In the age of handcrafted architecture, window planes were indispensable in the joiner's workshop. These planes typically featured custom profiles tailored to glazing bead details, sash rail shapes, and muntin contours. Craftsmen relied on them to create precise grooves for holding glass panes and forming the interlocking joints of traditional sash windows.

Manufacturers such as Marples, Preston, and Mathieson produced a wide range of these tools in the 19th and early 20th centuries. They often came as boxed sets or matched pairs for creating complementary cuts on stiles and rails. Today, original examples are prized by restorers for their ability to replicate authentic period details with accuracy and elegance.

'A sash window made with hand planes tells a story of careful craftsmanship — one groove and rebate at a time.'

While modern tools can replicate some sash details, many craftsmen still turn to traditional window planes for their unmatched precision and tactile control. Their ability to create fine, repeatable glazing rabbets and elegant sash profiles ensures they remain vital in restoration work, especially when historical authenticity is essential. These tools preserve not only the form of historic windows but also the legacy of the artisans who built them.