knob: A Dark varnished Beech knob is secured by a hanger bolt, as before.

 

The MA43, or as it appears in the Price Lists MA.43, probably was first available around March 1965.
When C&J Hampton took over MARPLES in 1962 they must have looked hard at the duplication of tools that MARPLES were then producing and those that RECORD then produced.  They must have decided that it was ludicrous to produce identical lines, but concluded that MARPLES had a large ‘fan’ base.     They therefore decided to continue production of ‘MARPLES‘ tools and to then gradually fade this mark out in favour of their RECORD line.
Around this time the old M40 Single Arm Grooving plane was eventually replaced by an updated MA43 plane, which echoed the lines of the RECORD 043 in that it had 2 fence arms and a ‘bridged’ fence.
Although the MARPLES M40 is still shown in the mini-catalogue P61 of 3/64, the then current price list of 3/64 does NOT list this plane as being available and this 3/64 Price List also does not list the MA43 as then being available.
The only Price List /Catalogue listings that I can currently find for the MA43 are as follows:
1st April 1965           36/- (referring to that item on p.24 of Cat.15) MA43
1st Nov 1969             38/- (referring to that item on p.24 of Cat.15) MA43
The 1971 mini-Catalogue and Supplementary Catalogue of 1971 (month not stated) does not show the MA43, nor any other ‘M‘ planes.
It may be deduced that the MA43 was possibly available from                  March 1965- January 1970 and during this time it was not changed at all, since RECORD were not renowned for changing specifications once one was working fine!.
The Description in Catalogue #15 (1965) is that the ‘Plated all over‘ MA43 Plough Plane was supplied with 3 cutters…1/8″ 3/16″ 1/4″  marked ‘MARPLES‘, all except the 1/4″cutter which was marked as ‘MARPLES‘ and in addition ‘MADE IN ENGLAND‘.  The 3/16″blade was supplied ‘in the plane’ with the  other 2 being supplied in a blue plastic pouch.
[The M40 was described as a ‘Grooving Plane’ but with the same cutter sizes as the MA43]   In addition is the fact that the M40 could cut grooves 1/2″ deep up to 3″ from the edge [of the work], whereas the MA43 could cut grooves up to 1/2″ deep up to 4″ from the edge.
They also advertised additional cutters of 4mm and 6mm as being available for the MA43.

Note: Above photo shows the depth fence inserted incorrectly, the longer flat should be towards the rear of the plane.

Body:
Is totally Nickel plated and the high areas are polished.   It is 5.5″ long and marked ‘MADE IN ENGLAND ” on the skate at the RHS rear.

Lever Cap and Screw:  Are also totally nickel plated.   The screw always had a  1/2″ diameter head and the thread length was 11/16″.  This was longer than the body screws. The Lever Cap from heel to toe is 1.5/8″ long.

Body Screws:  [Fence and depth adjustable screws]   The Finer and earlier screws had a 7/16″ diameter with a thread length of c.7/16″.  The later and more coarse knurled screws seem to have slightly more a diameter at  15/32″.    But we have to acknowledge that these screws are so easily interchanged that it it is hard to come up with a hard and fast rule.           Rods: Are 7mm (1/4″) diameter and 134mm long, including the rounded ends.

Blades: The 3/16″ blade was attached to the plane and the other 2 are contained in a small blue plastic wallet.

Screws:  At some time, [and I presume this occurred around 1965], the 3 fixing screws on the body were changed from having a fine knurling to a head having more coarse knurling.   The depth of the knurled head was around 1/4″.

Box and Labels:
It was only labelled on the end of the box, that end which was also used to open the box.
[ 5.3/4″long; 2.5/16″across and 2.7/16″ tall]

The very first pictures of the M71 and M71.1/2 metal routers first appeared in the March 1936 mini catalogue, [as shown below] but were heralded initially, although not then shown, in the December 1934 mini catalogue wherein they appear as ‘ Also Routers, Scrapers, Spokeshaves etc.‘
The March 1936 mini catalogue describes them as being of ‘Best Grey Iron Castings, Handles & Knobs of ‘Selected Rosewood’ with all adjustments ‘Smooth and Precise’.
Each were sold with 1/4″; 1/2″; and a smoothing [V] blade.  The M71 had an ‘Open throat’ and included an Adjustable Depth Gauge as did the  M71.1/2  which had a ‘Closed Throat’ and  each with a totally flat base . The initial planes were probably Cadmium plated [Type 1].   I can find no information that these Router planes were ever issued with a fence [to enable grooves to be cut parallel to an edge straight or curved] on the base as were the’RECORD Tools’ equivalents.

Here are the prices asked over time:

Date                    M71     M71.1/2
March 1936       15/-     12/-      and these prices were stable <March 1940 and beyond.
In the 1949 Price List these items are not shown as being available, so they must have been de-listed during the war.  But an Addendum dated November 1951 to this 1949 Price list indicates that they are ‘now in production’.     I cannot find any listing for the M71.1/2 after this date, and must therefore infer that it was dropped from production c.1952.
Similarly the M71 seems to have been dropped from production  c.1963.
I have information of an M71 [Red paint] being priced at 32/- [c.1946?]

Date                                 M71                      M71.1/2
November 1951            38/-                      35/6d
January 1955                 36/-               not listed
December 1959           39/-                        —
April 1961                      39/-                        —
April 1962                     42/6d                      —
March 1964             not listed                    —

Type 1:  

I have a good example that shows a price of 17/6d and a date of 2/42.  It is therefore possible that these planes were initially issued with a Cadmium finish until c.1942, then changed to a Black finish and then to a Red finish around 1944

 

Type 2:

I have only found 1 picture that shows this rare Type which had a Black painted base .  The base casting looks exactly like the picture shown in 1936, with the MARPLES wording readable from the front. The blade clamping ring and associated Thumbscrew were probably Nickel plated, but I see that the handles are NOT of Rosewood! Therefore pre-war?

Type 3:

The next type that I have found shows the more usually seen RED base and this may be from 1944 onwards.  It is possible that they may still have been available then with Rosewood [old stock] handles, but these are more probably Beechwood with a stain and varnish.

 

Type 4:

This must be the issue with stained and dark varnished Beechwood handles. The MARPLES transfer is still seen on the Left hand side, as seen from a users point of view. But I really do not think that the ‘water transfer applicator people’ really cared on which side the transfer was placed!!!

Above is an M71 and below are M71.1/2 examples:

   

And here is a strange one that I cannot fit into this study.  It is a M71.1/2 plane that has the word MARPLES cast on the base in the reverse position….readable only from the back and with no surface paint or other!
….#71.1/2 Type 1 ??

Here below is another  example [with no water transfer] again with the reverse name on the base!

Could these be early examples of the 71.1/2 Router plane??
So, obviously this study is not complete and I will add to it as information is found. 4/25

The M44 Iron Plough Plane is first shown in the ‘New Line’ ‘M‘ plane introduction of the September 1935 mini catalogue. Here it is just listed [with no image] as ‘Plough Plane, 8.1/2ins. long, with 8 cutters 1/8 in. to 9/16 in. … 17/6 each‘
The surface finish is not stated, but this information is first to be found in the September 1936 mini catalogue wherein it is listed as ‘Rustless Plated‘.
The first listing that I can find stating that this plane was ‘Nickel Plated’ is in the 1954 Export catalogue., and thereafter Nickel Plating remained until the plane was discontinued by RECORD around late 1969.
From the 1st November 1951 price list of planes it would appear that this M44 was produced throughout the war and would then have been ‘Rustless Plated‘ to conserve Nickel for the war effort.  Like those similar planes produced around this time by RECORD the plating was based upon ‘Cadmium‘ and had a dull grey colour finish.  The 1959 large  catalogue tells us that the cutters were supplied in a plastic wallet, but Types 1 and 2  planes had the cutters housed in a Red cardboard sleeve with matching top.

Here [above] is the first illustration from the March 1936 mini catalogue.

Here are some prices gleaned from catalogues, these can help identify the age of a plane, if it is boxed and if it was price marked!

9/35 – 3/40             17/6d.
11/51                          38/6d.
9/55                          44/-
4/61 – 9/61            55/-
4/62 – 9/62          60/-
3/64 – 4/65          65/-

Around 1963 the plane was renamed MA44, as it was now produced by      C&J Hampton [RECORD], since they tookover the MARPLES firm in late 1962.   The MA44 [Type 4 here] was produced until at least late 1969.

Type 1:
This type may be structurally distinguishable from later types in that this first issue has no small width cutter retaining screw housed into the base. It was ‘Cadmium’ plated [Rustless plated], and this finish was available as such between September 1935 and c.1954.  I also note that the rods do not have the circular indentation at one end and that they also had the early circular MARPLES transfer on the rear handle.
Below is a good example of this Type 1, compare it closely to the Type 2 shown below that:

 

Type 2:

Apparently RECORD tools #044 added the ‘cutter cramping screw’ in 1949 and I will assume that MARPLES followed suit at this time.
Therefore Type 2 represents the issues from c.1949- 1954,  being still Cadmium Plated and it seems the ‘Diamond’ motif on the thumbscrews was added at this time.

Either in Type 1 or Type 2   I have found a small variation in that the cast in letters/numbers on the body are highlighted in Red.  Presently I do not know whether this was how the very first M44s Types 1&2  were issued or whether the Red was added towards the end of Type 2. But I tend towards the first option.  A similar situation is seen on the M40 planes with Rustless Plating.  See the M44 below:

Type 3:

Body:
8.1/4″long and Nickel plated throughout and polished on the top of the handle and top of the main frame. On the top of the handle is placed a circular MARPLES water transfer [MARPLES only, not W. MARPLES & Sons]

Depth Fence:
2.9/16″long and 1/2″wide Nickel plated, and very often missing!! This fence appears to be the same issue as is found on the M40, MA43, and M50.

Blades [Cutters]:
8 cutters were supplied, 7 in a Red plastic wallet and 1 to be found installed on the plane. [1/8″;3/16″;1/4″;5/16″;3/8″;7/16″;1/2″;9/16″.]
The markings [BM 11] seem to be found on only the 4 largest cutters due to space limitations.

Rods:
2 sizes of rods were supplied to handle the different width tasks asked of the plane.  The rods were supplied in a manila envelope, as shown.  I have yet to find out the purpose of the circular indentation at one end of each rod. Short Rod 3.1/4″long, Long Rod 7.1/4″long and both of 3/8″diameter.

Lever Cap and Screw:
The Lever Cap was always painted RED [except Type 4] and had a plated adjusting screw. The smaller cutters were secured by a lateral grooved screw applying pressure against the main body. [see below] [Not present in Type 1]

Fence and screws:
The fence was 7.1/8″long and all nickel plated.  The screws still had the ‘diamond’ insert knurled pattern.[shown below]

  

Instruction Leaflet:
This 2 sided leaflet is sized 8.7/8″ x 11″ and therefore the scans below can be copied and reproduced for your benefit.

Box and Labels:
The M44 box was substantially made and therefore many have survived to this day.   The end label and top of lid label are shown here.

MA44:
This could be called the Type 4 of M44 plane and was produced by  C&J Hampton from late 1962 , [after the takeover of MARPLES by RECORD] until late 1969 and then was de-listed.
I do not expect that this plane would have materially differed from Type 3 in any large way, but the photo below shows that the base casting marks had a rounded aspect to the name MARPLES and the number MA44. Also I note that the Lever cap is no longer painted red but is nickel plated.  The fence rods also do not have the circular indentation at one end. The major difference is that there is now a Depth of cut  adjuster that engages with slots milled in the backs of the cutters. And the tightening screws for the arms in the fence and the depth stop are all now knurled round headed bolts.

The only other exception was in the box design, and this followed the Blue and Yellow labels of that time that was typical then of RECORD. As shown below:

 

The X4 plane makes its’ first appearance around mid 1954 in an article [below] about its’ designer and the development of the plane. It was in production until 1965, when low sales volume dictated its’ demise.
I am unsure as to why MARPLES would have introduced this plane, but it was possibly designed to capture some of the market of the infill planes, (which had such a good name with craftsmen, but were very expensive) because it had everything that an infill plane had: weight; total adjustment; feel and a solid construction made to last generations.
You would appreciate this last statement if you had ever had an X4 in your hands and had studied its’ construction closely. It is for the following reasons that today it commands a premium price. Unfortunately many of these planes have fallen into the wrong hands and have been treated badly due to either plain ignorance of its’ qualities or just simply not caring for the tool. Or then again, maybe just ‘plane’ ignorance! [Sorry about that, I could not resist it.]
Surprisingly, in a 1962 pamphlet, MARPLES shows the X4 and states “It is not recommended for the ‘do-it-yourselfer’,” I surmise that truthful advertising was then still the norm!
It was a heavy and solid plane, just what a number 4 type plane needs. The combined frog and rear closed handle were anchored well to the base. Mouth adjustment was changed by loosening 2 bolts on the top of the plane base just forward of the mouth that held an adjustable mouth plate, and then securing them into the desired mouth width. The base casting was very ‘substantial’ and provides the iron with a 9/16″ support for a chatter less experience. It had a Lever cap which gave the user a good grip when the plane had to be used on a shooting board. The front Knob was quite large and gave a better grip on the plane than smaller normal sized knobs. The wood used was good British Beech coated with a semi-gloss black enamel paint and the base was coated in a ‘black stoving enamel’. All metal fittings were were either Nickel (early) or Chrome (later) plated.
PLEASE NOTE: The sideways adjusting lever originally fitted only had a circular curvature to the top where it was to be finger/thumb adjusted. Later examples had a rounded Red plastic insert pushed into each side of that curvature to make the adjustment less painful. You will find many examples where one or both of these inserts are missing. Re-productions may be made, with a little skill, from those thick red plastic coat-hangers that can be found anywhere today.
Note also that the cap-iron always had a rounded top edge and this is also echoed in the design of the blade. Any other configuration is not original.
Below is the page from the 1959 Catalogue that announces the X4 as being a new plane, but this was only a relative statement [ note: no red inserts are shown in the lateral lever]

Prices for this plane are as follows:
October 1960      65/-
Early 1961            63/- [ I do not know why!]
September 1961- October 1964       90/-
Some photos are shown below.

Below you will find a rare article reprinted from DESIGN August 1954 in which the X4 plane, the designer and the design progress to final copy are discussed.

Above here is a good photo to show the 2 plastic RED inserts [One from each side] that were added for comfort to the lateral lever later on with this plane. At least one is usually found missing as they had but a friction fitting inside the lateral lever top curl.

The front knob is unusually large, but very comfortable in controlling this plane.

Here [above] you can see the TWO slotted flat head bolts that have to be loosened in order to adjust the mouth width plate [Immediate above]

A good photo to show the Nickel plated depth Adjusting Wheel and the angle at which it was placed.

Above you will find 2 box end labels. The top one is what I believe is the First  type and then followed below by the Second type which was after the Plane had its’ Registered Design issued in 1955.

The Cutter supplied to the X4 was always the same, as was the cap iron. Any plane that you see, will not be ‘original’ without these specifications as shown below.

You can note here [above right] that the Blade is chamfered on the edges on the same side as the cutting edge. This is the only correct blade for this plane as is the Oval top edge to the un-marked Cap Iron.