Leon E. Robbins of Bath, Maine, founded the Crown Plane Company more than 20 years ago. Leon is an experienced woodworker and toolmaker, and collected and dealt in antique tools for many years. He restored and rebuilt antique tools, which eventually led him to making traditional wooden planes. Over the years Leon established a reputation for careful workmanship and the ability to design and make traditional tools that performed well. Leon became acquainted with Mike Dunbar, the well-known expert on Windsor chairs, and offered to develop a plane suitable for use by chair makers. Working with Mike and his students, they designed the compass plane which is one of the essential tools used for making chair seats. The Crown Plane travisher is another tool needed for chair making. In addition to the chair makers tools, Leon made a line of specialty planes. He also made panel raising, molding, and rule joint planes. Many of these planes are sold directly through major tool retailers. In early 1999 Leon decided to gradually reduce his workload and sell his business. Jim White and his son Jim Jr. purchased the business. The Whites are experienced woodworkers and machinists and were introduced to Leon by Mike Dunbar. Jim had taken a number of Mike's classes and developed an interest in the traditional woodworking techniques after many years of machine woodworking and metalwork. Leon remains as a consultant to the buisness and is continuing to manufacture specialty planes and provide training. The Whites have relocated the business to Portland, Maine (down the road from Bath). It is expected a number of new items will be added to the product line in the future. The White's current efforts are directed to increasing production while maintaining quality and usability.