What Is This Tool?

[cabinetman]

.

[crokett]

If the profile of the iron matches the opening, I would say it is for rounding over corners - like making dowels, etc. It is some sort of plane. Maybe for making cove moulding?

[pelligrini]

Looks like an older concave spokeshave for work on convex shapes. Can't read the stampings very well. Is there something on the iron too? How big is it?

[Uncle Cracker]

My guess would be a real spokeshave, like for wagon spokes.

[annunaki]

The Strap is missing

It's a Wife Shutter.
Curved part goes in mouth, strap (missing) goes around back of head from handle to handle. Especially usefull during "I told you so moments"!

[herb fellows]

There will be coal in your stocking!

[vaking]

a router. Before electric routers there were handheld routers in use that looked similar to spokeshaves.

[BobSch]

a router. Before electric routers there were handheld routers in use that looked similar to spokeshaves.

Okay, I want to see it spinning at 20K

[phi1l]

yup, .. I go with spoke shave...

[cabinetman]

David and Erik come in very close as runner ups. They both had a conception for what the tool could be. I applaud their bravery.

My guess would be a real spokeshave, like for wagon spokes.

UC - Although you didn't really name the tool, I give you first place. I am disappointed that you didn't...I had very high hopes for you. But, congratulations anyway.

The tool is called a Wheelwrights' Jarvis. Spokeshave is like a newer catch-all word. Those guys that made wood spokes were called Wheelwrights. Now, no matter how trivial this all may seem, ya-all gotta admit you learned something new today.

Here is a tidbit about Wheelwrights.
.

[vaking]

Okay, I want to see it spinning at 20K

What used to be called router before electric routers came about today are called "router plane". Can you imagine this spinning?
http://www.wkfinetools.com/contrib/c...es/rPlane1.asp

[Uncle Cracker]

UC - Although you didn't really name the tool, I give you first place. I am disappointed that you didn't...I had very high hopes for you. But, congratulations anyway.

The tool is called a Wheelwrights' Jarvis. Spokeshave is like a newer catch-all word. Those guys that made wood spokes were called Wheelwrights. Now, no matter how trivial this all may seem, ya-all gotta admit you learned something new today.

I knew what a wheelwright was, but I thought Jarvis was the guy who worked for the drycleaner around the corner from my house...

[leehljp]

My guess would be a real spokeshave, like for wagon spokes.

That was my thought exactly! Too small and plain to be a chair or furniture spokeshave.

I have a couple of spoke shaves back in the States. I might even have one here somewhere.

[Tamarack]

My grandfather was a wheelwright when he was a young man, but had disposed of all his tools long before I came along. I wish I could have seen him at work.

Paul