B67-545 FLEXIBLE SOLE PLANE. Type 1 Evans Patent. The earliest patented flexible sole plane, invented by George Evans of Norway, Maine, in 1862. The more common - but still rare - version is often mistaken for the Stanley No. 13 but was manufactured by R.H. Mitchell of Hudson, NY. The original version, manufactured by Evans himself, is as rare as hen's teeth, with only a handful of examples known. It has shield-shaped openings on the cheeks, exposing the full width of the cutter to allow it to cut rabbets, as described in the patent. Japanning 50%, some minor surface oxidation but no pitting, marked with Evans' original 1862 patent date on the brass knob (the one other example we've seen was marked with Evans' 1864 patent). From the collection of Harold Unruh. Good+ 4000-8000