Sandusky Plow Plane in Ebony & Ivory

Today, I got my hands on the most valuable antique tool ever sold at an auction by Brown Auction Services at the 25th International Antique Tool Auction in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Let me tell you the story.

The History
At one time, the powers that be in the upper echelons of The Sandusky Tool Company created an exhibition-class center-wheel plow plane. The plane was intended for show only and may have been part of the Sandusky display at the 1876 Centennial Exposition. The plane no doubt made a few trips to various shows and expositions but resided at the Sandusky offices until the company was disbanded.

In 1934, the father of the consignor of this tool enjoyed an experience many of us have dreamed of--he went to the factory and bought the best plow plane ever made by them at a tag sale and then came out of the building and showed his new possession to his four-year-old son. He told his son that he had just bought the contents of the whole building to get the plane. The plane has remained in the same family since.

The Plane
The plane consists of an ebony body with the improved beveled handle, ebony fence, ivory arms, bushings, bridle, fence wear plate, wedge, and decorative buttons. The metal skate, center wheel, and arm-attachment nuts, as well as the blade, are all nickel-plated. Of course, being a presentation plane, it has never been used and consequently is in original condition showing slight nickel loss on the skate and blade. When obtained from the Feick home in Florida, the plane was dirty and the nickel was tarnished. The dirt and tarnish has been professionally removed and the plane today retains its original finish and luster.

Anyway, this beauty went up for auction this morning at the Sheraton Inn, Harrisburg, where it was expected to go for something in the range of $40,000 to $60,000 US Dollars, according to the auctioneers. There was much anticipation amongst tool collectors around the world, but nowhere was the buzz greater than on the auction floor when "the plane" in Lot 308 came up for bids. I was excited as a kid in a candy store!

You should have been there. The bidding started higher than it was expected to finish, and it went up and up and up from there. If you want to know how much the Sandusky Presentation Plow Plane eventually sold for, you might just give a listen to the auction bidding. No doubt, this set some kind of world record for an antique tool sale price. Oh yeah, I wasn't the high bidder.