Description

Rare Birdsill Holly Patented 1852 Metallic Plane — 9″

First Commercially Successful Metallic Plane • 2″ Casey & Kitchel Cutter • Early American Landmark Tool
A rare and important Birdsill Holly 9″ Metallic Plane, patented in 1852, widely recognized as the first commercially successful metallic plane ever produced. This is a foundational piece in the history of American plane‑making, representing the earliest transition from wooden planes to cast‑metal bodies.
A very similar example is illustrated in PTAMPIA II, page 18, underscoring its historical significance and scarcity. This plane is fitted with a 2″ Casey & Kitchel cutter, appropriate for the period and a desirable pairing for collectors.
The tote has a chip and is loose at the bottom, the result of natural shrinkage over roughly 175 years—a common and expected condition issue on these early planes due to age and wood movement.
Examples of Holly’s planes seldom appear on the market, and this one remains a strong, honest survivor of an extremely early and influential design.

Always free shipping from Michael Rouillard Tools.