1 Scrub plane
Purpose
The scrub plane is used to remove as much material as possible. For this reason, the single iron has a strongly cambered cutting edge and is rather narrow, which reduces the resistance when planing. The cutting angle is around 45 degrees.
Lately, some carpenters have discovered a new application for this tool: they use the hollow cut of the rounded iron to create very rustic, decorative surfaces.
Over the years, Weiss & Sohn produced several versions of the scrub plane with blades of different widths, and for a while with a double iron. Why a double iron was used is a reason for eager discussion and speculation among collectors today. Avoiding tear-outs, such as with a double- or smoothing plane, should not have played a role. But I cannot answer this question either.
Model numbers
Before the first catalogues, no product numbers were assigned in printed "prize-courants", the name of the planes was sufficient (see this price list of about 1840 with Wolfgang Jordan). In 1861 Johann Baptist Weiss published his "Atlas of Austrian Tools for Woodworkers". In this book, a number has been assigned to each tool. From then on until the last price list in 1989, the normal scrub plane carried the number 1.
However, this does not apply to the variants of this plane.
The scrub plane with lignum-vitae sole has the number 222 in the "Atlas" and accordingly also in the price lists up to approx. 1900.
The one with screwed-on iron sole the number 213(also until about 1900).
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From about 1900, the numbering changed in general. From then on, the variants of a plane are subsumed under the number of the standard model with corresponding suffix.
Number 213 (with screwed-on iron sole) becomes number 1B (or "b"), 222 (lignum-vitae sole) becomes number 1A (a). A new addition is the double-iron model, which receives the number 1C.
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In the 1930s, the nomenclature changed again, but not for all planes at the same time, the change initially only concerns the double/smoothing plane. The alphabetic suffixes to the standard number are replaced by suffixes corresponding to the deviation from the standard model. Planes with lignum-vitae sole now carry the addition "P" (for the german “Pockholz”). The number 1A thus becomes the number 1P (but only in the 1950s). Other suffixes concern the newly introduced variants with hand saver (H) and protective polish (S). These suffixes are combined according to existing characteristics. "PSH" thus stands for a plane with lignum-vitae sole, protective polish and hand protector. Strangely enough, however, the designation 1c for the scrub plane with double iron is preserved. The models with iron sole (1B), on the other hand, disappear from the catalogues for the time being.
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In 1928, Weiss & Sohn patented a swingable wedge-stop. This results in a new series called "Ideal". The numbering of these planes follows the pattern of the "ordinary" plane, but before the number are the letters "Id" (for Ideal). The scrub planes with the new wedge-stop are therefore called "Id1", "Id1P" (with lignum-vitae sole) etc.
Catalog images of scrub planes by Weiss & Sohn
Atlas österreichischer Werkzeuge für Holzarbeiter, Johann B. Weiss, 1861
Atlas österreichischer Werkzeuge für Holzarbeiter, Johann B. Weiss, 1861
Originalfoto, Weiss & Sohn, ca. 1976
Atlas österreichischer Werkzeuge für Holzarbeiter, Johann B. Weiss, 1861
Model development based on the iron widths
All bench planes were offered from the beginning with different widths of iron, including the scrub plane. The following tables give an overview of the development of the range of products over time. All catalogues and price lists of the company Weiss & Sohn itself as well as catalogues of authorized dealers that are available to me serve as the basis for this.
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The following technical drawings are processed scans of original drawings by Johann Weiss & Sohn from 1950 and 1951. The originals are unfortunately a bit pale and not made on white paper, so the quality of the scans is not particularly good, but at least the dimensions are quite legible. (Click PDF icon for free download)
