James R Beachley Cabinet Maker
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15 December 2015 at 3:54 am #133156
I recently purchased a very nice Sandusky 119 plough plane with 7 prov tool co irons. The seller said he was selling it because he found that the handle made the adjustment of the plane difficult and he preferred the non- handled variety. He also stated that it had been used for the past 2 to 3 years. The plane was marked James R Beachley Cabinet Maker and aside from some minimal damage on one of the screws it was clear that it had been cared for.
I began to research the cabinet maker and what I found was pretty amazing and sad. I found the man’s obituary and his picture. He was a craftsman, woodcarver, and cabinet maker from Maryland. He started his business in the 70s. He once was named one of the top 200 craftsman in America by Early American homes magazine and also reproduced 17th and 18th century funiture. I also found the advertisement for his estate sale in 2013. His tools were sold.
Connecting the dots on the information I discovered, this tool either went from his shop to a picker, to another craftsman, or from his shop directly to the seller craftsman or whatever. Either way the provenance of the tool is quite special to me and James R. Beachley cabinet maker lives on.15 December 2015 at 5:05 am #133157Wow! I try to find tools with owners names on them but never have found out who these people are. That’s a rare find.
15 December 2015 at 5:50 am #133160Great story, Baldemar. I hope you have many good years of using this plane.
17 December 2015 at 11:18 pm #133235David, I was lucky that there was only one bid. The other bidders were distracted I think by another Sandusky 119 that was getting a lot of attention.
18 December 2015 at 1:13 am #133242Ebay? Great. Actually I have been lucky to buy most of my tools local. First of I love wooden bodied tools. I still use my no.4 ($7) sometimes, my no.5 and 6 I could get rid of. Anyways I have been lucky to get “local” tools. Brooklyn made plow plane, Newark spoke shave, NYC boxwood stanley rule, NYC back saw (that I think may have been made by Richardson in Newark). Soon, after I finish the bow saw, some planes made by me!
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