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Thread: Presumably antique workbench
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30th January 2024, 10:29 PM #1New Member
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Presumably antique workbench
Hi there,
I came over a presumably antique woodworking workbench recently and try to find out more about its original use and era.
The workbench came to Germany in about 1995 with a Germany engineer who returned from Japan after working there for 20 years. During this time, he obviously set up a little workshop with woodworking tools and devices he bought there. He brought everything with him when he retired. I never got to know him personally, since he died several years ago.
Talking to some Japanese people I know (none of them carpenters) revealed that some were surprised about such a heavy device only used for planing. Another one told me that in the 80ies (and probably before) such planing logs were to be found in every carpenters workshop. That's about everything I could gather.
I'd be really glad to learn more about this device, if anybody has got some information. In particular, I don't know if the horses have been made in Japan or here in Germany after his return. I would say they look older than 30 years, but this could be wrong.
I'd be happy to provide more information or details if I can. Thank you very much in advance.
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Best,
Markus
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30th January 2024 10:29 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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16th February 2024, 01:37 PM #2Senior Member
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Very interesting. I'm going to take a wild guess and say that this is a German/Japanese hybrid planing bench. I've seen a planing stop let into the beam like that in Japanese beams but adding a holdfast, as far as I know, is Western. And the horses holding the beam look Western to my eye. They seem a little tall and tippy with those short feet, and I think that lower rail might have different joinery if it was Japanese.
I'm no expert and could be completely wrong but happy to spread misinformation!
A fascinating piece. Any idea what wood was used?
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16th February 2024, 09:46 PM #3
Was wondering when someone would come along and add something. I was interested but did not know enough about Japanese woodworking to add any useful comment. I take it that the western gentleman did not like working on the floor so raised the planing beam up on Jananese style saw horses to make a bench he was comfortable with. I would likely have done the same.
Regards
John
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