Some scholars feel that the Hebrews developed the first woodworking planes, using a stone chisel inserted through a wooden block. Other experts credit the early Egyptians with its discovery. There are many varieties of planes. Molding planes have been used to cut ornamental profiles in wooden trim since early Roman times. A Victorian era carpenter might have owned several dozen simple molding planes as well as a few more complex styles for cornice work. Picture frames, casement and ceiling moldings, furniture, embellishments, clock and coffin trimmings and many other decorative touches all owe their development to the molding plane. Early Americans used mostly English made woodworking tools prior to the year 1800. Between 1810 and 1840 about two dozen planemakers were engaged full time at the activity, mostly around Philadelphia and New York City. The first planemaking factories were founded in the 1840s and 50s, primarily in Connecticut where industrial leadership had already been established. The average sized firm employed 15 workmen, who produced from 5 to 20 completed tools per day. These were made of beechwood, with few if any metal parts. Wooden plane production peaked a couple of decades later, and then plummeted when Stanley began to mass-produce Leonard-Bailey’s iron-bodied planes starting in 1870.

Henry Bell's Mercantile Store, circa 1891. Courtesy of the Windsor Historical Society.

Henry Bell was born in New York, January 1, 1824, where he grew up on a farm. After learning carpentry skills at an early age, Bell embarked in the cabinet-makers’ trade as well as farming, probably accumulating many woodworking tools. He worked in different parts of New York and Massachusetts until 1850, when he emigrated to California via Panama. Shortly after arriving in San Francisco in August, 1850, Bell headed to Sacramento where he used his carpentry tools to manufacture cradles for washing gold. He then went to Placer County where he tried quartz mining. When winter came, Bell again returned to carpentering in Sacramento. In the summer, when the weather improved he set out for the Yuba River mines. Henry Bell’s mining venture was not successful, and in the spring of 1853 he came to Windsor when he opted to return to farming and carpentry. There he purchased 160 acres for $1.25 an acre. His farm was located where the “village” of Windsor grew up, and today Henry Bell’s house still stands on Windsor River Road across from the historic 1890s Methodist church. After he began farming, Bell recognized his advantageous location, and saw the need for a mercantile store to supply commodities to the growing community. Bell started a store in Windsor which he operated for about eighteen years, while he continued to farm. He also engaged in the lumber business, wagon-making, cabinet-making, under-taking, and dairy businesses. He died in Windsor at age 79 on June 3, 1903, and is buried with his wife, Catherine, in Windsor’s Shiloh Cemetery, along with some of their nine children.

Special thanks to the Windsor Historical Society for sharing the above photo.

The above was researched and written by Whitney Hopkins 

For more information about the Museum's collection of historical artifacts, contact the Museum