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Planing Machines have a well built frame on which is a moving table. Straddling the table is the part of the frame that supports the cutting tool. using a rack and pinion drive the table is moved repeatedly backwards and forwards. On each forward stroke, the cutting tool removes metal from the work piece, then on the backward stroke, the tool swings clear of the work on a hinge. Because the work is only cut on the forwards stroke, the backward stroke can be faster. After each stroke, the took is moved sideways, the result being a large smooth surface.
More complicated planers, such as ours, have a mechanism that automatically reverses the table and moved the cutting tool sideways at the end of each cutting stroke. This design could be one of the first to include this feature.
Our Planing Machine or 'Iron Planer' originates for Massachusetts, USA, being manufactured by Lucius W. Pond of Worcester, Mass.
Lucius W. Pond was such an interesting character that we have dedicated a page to his life.
We are indebted to the Worcester Historical Museum, Mass. without whose help this page would not have been possible. We have a link to the website of the Worcester Historical Museum, which covers many aspects of the history of Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
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