Carter Tools is another tool manufacturer that filled the gap in hand tool imports caused by wartime shortages after WWII. From our observations and those of other Australian tool experts, it is clear that they were made to a range of quality standards. They can range from the very rough and basic # C4 through a well made and finished C1 to a vernier circumference finder of superb finish.
Carter planes exhibit a high degree of variation in castings (size, thickness and name placement), adjusting screws, blade (shape and markings) and lever cap design. Many of the variations can no doubt be attributed to Carter Tools' use of different foundries.
Carter Tools
Carter Blade Mark
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-blademark4b.jpg
Set of 6 Carter Planes
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-6-planes.jpg
Carter No. 4 size - 'C4'
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-c4mark.jpg
Carter C40 Plow & Groover and original box
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-c40iob.jpg
Carter C54 Plow & Groover Plane, blue painted type with set of cutters and original box
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-c54ver3.jpg
Carter C71 Router with cutters, T stop and original box
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-c71iob.jpg
Carter Centre Finder with Vernier Scale
This photo of a fine example of Carter product was kindly supplied by Fred Murrell.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-centre-finder.jpg
Carter Chain Pipe Vice
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-chainvice.jpg
Casting Comparisons of Carter No. 4 and C4
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-comparison-no4-c4.jpg
Carter Offset Engineers Vice
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-engineers-offsetvice.jpg
Carter Engineers Vice
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-engineersvice.jpg
Carter Engineers Vice - different style
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-engineers-semi-steelvice.jpg
Carter G-Clamp Comparison
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-g-clamps-comparison.jpg
Carter Machine Vice
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-machinevice.jpg
Carter No. 4 in new condition
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-n4-new.jpg
Carter Scrub Plane C10, showing variation in length of casting
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-c10-variation-sm.jpg
Carter No. 4 Planes showing variation in casting size
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-no4-variation.jpg
Carter No 4 - Markings around knob
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-no4mark.jpg
Carter No. 7
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-no7-lt-b.jpg
carterno5.jpg
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carterno5.jpg
Carter C54 Plow Plane - Nickel Plated Type 1
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-no54ver1.jpg
Carter C54 Plow Plane - Nickel Plated Type 2 (note different adjusting mechanism to Type 1)
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-no54ver2.jpg
Carter No. 78 Rebate Plane
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter78.jpg
Carter Pipe Cutter
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-pipecutter.jpg
Carter 'T'-bar Sash Cramp
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-teebar-sashcramp.jpg
Carter Workbench, equipped with Carter Woodworking Vice
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-workbench.jpg
Carter Bench Vice Screw
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carterbenchscrew.jpg
Uncommon Carter Mark
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carterblademark3cu.jpg
Blade from Carter C10 Scrub Plane
The scrub plane is used to remove large amounts of wood from the surface of timber.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-bladec10.jpg
Uncommon Carter Mark
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-blade-rt.jpg
Carter Desk Tidy in bakelite. De-Luxe MEM-O-TRAY by Precision Plastics Pty Ltd Sydney, Pat. Regd.Design No. 28625
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/desk-tidy-colour-sm.jpg
Carter Cap Type 1
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-levercap1.jpg
Carter Cap Type 2
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-levercap2.jpg
Carter Cap Type 3
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-levercap3.jpg
Carter Cap Type 4
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-levercap4.jpg
Carter Cap Type 5
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-levercap5.jpg
Newly discovered Carter plane blade with laminated steel cutting edge
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-blade-t-shepard.jpg
Laminated Carter Plane Blade
Image © Tom Shepard
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-blade-t-shepard-laminated-a.jpg
Laminated Plane Blade - soft steel can be seen delaminating from hard steel backing
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/carter/carter-blade-t-shepard-laminated-b.jpg
Thanks to Rod Thomas for the images on this page.
Some further additional information can be found at: The Village Woodworker
The HTPAA welcomes any additional information, pictures and ephemera relating to these tools or any other Australian Makers.
Contact the Australian Collection Curator.