Measuring and marking
Mary Rose ruler 81A4854 (1545, England)
An interpretation of Mary Rose Museum object number 81A4854 in Australian yellow boxwood. Incised lines, red and black paint.
References:
Stirrup, T. (1651). The artificers plain scale, or, The carpenters new rule: in two parts … : also, how to take heights and distances severall wayes, and to draw the plot of a town or city. United Kingdom, London: Printed by R. & W. Leybourn, for Thomas Pirrepont, at the Sun in Pauls Church yard.
Gardiner, J., Allen, M.J., Alburger, M.A. and others. (2005). Before the Mast – Life and Death Aboard the Mary Rose (Archaeology of the Mary Rose Volume 4). United Kingdom, Portsmouth: The Mary Rose Trust.
Mary Rose chalk line 81A2535, 1545
Field maple, hemp string, chalk, leather.
References:
Gardiner, J., Allen, M.J., Alburger, M.A. and others. (2005). Before the Mast – Life and Death Aboard the Mary Rose (Archaeology of the Mary Rose Volume 4). United Kingdom, Portsmouth: The Mary Rose Trust.
Planes
Hedeby arrow plane (10th century, Denmark)
The arrow shaft plane is a piece of wood, bone or horn that is used with a sharp knife to round split timber. It has one or more notches on the outside. A knife blade is held in the notch and the plane is slid up and down the shaft removing slices of wood from the arrow shaft. It makes it much easier to guide the knife to taper and round the shaft without the risk of the knife digging in too deeply.
They appear to have been common in northern and eastern Europe, with examples from the 9th to 20th century in wood, bone, horn or antler coming from Germany, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Lithuania Finland and Siberia. They were still being made and used to round wooden shafts at the start of the 20th century, and there’s no discernible difference between those made in the 9th century and those from the 20th. If you really need a measurement, the originals are between 65 and 85mm long, and there’s no pattern to the placement, direction, or angle of the notches.
This example in English oak grown at Lawson, NSW. It featured in our Historical Replica Construction – Vikings: volume 3.
References:
Jankhun, H. (1943). Die ausgrabungen Haithabu, 1937-39. Germany, Berlin-Dahlem: Ahnenerbe-Stiftung.
Medvedev, A. F. (1966). Ручное метательное оружие. Лук и стрелы, самострел. VIII–XIV [Hand throwing weapons (bow and arrows, crossbow). 8th-14th century ]. Collection of Archaeological Sources of the USSR, Issue E1-36. Russia, Moscow: Science. archaeolog.ru/el-bib/el-cat/el-series/svod-arch/sai-e1-36_1966
Scytta. (2024, February 25). Some Useful New Papers On Arrow Planes. Scytta – Recreating Early Medieval Archery. [blog post]. scytta.wordpress.com/2024/02/25/some-useful-new-papers-on-arrow-planes/
Mary Rose fore plane (1545, England)
Currently being made! This plane will appear in our book Historical Replica Construction – Mary Rose: volume 1 in 2027.
References:
Gardiner, J., Allen, M.J., Alburger, M.A. and others. (2005). Before the Mast – Life and Death Aboard the Mary Rose (Archaeology of the Mary Rose Volume 4). United Kingdom, Portsmouth: The Mary Rose Trust.
Mary Rose arrow planes (1545, England)
Pair of arrow planes, objects 81A1039 and 81A1040from the Mary Rose. Curved plane irons are based on those from the Nova Zembla expedition (1596) by Willem Barentz, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
These planes will appear in our forthcoming book, Historical Replica Construction – Mary Rose: volume 2.
References:
Gardiner, J., Allen, M.J., Alburger, M.A. and others. (2005). Before the Mast – Life and Death Aboard the Mary Rose (Archaeology of the Mary Rose Volume 4). United Kingdom, Portsmouth: The Mary Rose Trust.
Marijn (2015, February 6). The medieval toolchest: the plane (part 5): moulding planes. St Thomas Guild. thomasguild.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-medieval-toolchest-plane-part-5.html
Vasa fore plane (1628, Holland)
Dimensionally accurate length and height and 2mm narrower than the original, VASA 18451, made from European Beech by me. The blade is in wrought iron with tool steel (1075) welded edge, made by Bjorn Blacksmith.
This was the only plane found in the carpenter’s chest. The chest was found on the orlop level of the ship. The tool chest also contained a set of braces, a square, a bevel gauge, a ruler, several hammer, axe and adze handles, and a greasebox.
References:
Vasamuseet. (2022, October 24). Dutch-style smoothing plane. www.vasamuseet.se/en/collections/find-in-focus/dutch-style-smoothing-plane
Robinson, W. (2025, 20 March). Plane making – a rabbit hole. The Reverend’s Musings. leatherworkingreverendsmusings.wordpress.com/2025/03/20/plane-making-a-rabbit-hole/
Mike. (2019, January 20). The aesthetics of Moxon. Working by hand. workingbyhand.wordpress.com/2019/01/20/the-aesthetics-of-moxon/ [blog post]
Schwarz, C. (2008, January 26). Fascination with Fore Planes. Lost Art Press. blog.lostartpress.com/2008/01/26/fascination-with-fore-planes/
Follansbee, P. (2010, January 3). planes; now & then. Peter Follansbee: Joiners Notes. pfollansbee.wordpress.com/2010/01/03/planes-now-then/
Follansbee, P. (2010, January 5). further thoughts on fore planes, scrub planes. Peter Follansbee: Joiners Notes. pfollansbee.wordpress.com/2010/01/05/further-thoughts-on-fore-planes-scrub-planes/
Cutting tools
Wooden axe cover
Wooden axe covers are documented from the Viking period onwards. This one is for a 17th century group, made in field maple with leather ties.
References:
Stuart. R. (1995). Agricultural Hand Tools 1580-1660. United Kingdon, Bristol: Stuart Press. 32
Holme, R. (1688). The academy of armory, or, A storehouse of armory and blazon containing the several variety of created beings, and how born in coats of arms, both foreign and domestick : with the instruments used in all trades and sciences, together with their their terms of art : also the etymologies, definitions, and historical observations on the same, explicated and explained according to our modern language : very usefel [sic] for all gentlemen, scholars, divines, and all such as desire any knowledge in arts and sciences. United Kingdom, Chester: Printed for the author.
Leather axe cover
Leather axe covers are a relatively modern development. This one is for a 17th century group, made in leather.
References:
Stuart. R. (1995). Agricultural Hand Tools 1580-1660. United Kingdom, Bristol: Stuart Press. 32
Holme, R. (1688). The academy of armory, or, A storehouse of armory and blazon containing the several variety of created beings, and how born in coats of arms, both foreign and domestick : with the instruments used in all trades and sciences, together with their their terms of art : also the etymologies, definitions, and historical observations on the same, explicated and explained according to our modern language : very usefel [sic] for all gentlemen, scholars, divines, and all such as desire any knowledge in arts and sciences. United Kingdom, Chester: Printed for the author.
Mary Rose chisel handle 82A0978, 1545
Octagonal handle in oak. 19th C Swedish gouge.
References:
Gardiner, J., Allen, M.J., Alburger, M.A. and others. (2005). Before the Mast – Life and Death Aboard the Mary Rose (Archaeology of the Mary Rose Volume 4). United Kingdom, Portsmouth: The Mary Rose Trust.
Hammers and mallets
Mary Rose mallet (1545, England)
Interpretation of Mary Rose mallet 81A5699, in jarrah with grey gum handle. The head is made from a recovered joist, the handle a stick from the back yard.
References:
Gardiner, J., Allen, M.J., Alburger, M.A. and others. (2005). Before the Mast – Life and Death Aboard the Mary Rose (Archaeology of the Mary Rose Volume 4). United Kingdom, Portsmouth: The Mary Rose Trust. 309.
Holme, R. (1688). The academy of armory, or, A storehouse of armory and blazon containing the several variety of created beings, and how born in coats of arms, both foreign and domestick : with the instruments used in all trades and sciences, together with their their terms of art : also the etymologies, definitions, and historical observations on the same, explicated and explained according to our modern language : very usefel [sic] for all gentlemen, scholars, divines, and all such as desire any knowledge in arts and sciences. United Kingdom, Chester: Printed for the author.
Iron bound mallet (17th-20th C, England)
Interpretation of a more generic mallet bound with iron rings, in jarrah with hickory handle. The head is made from a recovered joist, the handle a recycled sledge hammer handle.
References:
Stuart. R. (1995). Agricultural Hand Tools 1580-1660. United Kingdon, Bristol: Stuart Press. 32
Holme, R. (1688). The academy of armory, or, A storehouse of armory and blazon containing the several variety of created beings, and how born in coats of arms, both foreign and domestick : with the instruments used in all trades and sciences, together with their their terms of art : also the etymologies, definitions, and historical observations on the same, explicated and explained according to our modern language : very usefel [sic] for all gentlemen, scholars, divines, and all such as desire any knowledge in arts and sciences. United Kingdom, Chester: Printed for the author.
Workbenches
Romance of Alexander workbench
Six-legged workbench from The Romance of Alexander, Bodleian Library MS. Bodl. 264. Fol. 123v shows two fletchers making darts. MMS finished by the scribe in 1338 and by the illuminator, Jehan de Grise, in 1344. Another six-legged workbench is depicted in the altarpiece of St John’s Church, Gouda, 1565.
This one has a thicker top to use with holdfasts. We’ve found the additional legs helps keep the bench stable when planing on it. Riven silky oak top adze dressed, she-oak legs, both grown in our yard.
References:
de Grise, J [illuminator]. (1338-1344). The Romance of Alexander. Bodleian Library MS. Bodl. 264. Fol. 123v. digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/ae9f6cca-ae5c-4149-8fe4-95e6eca1f73c/surfaces/456927b8-b60a-4815-834d-95d25a7d99a6/
Schwarz, C.(2017). Roman Workbenches. United States, Kentucky: Lost Art Press LLC.
Schwarz, C. (2018). Ingenious Mechanicks: Early Workbenches & Workholding. United States, Kentucky: Lost Art Press LLC.
Robinson, W. (2020, November 6). Romance of Alexander workbench. The Reverend’s Musings. leatherworkingreverendsmusings.wordpress.com/2020/11/06/romance-of-alexander-workbench/
Joiner’s workbench
Wierix inspired the legs, top and planing stop. This monster is 8′ long with a top 5″ thick, made from reclaimed Oregon from the previous workshop’s rafters. The planing stop is a copy of one from the Vasa (1628).
References:
Wierix, H. (c. 1580). Life of the infant. [frontispiece].
Galle, J. (c. 1633). Jozef en Christus in de Werkplaats. Netherlands, Amsterdam: Rijksmuseum. https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/jozef-en-christus-in-de-werkplaats-galle-theodoor/DgEmwSBvyAS7Zg?hl=en
Félibien, A. (1699). des Principes de l’architecture. France, Paris: Chez la veuve & Jean Baptiste Coignard fils. https://archive.org/details/desprincipesdela00feli/page/n5/mode/2up
Schwarz, C. (2017). Roman Workbenches. United States, Covington Ohio: Lost Art Press.
Schwarz, C. (2018) Ingenious Mechanicks: Early Workbenches & Workholding. United States, Covington Ohio: Lost Art Press.
Mike. (2023, January 19). The bench of Hieronymous Wierix (< 1619). Working by Hand. workingbyhand.wordpress.com/2023/01/19/the-bench-of-hieronymous-wierix/
Schwarz, C. (2020, November 12). Workbenches: The Missing Links in the Low Countries.blog.lostartpress.com/2020/11/12/workbenches-the-missing-links-in-the-low-countries/
Follansbee, P. (2002). “Manuscripts, Marks, and Material Culture: Sources for Understanding the Joiner’s Trade in Seventeenth Century America”. American Furniture 2002. United States, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Chipstone Foundation. www.chipstone.org/article.php/142/American-Furniture-2002/Manuscripts,-Marks,-and-Material-Culture:-Sources-for-Understanding-the-Joiner’s-Trade-in-Seventeenth-Century-America-
Other historic tools
Hand barrow
Refernces:
Devonshire Probate papers 72 & 110
Stuart, R. (1995). Agricultural Hand Tools 1580-1660. United Kingdon, Bristol: Stuart Press. p22
Holme, R. (1688). The academy of armory, or, A storehouse of armory and blazon containing the several variety of created beings, and how born in coats of arms, both foreign and domestick : with the instruments used in all trades and sciences, together with their their terms of art : also the etymologies, definitions, and historical observations on the same, explicated and explained according to our modern language : very usefel [sic] for all gentlemen, scholars, divines, and all such as desire any knowledge in arts and sciences. United Kingdom, Chester: Printed for the author.
Polissoir
“The polisher, figures 8 & 9, is a sheaf of ordinary grass or straw, about 4 thumbs long, by about 2 thumbs in diameter. This sheaf is bound tightly along its length. Before making use of it, one soaks it in molten wax, which one lets cool, after which one rubs the polisher on a piece of wood to smooth it and make it proper to polish the work. There are polishers of diverse forms and sizes, in order to be able to get into all parts, nooks and crannies.”
Text: Roubo et al., (2013).
References:
Robinson, W. (2022, August 13). Der Polissoir. The Reverend’s Musings. leatherworkingreverendsmusings.wordpress.com/2022/08/13/der-polissoir/
Roubo, A. [author]; Williams, D. Pietryka-Pagán, M., & Lafargue, P.[translators]. (2013). To make as perfectly as possible. (2nd ed.) United States, Covington Ohio: Lost Art Press. [Original work l’Art du Menuisier published 1769].
Roubo, André Jacob. (1769). l’Art du Menuisier [in French]. Vol. 1–4. Paris: Académie des Sciences.