3-star, 4-star, what does it mean?

[James Scheffler]

I've been looking at some antique wooden planes on the web at various dealer sites. There seems to be a "star" system for tool makers. Can anyone explain that?

Thanks!
Jim

[Erik Manchester]

Jim,

Here is the only place where stars really make a difference.

http://www.barbancourt.net/barbancourt/en/home/home.html

And I can tell you from experience that the 15 yr old is real smooth :-)

Good to see that production was not too badly impacted by the recent catastrophe

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-haiti-rum9-2010feb09,0,5651241,full.story

Erik

[Don McConnell]

Hi Jim,

With your mention of looking at wooden planes, I assume that the star system being mentioned is the one in Emil & Martyl Pollak's _A Guide to the Makers of American Wooden Planes_, 4th Edition (revised by Thomas L. Elliott), © 2001. Often referred to as "AWP" or even "Pollak."

In any event, here is what the text says, in part:

"We have used a system of stars to indicate the relative rarity of a majority
of the [makers'] imprints that are illustrated. In determining rarity we have
considered examples already known and those likely to be discovered.

"RARITY RATINGS

***** (unique or almost unique) denotes fewer than 10 examples.
**** (extremely rare) denotes between 10 and 50 examples.
*** (very rare) denotes between 50 and 100 examples.
** (rare) denotes between 100 and 250 examples.
* (uncommon) denotes between 250 and 500 examples.
FF (found frequently) denotes over 500 examples.
UR (unrated) denotes imprints and makers that we presently
have insufficient information to rate.

"WE WISH TO EMPHASIZE STRONGLY THAT WHAT WE ARE OFFERING IS
ONLY AN EDUCATED GUESS AND A ROUGH GUIDE TO RELATIVE RARITY.
We are not setting values. ... ."

Hope this helps.

Don McConnell
Eureka Springs, AR

[James Scheffler]

Hi Jim,

With your mention of looking at wooden planes, I assume that the star system being mentioned is the one in Emil & Martyl Pollak's _A Guide to the Makers of American Wooden Planes_, 4th Edition (revised by Thomas L. Elliott), © 2001. Often referred to as "AWP" or even "Pollak."

In any event, here is what the text says, in part:

"We have used a system of stars to indicate the relative rarity of a majority
of the [makers'] imprints that are illustrated. In determining rarity we have
considered examples already known and those likely to be discovered.

"RARITY RATINGS

***** (unique or almost unique) denotes fewer than 10 examples.
**** (extremely rare) denotes between 10 and 50 examples.
*** (very rare) denotes between 50 and 100 examples.
** (rare) denotes between 100 and 250 examples.
* (uncommon) denotes between 250 and 500 examples.
FF (found frequently) denotes over 500 examples.
UR (unrated) denotes imprints and makers that we presently
have insufficient information to rate.

"WE WISH TO EMPHASIZE STRONGLY THAT WHAT WE ARE OFFERING IS
ONLY AN EDUCATED GUESS AND A ROUGH GUIDE TO RELATIVE RARITY.
We are not setting values. ... ."

Hope this helps.

Don McConnell
Eureka Springs, AR

Thanks, that helps a lot. I thought maybe it was a quality thing, since the tools with more stars tended to be more expensive. However, it's at least partly the rarity, and I'm sure that appeals to collectors.

I don't care as long as it works. I e-mailed a dealer last night and said I'm happy with the aesthically-challenged ones, as long as they are solid. :)

Thanks,
Jim

[willie sobat]

Jim,

Here is the only place where stars really make a difference.

http://www.barbancourt.net/barbancourt/en/home/home.html

And I can tell you from experience that the 15 yr old is real smooth :-)

Good to see that production was not too badly impacted by the recent catastrophe

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-haiti-rum9-2010feb09,0,5651241,full.story

Erik

Erik,

That brings back some memories. I've never had the 15 yr old. However, back in 1994 I had a lot of 3 and 5 star!