The Woodworth planer patent, in its various reissues and extensions (Patent 5,315X, patent {RE71}, patent {80}; extended until 1856), is probably the most historically significant patent for woodworking machinery. The drawing for this patent was provided in 1841, about the time that the owners were seeking to renew the original patent. A notation on the patent drawing says, “On this second day of October 1841, officially appeared before me, Richard Orann of Boston… and made solemn oath that he is interested as an assignee for a Planing Machine for which letters patent of the United States were granted to William Woodworth on the 27th day of December, 1828, and that the accompanying drawings are, as he verily believes, a true delineation of the invention described in the said letters patent.” It is widely alleged that the new patent drawing actually incorporated important features not present in the original drawing or specification, and this allowed the Woodworth syndicate to claim ownership of ideas that came later from others. William Woodworth was a house carpenter, and this machine was invented to produce flooring stock of consistent dimension. Not only did this save time in preparing the flooring stock, it was a big time-saver for the carpenter because far less “fitting” was required during installation. Apparently a half share of the patent was assigned to one James Strong, a neighbor of Woodworth's who provided some financial assistance in attaining the patent.

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• USPTO pdf
• "Vintage Machinery" entry for William Woodworth