Metal tote?

[Glen Johnson]

A friend came by with a box of planes. It had a nice Stanley 40, seven Stanley jacks and smoothers, some had sweetheart irons. One stumped me though. It was a Stanley number 4, had a Sweetheart iron, wood knob, but had a metal handle that looked nickel plated. Is this a frankenplane or is there stanley smoother with a metal tote? I didn't see anything on super tool.com.

[Michael Dedon]

Stanley made aluminum totes and may still offer them. I've got one on a #5 and it fits my smaller hands great. Maybe that one is aluminum that's been polished.

[Mark Wyatt]

Stanley made replacement aluminum totes for their hand planes. They were popular with schools. Some are stamped with the Stanley name and some are not. In addition, at least one other company made metal totes. These are heavier than the Stanley version and don't fit Stanley planes too well. I have a couple of these that were found at Indianapolis Public Schools on Stanley planes.

Here is a metal tote on a Stanley #5 1/4 from IPS.

[Glen Johnson]

Thanks. Always something new to learn.