That means it has three dates cast into the bed, and the plane is Type 12, dating between 1919 and 1924. If not, that means it is a Type 11 and dates 1910 and 1918. Please get familiar with the names of the multiple parts of the tool using a Stanley diagram which I will summarise below.
Some patchy loss to the nickel plating on the lever cap, please see images. The back of the blade iron is stamped ‘237’ dating it to the second quarter of 1937. Btw, craigslist does seem like a good way to go on the planes. I tried the garage sale thing yesterday and found 2 planes, 8 of the 10 sales I went to said there were early birds there to snatch up all the tools–dealers.
The variation features are the aircraft number, patent numbers, or dates. Allow me to detail the steps to dating a Stanley plane. I wonder when hammertone finishes became the rage, it was undoubtedly the 1950’s. Note also the kidney shaped holes in the lever caps, another giveaway.
Types of Stanley’s plane
This approach doesn’t guarantee that you’ll date your plane correctly, as the flowchart can be thrown off by some hybrids. The best approach is to use the flowchart to date your plane, and then visit thePlane Type Study andPlane Feature Timeline to verify the type. I am trying to identify the age of a block plane. My grandfather gave it to me about 56 years ago. The plane body has a small 120 cast into the back near the lever adjustment mechanism. It has no other casting marks whatsoever.
The adjustable, sliding skate can be removed for the narrowest, 1/4 in. The fixed, single skate is sufficient for support of the smallest cutter. The knob was also moved from the main body to the fence in the very late 1800’s. All wood components are original rosewood, the plane body itself is nickel-plated.
Vintage Stanley Bailey No. 7 SW Smooth Back Plane Made in U.S.
The 5-1/2 plane was only made until 1962, however, there were no V shaped ribs on that model. Sounds like what you’re looking at might be a different model. Sounds like it dates from the early to mid 1940s.
I’d say eBay is a decent way to gauge it. Search for completed auctions of the similar planes . An average 3, 4, and 5 will likely be in the $20 to $50 range depending upon the quality and condition.
I’ve found some information on other English planes like Record and Woden but nothing on the Stanleys. I’ve read that UK Stanleys and Record planes follow each other closely regarding changes and features, so that may give me a rough indication of the year. Best I can tell you with that info is it dates sometime between 1930 and 1961. My guess is it’s probably late 1950s based on your description of the knob and tote. Stanley did make planes for a lot of other companies, but not for Richards-Conover as far as I know. I believe Union made the Rich-Con planes, which is more consistent with the twisted top of the lateral lever on yours.
I’ve enjoyed learning this side of Stanley & Miller’s Falls planes. I owned and used five planes when I worked as carpenter then cabinetmaker in the ‘70s and 80’s. I gave away a corrugated sole joiner, a Jack, one I used as a scrub plane, and two block planes. I only kept the #45 Millers Falls block plane in huge downsizing to live in 25’ travel trailer. The newest has a wood knob, has Stanley painted on it, was made in England and has CF and 1 cast in it. The 3rd is an economical Stanley Handyman.
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What separates it from the above is the new design of the frog. It is smaller and held at the bottom by a vertical rib between the casting. The new design is found in sizes #3-#8, but the frog is the #3 size for all planes.
The 4th does not have Stanley anywhere on it, has made in use stamped in an arche at the back, a wood knob and a stamped metal adjustment/lock wheel. Look for the depth-adjustment nut, and you should be able to tell if it has a diagonal knurling pattern on the outside or not. If it has, the plane is Type 18 and dates between 1946 and 1947. In the United States, the words “tools and hardware” and “Stanley” are almost synonymous. The company began modestly in 1843, when Frederick T. Stanley founded a door-hardware company in New Britain, Connecticut.
The No. 45 has a small learning curve and a series of adjustments to complete even before beginning to plow grooves or dadoes. There are spurs or nickers on both the main body skate and the sliding skate, just ahead of the blade. The skates are called HookupGenius that either because they skate along the surface of the wood, and they look like ice skates in shape. The skates serve to both support the blade at the rear and to create a bearing surface for the plane to ride in along the board being grooved.
So if your edges are japanned, it’s probably post 1956, if not, then the plane dates from about 1947 to 1955. An old double-ended block plane almost identical to the Stanley 130 double-ended block plane. This old block plane has a plane iron that is marked ‘Mohawk, Made In USA, Shelburne, 1’. For general information about the similar Stanley tool see the Stanley 130 Plane Review on FindMyTool.co.uk Con… Here you will find block planes from tool makers like Stanley, Record and Sargent.
They Handyman line of planes rarely, if ever gets mentioned. I know, they’re generally not held in high regard, Don W hates them, but I’ve seen the occaisional positive comment about them. STANLEY, on the hip and in the hands of professional users since 1843. It’s the builder’s choice, by any measure. STANLEY opened its doors in New Britain, Connecticut in 1843.