Daniels' Planer, circa 1870

Thomas Daniels of Worcester, Massachusetts, patented his planer featuring a rotating cutter and moving power-driven table in 1834. The machine could not plane a very smooth surface because the cutter worked across the grain; however, the surface produced was very true and level because the work was supported by the moving table. The machine was used by sawmills, furniture manufacturers and other woodworking concerns.