B62-555. EARLY ENGLISH MOLDING PLANE. Francis Purdew. Purdew was active as early as 1680 and is considered by many the first identifiable planemaker. He stamped his planes with an oval mark on the cheek and the mark is always very faint; in this case just barely visible. 1/4" round, 9-1/2" long and 3-1/4" high, wide flat chamfers and fluting. From the collection of Steve Dice. Fine 1000-2000