Plane, dado grooving moulding plane

This dado grooving moulding plane was owned by W Gray and forms part of a large set of moulding planes housed in an early 19th century toolchest. A metal name plate found in one of the drawers of the toolchest is marked 'W Gray, Cavendish Grove, Wandsworth Road'. William Gray was living in this area in the mid 19th century. The tool carries a number of earlier owner's names that have been rubbed out and disfigured suggesting that Gray acquired it secondhand. Dado moulding planes were used in cutting grooves in wood, especially floor boards where they met the dado or skirting.