But although there was a slightly higher buy-in rate than usual, the £172,000 total from around 1900 lots showed the market was still lively. There was still plenty of American interest, particularly in the infill planes and it was a US postal bid of £2680 which took this 2ft (61cm) gunmetal jointer by Geoff Entwistle, right.
Top bid of the day at Suffolk was the slightly disappointing £2800 which secured a 16th century moulding plane. This 41/4in (10.75cm) French rabot de fer had long ago had its original screw locking replaced by a steel wedge but it carried the maker’s name, Neviger and as
a museum piece in good condition for its age had carried hopes of £3000-3500.
Another early Continental offering was a Dutch smoothing plane, a 1749, 15in (38cm) bossingschaaf with a typically elaborately carved mouth. It sold just above estimate at £1520.
Plane dealing lures US bids
Americans being a major force in the arcane world of tool collecting,Tony Murland and Mike Hancock feared the US recession would hit their July 27 specialist Tool Shop Auctions, 10% buyer’s premium) at Needham Market.
