8

Dating Mathieson Planes

Mathieson planes are usually marked on the toe (front) with a punch mark. Mathieson used a lot of different
marks with slight variations in the company name i.e. Mathieson, Alex Mathieson & Son and A. Mathieson &
Son. The location associated with the various marks changed as the business grew. I have found no evidence
that planes were actually manufactured at those locations once Mathieson had acquired a new business.
Edinburgh might have been the exception for a limited time.
The jury is still out Mathieson Edinburgh. This mark was used for
on this script mark. a very short time from 1849 to ca 1850 when it
More see page 50 was replaced with the & Son mark

Early marks: Mathieson or Mathieson Glasgow 1820-1845. Alex’ Mathieson mark Edinburgh A. Mathieson & Son, Glasgow &
ca 1850 Edinburgh early mark ca 1855 - 1870

Mathieson traded under different names, not all of them were registered trade names. The earliest tools will
be marked Mathieson with or without Glasgow. In the mid 1840s the first Mathieson & Son marks would
have been in use. This seems to have been the preferred mark up to around 1890. After that most but not all
tools were marked A. Mathieson & Son Glasgow or any other location. Around 1900 plane model numbers
were added to most Mathieson planes.

Glasgow mark on a brace model numbers from ca 1900

Glasgow & Edinburgh from ca 1880

A.Mathieson Glasgow marks widely used from ca 1890 Decals from late 1920s
Dating steel planes see page 59

best quality second quality third quality

Mathieson box ca 1930
From around 1900 Mathieson offered second and third quality tools under different brand names

The catalogue reproductions used in this

Mathieson guide are from the 1899 (8th
edition) and the 1933 (9th edition)
catalogues. The 1899 price list had about
270 pages, the 1933 edition was reduced to a
mere 50 pages. In this guide I’ll use selected
pages, mainly for woodworking tools.
Names for tools vary between makers and
locations. When in doubt I use Salaman’s
Dictionary of Woodworking Tools as the
final authority.
You can download the full 1933 Restored company imprint on a hand mortising machine.
Mathieson produced a large number of mortising and boring
catalogue as PDF free from
machines right up to WW2
www.hansbrunnertools.com
 50

Straight after we published our Mathieson guide we received an outstanding consignment of wooden
Mathieson planes for auction – the results and what we learned from it are included in this edition. We
were also contacted by several collectors who kindly added new pictures and information that we would
like to share as additional material. Thanks to all our new contributors. Keep the good stuff coming!

Mathieson script mark on a

pair of H&R and an early dado
This is considered to be the with wooden depth stop.
earliest Mathieson mark. The Some wedges are replaced.
plane on the bottom left in the The original wedges and the
picture carried this mark. The flat chamfers indicate early
front wedge is replaced. to mid 19th century.

Until recently, script marks were thought to be from the Mathieson T.A. & Co Edinburgh
period around 1850 when Thomas junior was put in charge of the Edinburgh branch after
the takeover from Stewart
Stewart. However, the script mark listed in Goodman is not the same as
the script mark found on the pla
planes shown here. What’s more, the rounded and sloping
chamfers on the shoulders and the ends do not correspond with wooden Mathieson (or
Stewart) planes from that period. They are, however, identical to earlier planes.
Queensland collector Ray Webb kindly sent me a picture of his super rare early Mathieson
mitre plane with an identical script mark plus an incuse type mark of Glasgow. In my
estimate this mark pre-dates 1850. The Mathieson script mark on the wooden planes
es
might be as early as the type one mark.
Top and right: Ray Webb’s very early Mathieson mitre plane. This
plane was most probably made by Spiers and sold with the
Mathieson mark around 1850.

Postcards from George Anderson

Top: Part of George Anderson’s impressive Mathieson display. Best in Show from us.
Right: Meet the maker: Mathieson mitre plane on the Mathieson headstone in Glasgow Necropolis. George took this
picture on his pilgrimage to Scotland. Also an avid Norris collector he tried to capture a corresponding image on the
grave of Thomas Norris senior only to find that Thomas Norris senior is buried in an unmarked grave.
 51

Robert Endellicate kindly sent me these pictures of a most unusual double sided Mathieson plough plane.
Both bodies have early Mathieson Edinburgh markings, both have the iron sitting very close to the edge –
hence the brass plate to strengthen the sides. The brass slide is inlayed into the fence arms and the bodies are
secured with set screws from the top. The bodies should be side by side as illustrated in the last picture below
(fence is reversed in the pic). A plane like this would obviously cut two parallel grooves of the same or
different width. I have no doubt that this is a factory made plane. The “pre-son” Mathieson Edinburgh mark is
scarce.

The next seven pages are copies from one of our

auction catalogues with the original estimates and
prices realised.
 52

37

35 (3) 38

39
36
40
35 Lot of three Mathieson rosewood torpedo levels 21A, 21C, 21M
2 x 9” and one 12” long. One plumb vial dry. G/G+ $ 20-40 SOLD $ 55

36 Excellent Mathieson No 21C presentation

torpedo level with walnut infill. 9 ½ “ long, a
36
very unusual size! G+ $ 30-60 SOLD $ 106
37 Mathieson 14D 12” ebony
level with brass sole and ornate
brass decorations. VG apart
from one missing sliver of wood
on the far l/h side. G $ 100-200 37
SOLD $ 150

38 Mathieson 14C 10” ebony level with

brass feet and ornate brass decorations.
Rounded edge, slightly buckled top plate 38
and a nick on the r/h front. Still G $ 70-
140 SOLD $ 100
39 A similar lot in very good condition
with just a few minor nicks along the top 39
edge. G+ $ 80-150 SOLD $ 120
40 Mathieson 92C 10” ebony and brass
level with brass feet. Minuscule nicks
along bottom edge. G+ 70-120 40
SOLD $ 120
41 Mathieson 7C 8” ebony level with
brass feet. One 2” crack from front port
to the left. G- $ 30-40 SOLD $ 75
42 Mathieson 90C 11” rosewood level 41
with brass feet. Top plate with custom
added decorations and owner’s marks.
G $ 30-60 SOLD $ 55 42
43 Mathieson 7C S.P. 10” level with
brass slide vial protector. Rosewood
with brass feet. G $ 40-80 SOLD $ 75
43

44 (2)

45 (3)
44 A miniature slide rule in leather
case. 4 ¾ “, marked Sum Hemmi
45 Three Mathieson 70 A,B,C mahogany levels, sizes 18”, 24”, 30” . Two replaced
(Japan) plus an unmarked 6” ebony
vials, all with plumb vials. G
G-/G 30 40 SOLD $ 60
/G $ 30-40
parallel rule. G $ 10-20 SOLD $ 27

47
46 (3) 47 Ebony mortise gauge
with brass fittings marked
Mathieson. One minor
46 Three Mathieson 2A & C mahogany levels, 8”, 9” & hairline crack on stem,
12”. One vial replaced. Fr/G $ 20-30 SOLD $ 50 several neat owner’s
marks. G+ $ 40-80
SOLD $85

48
50 Mathieson 11 bridle plough with
ebony stems and boxwood end stem
wedges. The plane body is not
marked Mathieson. The markings on
the toe are S.&A.D. Mech Lab under
a crown. The bridle is marked
Mathieson, Glasgow. No model
number on heel. G+ $ 500 - 1,000
SOLD $ 500
52
52 Mathieson 4 sash filletster
plane with boxwood stem
wedges. Brisbane dealer mark
of Muller Bros on toe. Sides a
bit overcleaned. $ 30-50
SOLD $ 90
55
55 Mathieson No 8 sash filletster
plane with boxwood stems and
nuts and dovetailed boxwood sole.
Very minor damage to one arm
otherwise G+ $ 80-150 SOLD $ 100
53
48 Mathieson No 10 plough plane with brass stems.
Finials on the stem ends are new additions. I suspect
there was a repair done to the brass part of the fence as 49
well (painted black). There is one repaired crack in the
body. Overall still G $ 400 – 800 SOLD $ 950
49 Outstanding Mathieson 7
sash filletster in close to mint
condition. Two neat owner’s
marks. F $ 150 - 300 SOLD
$305
50
51
51 Very little used Mathieson 5B plough
53 plane with boxwood stem wedges and
protruding skate front. A few very minor
scratches but still F $ 60-120 SOLD $ 60
54
53 Rare Mathieson 14 bridle sash filletster
with ebony stems and boxwood end stem
wedges. Some pitting marks on steel bridle,
very minor discolouration to wood. This
plane is pre 1880 and has no number
marking on the heel. G+ $ 600-1,200 SOLD
$1,250
54 Mathieson 10 sash filletster plane
with beech stem wedges and dovetailed
56 boxwood sole. One stem wedge
damaged. Plane has been cleaned, could
do with some wax or oil to make it G+ $
80-150 SOLD $ 71
56 Mathieson 7B screw-stem plough plane
with boxwood stems and nuts. Several neat
owner’s marks on heel and toe. Good
patina, no chips or cracks. G $ 70-150
SOLD $ 170
 54
57 Early Mathieson plough plane with Mathieson Glasgow mark.
Features an extra thumb screw to set the depth stop – a feature
57 used again in some of the later top range planes. Replaced stem 58
wedges. G $ 30-60 SOLD $ 115
58 Mathieson No 2 plough plane.
“Economy” model with wooden depth
stop and simple ferrules as end stem
covers (two are damaged from hammer
blows). G $ 20-40 SOLD $ 60

60
61
59

60 Mathieson No 12 sash filletster plane

59 Mathieson No 4 plough plane in very
good original condition. Both stem
wedges damaged, otherwise G+ $ 30-50
SOLD $ 20
with dovetailed boxwood sole, boxwood
stems, nuts and nicker wedge. Replaced
cutter wedge. G+ $ 150-250 SOLD $ 450
61 Mathieson No 9 plough plane with
boxwood stems and nuts. Minor
bruising marks to main wedge. Little
150-250 SOLD
used tool. G+ $ 150 OLD $ 205

62 Scarce double sided Mathieson No 17

filletster plane with boxwood stem – and
62
63
nicker wedges and dovetailed boxwood sole.
Little used tool with crisp edges. F $ 250-500
SOLD $ 685

64

63 Mathieson 7 plough plane with boxwood stems and

nuts. ¾” spot of thread damage to one stem, otherwise a
very good plane. G $ 70-120 SOLD $ 135

64 This is the earliest Mathieson sash filletster I’ve ever come

across. Unfortunately this plane has been overcleaned and lost 65
the patina that should match the age. Fr $ 20-40 SOLD $ 55

64A 64A Mathieson 8B plough plane

with protruding skate front and
closed handle. Wedges replaced,
rest original and G+ $ 70-120
SOLD $ 126
65 Mathieson 11 sash filletster plane with boxed sole
insert, boxwood stems and nuts. Both stems have 1 and
1 ¼ “ of thread damage at the inner end. Plane has been
cleaned. G $ 70-150 SOLD $ 100
 55

66 Outstanding Mathieson 5 sash filletster 66

with boxwood stem – and nicker wedges.
Crisp edges, perfect patina. Just a few minor
nicks from handling – I’m pretty sure this
plane hasn’t done a day’s work. F $ 150-250
SOLD $ 236
68

67

69

68 Mathieson 9 sash filletster plane. All

wedges are replacements. The boxwood
67 Mathieson 6 sash filletster wear strip has been secured with extra
plane. Boxwood stem wedges, screws through the side. Few nicks and
nicker- and cutter wedges are minor cracks. Cleaned. G- $ 60-100
replacements. Nice patina. SOLD $ 85
Cleaned. G+ $ 50-100 SOLD $ 85 71

70 69 Mathieson 9B plough plane with protruding

skate front. Some bruising to cutter wedge, one
of the inner boxwood nuts looks like a
replacement. Minor age cracks. Good stems. G
$ 80-150 SOLD $ 137

71 Mathieson 8 plough plane with

72 closed handle. Replaced wedges.
70 Mathieson 3 sash filletster plane. Cleaned. Minor age cracks. G $ 60
60-
Economy model in very good, original 100 SOLD $ 125
condition. G+ $ 30-50 SOLD $ 36
72 Very rare Mathieson 25 moving
filletster with closed handle.
73 Dovetailed boxwood sole and
boxwood nicker wedge. Nicker is
missing. Very hard to find plane.
74 G+ $ 100-200 SOLD $ 250

76

73 Early Mathieson moving filletster plane

with dovetailed boxwood sole and
boxwood nicker wedge. Cleaned. G $ 40-80
SOLD $ 90
74 Mathieson No 22 moving filletster with
boxwood sole insert and boxwood nicker 75
wedge. Nice patina. G+ $ 50-100 SOLD $ 90
75 Mathieson No 20 moving filletster with 76 Mathieson No 21 moving filletster with
external brass depth stop. Boxwood nicker external brass depth stop and boxwood
wedge. Little used plane in very good, insert to side and sole. Minor nicks from age
original condition. G+ $ 30-70 SOLD $ 75 and use. Nice patina. G+ $ 30-70 SOLD $ 75
 56

77
SOLD $ 55SOLD $ 55 78 79

77 Rare Mathieson shouldering plane with

brass side and nicker with boxwood wedge. 7”
long. Little used. Listed as No 841 in early
Mathieson catalogues. (often sold as dovetail
planes) F $ 50-90 SOLD $ 150
80
78 Rare pair of Mathieson double iron
sash moulders marked 1 & 2 on toe. 79 Another rare pair of Mathieson
Early Edinburgh mark. G+ $ 100-200 double iron sash moulders. Hardly
SOLD $ 260 used. Marked 1 & 2 on heel, also
marked 5/8 and No 192. F $ 150-250
81 SOLD $ 237

82

81 Mathieson double iron ogee and bead. 2 7/8” wide. Marked

80 Massive 3” wide double iron ogee with 108 and ¾ on heel. A few minor dings. G+ $ 60-120 SOLD $ 98
Mathieson Glasgow mark. One wedge is a 82 Mathieson double iron ogee (cornice plane) 2 3/8“ wide.
replacement. G $ 60 120 SOLD $ 160
60-120 Edinburgh mark. G $ 40-80 SOLD $ 120

83
84

84 Early Mathieson double iron moulder with custom altered (sash) profile. G
$ 60-120 SOLD $ 120

83 Complex Mathieson astragal with

reverse ogee. Marked No 174 5/8 on heel. 86 87
Plane is 2 ¼ “ wide. G+ $ 50-100 SOLD $ 92

85

86 Mathieson glass check plane in 87 Mathieson ovolo and astragal.

G+ condition. G+ 40-70 SOLD $ 51 Plane is 2 ¾” wide. G+ $ 40-70
85 Pair of matched Mathieson sash planes SOLD $ 22
marked 1 and 2 , 5/8 No 178 on heel.
Owner’s mark on toe. F $ 40-70 SOLD $ 62
89
90

88

88 Pair of Mathieson 1&2 sash planes No 404

5/8. Cleaned. G $20-40 SOLD $ 40
89 A similar lot marked 534 ½ G $ 20-40
SOLD $15
90 Early Mathieson grooving plane
with wide fence and internal depth
stop. 7” x 2 ¾”. G+ $ 30-70
SOLD $ 90
 57
92
93 94

91
SOLD $ 55
91 Two Mathieson Gothic shaves ,
both with Mathieson cutters. Marked
5/8 & ¾. G $ 20-40 SOLD $ 55
92 Mathieson ebony and brass mortise gauge. Both
pins good. G+ $ 30-60 SOLD $ 74 94 Wagon brace & Scotch brace,
93 Little used Mathieson rosewood mortise gauge. both marked Mathieson.
Most of the original finish is intact. F $ 30-60 G $ 40-60 SOLD $ 90
SOLD $ 55

95
95 6 ½ “ Mathieson screwdriver
with re-finished boxwood handle.
G+ $10-20 SOLD $ 18
97 (5)
96
96 Outstanding 9 ½ “ Mathieson spokeshave in little
used condition. F $ 20-40 SOLD $ 580
97 Assorted lot of turnscrews and screwdrivers. Three
are marked Mathieson. G $ 20-40 SOLD $ 65

100
98

98 Good lot of brace bits, all marked

Mathieson. G+ $ 15-30 SOLD $ 45

101
99
100 Good lot of 5 gouges and two
99 Mathieson 14” brass-back tenon saw chisels, all Mathieson. Two with decal
with very good markings on back and on handle. G+ 60-120 SOLD $ 132 101 Mathieson 10” brass-back
handle. Minor rust spots. G+ $ 30-50 dovetail. Moderate rust/pitting on
SOLD $ 62 blade, good handle. G $ 30-50
SOLD $ 70
103
102 (2) 104
103 5” gents saw marked
Mathieson. Few minor rust spots 104 Clean Mathieson 20” panel saw with
102 Two Mathieson steel-back saws. 12” tenon show up worse in pic. G+ $ 30-5050 excellent Liverpool mark on blade and
with pitting G- and clean 10” dovetail with very SOLD $ 70 Glasgow mark on handle. Very collectable
mild pitting spots. G+ $ 20-30 SOLD $ 68 saw. G+ $ 50-100 SOLD $ 185

105 107 108

105 Mathieson 26” 6TPI hand saw with very good handle.
Blade is actually very clean, apart from a few marks to the SOLD $ 90 SOLD $ 125
SOLD $ 90
front. Marked Mathieson on blade G $ 20 20-30 SOLD $ 65 SOLD $ 90
SOLD $ 32
105A
106

109 110 111

105A Mathieson 770C grooving plane with 3 cutters in
box. G+ $ 50-100 SOLD $ 90
106 Another Mathieson 770C with three cutters in box
without label. G+ 40-80 SOLD $ 70
107 Set of No 1-8 Mathieson plough plane cutters. All G+ $ 30-60
108 Lot of 8 (not a set) mixed makers plough plane cutters. G $ 10-20
109 Set of No 1-8 Mathieson plough plane cutters. All G+ $ 30-50
110 Set of Mathieson No 1-8 cutters in canvas bag. Flattened tops,
probably custom made for easier adjustment. G+ $ 30-60
111 Set of 8 plough plane cutters marked P. Law. Early. G+ $ 20-40
 58
236 Lot of 13 Mathieson Hollows and
Rounds. The pair on the right has an
interesting Mathieson script mark -
probably an owner’s mark *) G+ $ 80-150
*)see page 50 SOLD $ 300

236213
(13)(3)

237 (11)

237 Lot of 7 Mathieson rebate planes plus four

238 (5) Mathieson T & G planes. G/G+ $ 40-70 SOLD $ 68

239
240 241 (6)

238 Lot of five Mathieson sash moulders

including # 184 ½ 186 5/8 534 ½, 404 5/8
and 3/8. All G+ $ 40-70 SOLD $ 76
239 Mathieson Scotch brace 241 Lot of 6 assorted Mathieson sash moulders.
with ebony head and brass G/G+ $ 40-70 SOLD $ 71
cover. G+ $ 40-80 SOLD $ 90
240 Similar lot with cocobolo
head. Some rust. G $ 30-60
SOLD $ 60

242 (8) 244 (7)

242 Lot of eight assorted Mathieson beading 244 Lot of seven assorted Mathieson
planes. G+ $ 50-100 SOLD $ 100 243 (7)
beading planes. G/G+ $ 40-80
243 Lot of seven assorted Mathieson beading SOLD $ 95
planes. G/G+ $ 40-80 SOLD $ 85

245 246 (4)

SOLD at an average of $ 35

248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255

245 Mathieson drawer bottom plane with 248 Mathieson ¼” dado G $ 20-40
fence and one cutter. Partial decal on side. G+ 249 Mathieson 3/8” dado G $ 20-40
$ 20-40 SOLD $ 40 250 Mathieson 1 1/8” dado with wooden d/s G $ 20-40
246 Mathieson 22” jointer with decal, a 17” 251 Mathieson ¾” dado with wooden d/s G $ 20-40
247 Mathieson jack, a 17” Mathieson badger with 252 Mathieson ¾” dado G $ 20-40
a stress crack on one side and a late model, 253 Mathieson 7/8” dado G $ 20-40
unmarked 14 razee style jack with Mathieson
254 Mathieson l/h 3/8” dado G $ 20-40
cutter. All G or better. $ 50-100 SOLD $ 105
255 Mathieson l/h ½“ dado G $ 20-40
247 Mathieson Tongue and Groove plane with decal on side. This late model plane was fitted with an
adjustable fence that actually held Australian patent 24039/35 lodged August 20, 1935. Probably one
of the last Mathieson inventions before the war and the collapse of the plane business. G+ $40-80
 59
Dating Features on Mathieson Steel Planes

1850 script mark 0 star mark

1860 1890
Early Mathieson steel planes are scarce, dating features therefore are Saracen logo can be found
based on relatively few documented examples. All the early planes have on either side of the name
distinctive Spiers characteristics.

Mathieson was the only major plane maker in the United Kingdom who had his own foundry. It
seems logical that he produced cast iron plane bodies from around 1860 for resale. However, few
cast iron wood infilled genuine Mathieson planes from that period have shown up so far. Fake A.
Mathieson & Son marks have been found on a number of planes sold as early and rare. The seller
punch-marked those fakes with his own copy of the relatively late mark of A. Mathieson & Son,
Glasgow.
With the odd exception, planes with lever caps should be marked Mathieson, Glasgow on the lever
cap. Planes with wedges have the same mark on the brass bridge.
The earliest documented Mathieson mark on a steel plane is the one shown above on the left. The
plane was made by Spiers. I suspect that other planes will eventually show up but to-date only mitre
planes of this vintage have been documented. The second Mathieson Glasgow mark covered the
period from ca 1860-80. It featured a star logo – unlike the later marks that showed the Saracen
symbol of the crescent and the star to represent the Saracen Tool Works. The star mark has been
found on mitre planes and smoothers as well as panel planes. It was also used on other Mathieson
tools from the period. Most dovetailed infill planes from this period have enough Spiers
characteristics to attribute them to this maker but they could well have been made or finished in the
Mathieson factory. The question will definitely need further investigation.
The vast majority of the known Mathieson smoothers, panel planes and jointers are from the third
generation with the Saracen lever cap screw and the two-line Mathieson Glasgow mark on the lever
cap. The Saracen logo can be found on either side of the name. Mathieson continued making them
right up to the late 1930s.
Mathieson was a prolific maker of wooden planes. Like all traditional plane makers he would
initially have bought steel mitre planes from other sources. It seems fairly obvious that Mathieson
was not a maker of dovetailed steel infill planes until they became fashionable and sold in numbers
big enough to take up production in the Saracen Tool Works.

Collector’s dream: an
outstanding assortment of
early Mathieson planes.
Take away the maker’s
name on the lever caps
and you could be looking
at an assembly of early
George Anderson picture
Spiers planes.
 60

Spiers or Mathieson?
Given the close proximity and the timeline of these two Scottish plane makers, the question of the
dovetailed chicken and egg – if you pardon the pun- certainly deserves a chapter of its own.
According to the recollection of his daughter, Stewart Spiers bought an iron plane body and infilled
it sometime around 1840. Some writers suggested that he bought that plane body from Mathieson.
I doubt that this was the case but we are mostly dealing in hypotheticals so everything is open for
discussion.
In 1840 Alexander Mathieson employed four workers plus possibly quite a few outworkers as was
common in the mid 19th century. This might not seem much today but back then it was a decent
business size that produced a good middle class income. Ten years later the Mathieson business had
doubled in size.
Mathieson was already a prolific maker of wooden planes by the time Spiers came onto the scene.
Spiers was the same age as Alexander Mathieson’s son Thomas. The two men represented the new
generation of plane makers who realised that metal planes were the way of the future. Thomas
Mathieson went even further. He wanted an edge tool factory with his own foundry and he got it by
design or by chance when MacFarlane moved in and out of Saracen Lane between 1851 and 1861.
By then Spiers was already selling his dovetailed steel planes to scores of traditional plane makers.
I’m convinced that Mathieson was one of them. The question is: For how long? Would Thomas
Mathieson have bought steel planes from Spiers when he was perfectly capable of making them
himself in his edge tool manufactory?
I guess the answer is in the economy of scale. Mathieson did well with his wooden planes. The odd
steel mitre plane he sold did not warrant setting up a metal plane production line. That would have
changed rapidly with the advance of metal planes. It seems logical that an astute businessman like
Thomas Mathieson would not have allowed others to take over his considerable market share in the
plane business.
From what point on Mathieson planes were exclusively made in the Mathieson factory is to a large
extend of little importance as far as value and collectability are concerned. The Mathieson brand
sells better than Spiers, no matter
matte what factory it came from. Based on the limited source material
available to-date it could have been as early as 1870 or as late as 1890 while some planes might
never have been made there at all.

Early Mathieson smoother with Spiers

characteristic from the John Daniel collection

Right: Rare and early Mathieson smoother

with parallel sides and closed handle. Very
few Mathieson planes of this vintage and
design have been documented.
George Anderson picture