Plate Edge Planer

This huge horizontal planing machine was used to trim the edges of the large steel plates used in boilers.

Boilers could be very large and had to be strong. This meant it was better to use large steel plates so that fewer joins were needed.

The flat steel plate was clamped into the planer and then the cutting head slowed moved along to cut it. The machine was driven by a belt from an overhead line shaft. Looking at the machine you can see the drum where the belt attached on the right: in fact there are three drums, one to make the cutting tool go left, one to make it go right and one to put the machine into neutral.



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Licensor www.scran.ac.uk

This particular plate edge planer was built in Glasgow around 1890 by the little-known engineering company of Crow Harvie. It was used in the Sheepford Boiler Works of Thomas Hudson and Company as shown in this photograph.