Mr. Taufman’s Handplane
I consider myself a hand tool enthusiast as well as an amateur historian of local Clinton history. The other day, those two passions met in the form of an old hand plane.
I was given an old Stanley #6 jointer plane. I believe it is a type-4. The manufacturing marks and design type indicate that it is a tool made in the late 1800s.
The most interesting characteristic of this old tool is the signature that it bears. Engraved into the side of the plane’s body is the name “Taufman.” It was written in a handsome cursive font. And it seems that a punch was used, possibly a maker's mark. But it seems more likely that the signature was made by first signing the body with a pencil, and then tracing back over that pencil mark with a series of individual punches. The signature appears to have been made using a punch-by-punch ‘stipple’ technique.
There is no doubt this signature was made by one of the original owners of this tool. I love old tools marked by their original owners. The reason I love these old signatures is that they communicate the personality and intentionality of the craftsmen. The signature itself is a mark of craftsmanship. Mr. Taufman was clearly proud to put his name on such a well-made tool, not just because he was proud to own it, but because he was proud to use it, and by extension, was proud of what he would make with that tool.
The tool was an extension of his personality as a maker. Putting his signature on that tool was a mark of ownership, his claim that it belonged to him, and it was also a mark of integrity, a sign that he understood whatever he would make would be a personal reflection of his own character. Whether his work was good work or bad work, his signature was a sign that he took full responsibility for it.
All of this got me thinking about the theology of Creation. Psalm 19 says that Creation proclaims the handiwork of God. In a sense, God put his signature on everything he made. It’s not a visible signature like an engraving on a cloud or a Sharpie on the side of a mountain. Rather, God’s signature is perceived in the hearts and consciences of mankind (Rom 1:20).
Like Taufman’s plane, God’s signature communicates ownership and personal integrity. Psalm 24 says that the whole earth belongs to the Lord. All of creation is owned by God, and all creation bears the mark of his personality and his integrity. He is a good God who does good work.
God is the ultimate craftsman in this sense. God not only put his signature on everything he made, he was glad to do it because he stands behind his work. God was thorough and exact in his making. He did not take any shortcuts. God knew that what he made was good because he is good. His signature is a sign of confidence, a sign of knowing responsibility. God takes full responsibility for bringing everything into being because he knows that he did the job right, because he’s a righteous God.
Now, let’s bring it back to Mr. Taufman. Whether he knew it or not, by signing his plane he was acting like God. Genesis 1:27 teaches that every human being is made in the image of God. One of the things that means is that who we are and what we do reflects who God is and what he does. For example, we are craftsmen because God is a craftsman. We sign our work because God signs his work.
This is a biblical theology of ‘dominion.’ God has dominion over everything. He is in authority over the Creation because he made it. And he takes full responsibility for bringing it into being. God is not bashful to put his signature on the Creation because he is absolutely sure he did the job right the first time.
This is how we are to think through work as humans. It is not automatically a sign of conceit or sinful pride to attach our name to what we make. Putting your signature on a painting, a dining room table, or a job permit communicates that you take full responsibility for the quality of the work you’re doing. And in today's world, this is so important. It is more common to shirk responsibility than to embrace it. The signature of the morally upright craftsmen preaches a needed sermon. When you sign your work, you are saying, “I’m responsible.”
Let that be an encouragement to you today. Model your life after God. Following Jesus is following the ultimate craftsman. Be good like Jesus. Do good work like Jesus did. And sign your work with confidence. Take full responsibility for your creative actions, knowing they are a direct extension of your character.
Note, Mr. Taufman is buried at Oakland Cemetery here in Clinton. It’s not clear to me whether the owner of this plane was the elder Taufman or the younger.
