The Turner story had a lifespan of only 35 years. It began in April 1935 and closed on the 30th of November 1970, when Stanley Titan acquired the business, and either absorbed or ceased to manufacture the Turner products from that date.
In 1935, Rene William Turner aged 27 years, formed a small company, trading as "Moderne Handles Company" in Chapel Street in South Yarra, Melbourne, with a staff of three people. By 1966, the Company, now named Turner Industries Ltd, employed 1100 people.
Turner acquired the patterns and details of its plane lines from Pope Products Ltd in Adelaide. The Pope (& Falcon) line of planes were a copy of the Stanley USA range. Turner redesigned the planes and introduced a unbreakable "Red Cellulose Acetate" front & rear handle, matching their screwdriver line. Some of the tools produced were as follows: screwdrivers, carpenters' planes, hammers, hacksaw frames, holesaws, levels, trimming knives, tape measures, washing machines, lawn mowers, clothes driers, air conditioners, locks and door furniture and garden tools.
The Turner Carpenters' plane product range was as follows:
Turner Planes | No. 220 | No. 4 | No. 4 1/2 | No. 5 | No. 5 1/2 | No. 6 | No. 7 |
Turner Tools
Turner 220 Block Plane
Made in Australia. Has the turned front handle.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/turner/turner220-sm.jpg
Turner No. 4 Smoothing Plane
Made in Australia.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/turner/turner4.jpg
Turner No. 4½ Smoothing Plane
Made in Australia.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/turner/turner4-5.jpg
Turner No. 5 Jack Plane
Made in Australia, has an EA Berg iron.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/turner/turner5.jpg
Turner No. 5½ Jack Plane
Made in Australia.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/turner/Turner5-5-2.jpg
Turner No. 6 Fore & Jointer Plane
Made in Australia.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/turner/turner6.jpg
turner7.jpg
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/turner/turner7.jpg
Turner 4 oz Ball Pein Hammer
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/turner/turner-bp-4oz-hammer.jpg
Turner prided themselves on a their quality product.
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/turner/turner-gtee.JPG
Turner Hacksaw Handle
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/turner/turner-hacksaw-handle.jpg
Turner Tape Rule
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/turner/turner-tape-rule.jpg
A Selection of Turner Tools
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/turner/turner-tool-bar-sm.jpg
Page from a Turner Catalogue
http://webwerks.com.au/htpaa/images/oztools/turner/turner-plane-cat-page.jpg
Thanks to Graeme Plaw & Rod Thomas for content of this page.
The HTPAA welcomes any additional information, pictures and ephemera relating to these tools or any other Australian Makers.
Contact the Australian Collection Curator.