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Thread: 'u Chianuzzu

  1. #1

    'u Chianuzzu

    So my cousin, who was a cabinetmaker in Sicily, gave me this plane several decades ago. I always wondered what it was. Can anybody identify it? There's no brand name anywhere. It just says Made in USA on the body. It appears to be a low end model. There's a bottle-cap wheel on it and I think you adjust the iron by banging on it. Chianuzzu is the Sicilian word for plane, in case you were wondering.
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  2. #2
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    If there's a name on it anywhere, it'll be at the top of the cutting iron. Sometimes they're kind of faint; a little vigorous cleanup with 220 or so sandpaper will tell you if there's a name there.

    Looks similar but not identical to a Stanley 110 block plane; the knob on a Stanley has a little cup in the top to accept your index finger, which this one does not.

    Ideally, you adjust the iron by getting the lever cap almost nearly tight and then wiggling the iron around with your fingers until it's right, then snugging up the lever cap.

    They're considered very low end tools, but, if you got the iron sharp, no reason it couldn't do good work.

  3. #3
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    +1 on what Bill said about it looking similar to a Stanley 110.

    The blade can also be set with a light hammer or mallet. This post shows some images and mentions how this is done:

    http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...82#post1513682

    The hump at the back of the casting is for tapping to withdraw the blade if it is set too deep. This is done with the locking wheel slightly loose. With a little care tapping and a sharp blade, these can be set to take fine shavings.

    jtk
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
    - Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

  4. #4
    I have that same plane, my friend got it from Sears around 1990 for $5-$10.

  5. #5
    Thanks for the answers so far and especially the link in post #3. Very helpful.

  6. #6
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    "Stanley Handyman", lower price line. The name was on a decal and they are often missing in action.

  7. #7
    Nothing to add to this thread, sorry. But I really like the word Chianuzzu.
    Any idea where it comes from? It doesn't sound like French or Italian.

  8. #8
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    Kees asked....

    Quote Originally Posted by Kees Heiden View Post
    Nothing to add to this thread, sorry. But I really like the word Chianuzzu.
    Any idea where it comes from? It doesn't sound like French or Italian.
    The original post stated...

    Quote Originally Posted by Rob Matarazzo View Post
    Chianuzzu is the Sicilian word for plane, in case you were wondering.
    Woodworking is terrific for keeping in shape, but it's also a deadly serious killing system...

  9. #9
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    I have the same, or very similar, plane. Mine was purchased back in the 70's at the hardware store, and mine says "Red Star" on it.

    It was my first plane.
    Jeff

  10. #10
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    I've had a few of these little planesSDC13311.jpg handyman is the one with the red cap iron, the other is a Stanley #110.

  11. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Houghton View Post
    If there's a name on it anywhere, it'll be at the top of the cutting iron. Sometimes they're kind of faint; a little vigorous cleanup with 220 or so sandpaper will tell you if there's a name there.
    ....
    Well, the sandpaper revealed "No. H1247" on the iron. Also, on the plane body it says "C32" and "U3" (vertically).

  12. #12
    Yes I saw that but was wondering where the Sicilians got that word. Maybe some arabic influence?
    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Griggs View Post
    Kees asked....



    The original post stated...




  13. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by Kees Heiden View Post
    Yes I saw that but was wondering where the Sicilians got that word. Maybe some arabic influence?
    Everyone refers to the language as the Sicilian "dialect", but that would be like calling French a dialect of Latin. That said, chianuzzu fits right in with the more common dialects and Sicilian as well, so who knows where it came from. I guess it's difficult to recognize as Italian if you didn't grow up with it and develop an ear for recognizing it. I wonder if non-English speakers hear words that stand out to them...like all the Yiddish words: bagel, klutz, blintz, tush, glitch, etc. I'm sure it's difficult for foreigners to recognize that Southerners, New Englanders, Scottish, and Australians are all basically speaking English. There's a bigger difference between mainland Italian and Sicilian than there is between Australian English and Scottish English.

    BTW, if I were to guess I would say that chianuzzu is straight from the Neopolitan dialect that I grew up speaking, not Sicilian. It's all mashed up in my head at this point, just like I can't ever remember if I'm supposed to ask for sprinkles or jimmies on my ice cream up here (or maybe jimmies is down south?)....in NY, it was always sprinkles
    Last edited by John Coloccia; 02-13-2013 at 2:51 AM.

  14. #14
    All my latin language skills are very poor, so I can't say anything halfway witty about this. But it sure is a nice word.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kees Heiden View Post
    Yes I saw that but was wondering where the Sicilians got that word. Maybe some arabic influence?
    I see. Origins of words are interesting. I don't know jack about language so I'll be of no help. John's thoughts are interesting to hear.
    Woodworking is terrific for keeping in shape, but it's also a deadly serious killing system...

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