Norris Violin Planes

Norris Violin Planes
Norris Violin Plane
as illustrated in the 1914 Norris Catalogue

With Cutting and Toothing Irons. Complete Set, 36/- (1914) or 72/- (1928, 1930)

No. 1.
Flat
No. 2.
Flat
No. 2.
Convex
No. 3.
Flat
No. 4.
Flat
No. 5.
Flat
Price (1908 Price List)
Price (1914 Catalogue) 6/9 6/- 6/- 6/- 6/- 6/-
Price (1928 Catalogue) 13/6 12/- 12/- 12/- 12/- 12/-
Price (1930 Catalogue) 13/6 12/- 12/- 12/- 12/- 12/-

NOTES: These small gunmetal violin planes were available both individually or as a set. They range from between 2⅛” long down to only 1″ long. Five of the six were available with flat soles, while one had a convex sole. It should be noted that the flat soled planes were often modified by the luthier or violin maker and shaped into convex soled planes — especially the smaller ones which are invaluable in shaping the edges around the c-bouts (or waist) of the top and bottom plates.

It is unknown whether Norris had these cast for them or whether they bought in existing planes, from another maker, and then stamped their own mark on them.

Some of these planes have been found marked “TN” — or more specifically with the “N” offset — which is believed to be Thomas Norris’s personal mark. While I have no issue with this, as a maker and restorer I do have concerns about the possibility of forgeries, as stamping an unmarked plane with a TN using a couple of letter stamps is a fairly simple thing to do. I think that a collector should always be aware of this and try to determine the provenance of the plane before parting with their money. Having said that, some if the images below do feature the mark, though I cannot be 100% sure that they are, in fact, Norris planes. However at least they are of the Norris style featured in the catalogues.


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