R Farnham

R Farnham plane assessment 2-16-2026

On 2-16-2026, the editor was privileged to examine the R Farnham planes with their new caretaker. The R Farnham planes exhibit varied 18th C features which can be labeled "earlier - mid - later" based primarily on the wedge and chamfer / chamfer stop details. The design details show a variation typically attributed to planes made over a period of roughly 1775 to 1800 in SE MA and RI. In contrast, if Robert Farnham made the planes, they would have been made over a limited 10-year period of ca 1790 to 1800. The question to be answered was; did Robert Farnham make these planes, and if so, did he make them in whole or in part?

 

The “earlier” planes (two molders) have tall, relieved wedges and narrow flat chamfers that end with flutes. The chamfer stops have a step followed by a simple curved turn out. The bulk of the "mid-range" R Farnham planes have the same chamfer stop and chamfer details without the flutes. The wedges are similar to those on the planes with "earlier" features.  The four planes which have "later" features are a sash, dado, dust trim molder and panel raising plane with the primary defining feature being small heavily rounded chamfers to the top of the bodies. The chamfer stops remain unchanged and the wedges that were deemed original (the sash plane) retain their tall relieved profile.

 

One R Farnham marked molder exhibited construction details that do not fit with the other planes. It has wider flat chamfers, a flat back wedge and chamfer stops that end with a flat taper. We felt that this plane, although marked by R Farnham, was not made by him. It likely dates to about 1780 - 1790.

 

Several R Farnham molding planes have wedges which do not follow the general tall form of the other wedges. These are made of oak or hickory with a patina that is a bit lighter in color for two of the three planes. These wedges are found on the dado plane and the two molders on the lower row in the second group photograph. We felt these wedges are period replacements made by a later craftsman. 

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All three "earlier - mid - later" groups of planes exhibited additional common design traits, in addition to the tall wedge form and the step / turn out chamfer stops. These details include; all but one of the planes being made of birch, the shoulders ending with full width chamfers (similar to those found on Jo Fuller D2 molders), a common radius to the heels and subtle molder escapement layout marks which include faint scribe lines defining the wedge mortise and several planes with small nibs cut above the escapement at the intersection with the scribe lines. The wedge reliefs vary in length with respect to the finial length without tying into a particular "earlier - mid – later” timeline designation. One of the “earlier” molders and one of the “mid-range” molders have reliefs that are limited in length and resemble classic Jo Fuller wedges on molders with the GAWP5 defined D2 imprint.

 

​Based on the similarities of the construction details and design elements described above, we felt that all the R Farnham planes (excepting the flat backed wedge example) were made by R Farmham ... despite the variations exhibited in the "earlier - mid - later" groups. Truly, an exciting set of planes!