HAND TOOL PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
Bergs Tools
Bergs Quality Tools
Bergs Planes were made in Australia from the late 1940's to mid 1950's in Alexandria, NSW.
Bergs were variously described as "manufacturers of woodworking tools & planes" and "manufacturers of wooden planes, carpenters tools, skis and mouldings" (Trevor Semmens - Australian Woodworking Planemakers, second ed 1998)Click on any image to see a larger picture
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Bergs Continental Smoothers - made of Australian hardwoods. There was a huge amount of variation, even in the same model |
A view of the throat positions again
displays the variation. |
Most Continental Smoothers had a front
handle similar to this - labelled the "Australian" handle for
this exercise. |
Occasional Continental Smoothers can
be found with this curved handle - labelled the "European" handle. |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Most planes had a paper label on the wedge and front of toe. Length varies, but approx 9 3/4 in long. Iron is 45mm wide | The Razee Jack plane had
a nickel plated iron lever cap with a plated brass screw. Plane is 15in
long, iron 50 mm wide. |
The handled smoother is uncommon.
Body is 8 in long and 10 3/4 in with handle. Iron 45mm wide. |
Bergs coffin smoother |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Bergs Jack Plane, closed handle |
Bergs Jack Plane, open handle |
Reproduction of paper labels on Bergs
smoothers |
This Razee Jack plane has Bergs iron
and a nickel plated iron lever cap. Thought to be a Bergs also. (Photo
by Fred Murrell) |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Label often found on the toe of Bergs
smoothers |
Reproduction of the mark on the Razee
Jack lever cap |
Bergs mark |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Iron from handled smoother
|
Lever cap from Bergs Razee Jack plated cast iron
|
Mark on iron of handled smoother and Razee Jack, 50mm
wide.
|
Wedge with paper label |
Other models such as the Coffin Smoother exist, and reports of two other different length Jack planes have been made. Pictures will be published when available
Thanks to Rod Thomas, Ian Stagg, Ken Turner and George Radion
for these pictures. Thanks also to Trevor Semmens for his intro on Bergs.
The HTPAA welcomes any additional information, pictures and ephemera relating to Bergs Tools or any other Australian Makers.
Contact the Australian Curator by email 
This Webpage was last updated on 29 November, 2006
Copyright © HTPAA 2002 - 2006