Plane Value

[brian c miller]

Can someone help explian to me this planes value?

It is listed as a Lees Patent Chamfer Plane (Item 140947285067 at the auction site) at a price of $22,000.

I get that there are some fantastic planes out there but what make this one so special?

[Zach Dillinger]

Can someone help explian to me this planes value?

It is listed as a Lees Patent Chamfer Plane (Item 140947285067 at the auction site) at a price of $22,000.

I get that there are some fantastic planes out there but what make this one so special?

It is an exceedingly rare plane so it goes for high dollar. Not something you will likely ever see at a flea market or yard sale.

[Andrae Covington]

Can someone help explian to me this planes value?

It is listed as a Lees Patent Chamfer Plane (Item 140947285067 at the auction site) at a price of $22,000.

I get that there are some fantastic planes out there but what make this one so special?


It is an exceedingly rare plane so it goes for high dollar. Not something you will likely ever see at a flea market or yard sale.

Patented in 1883 by Joseph H. Lee of Garnerville, New York, and produced by the Griffon Tool Company in Providence, Rhode Island. I found a November 1885 publication advertising the plane as a new offering, and Martin J. Donnelly says production stopped in 1886. As far as I can tell, fewer than ten examples still exist.

I believe the record for the most expensive auctioned handplane, or any tool for that matter, is still the Sandusky center-wheel plow in ebony and ivory that sold in 2004 at Brown Auction Services for $104,000 (plus $10,000 bidders premium and sales tax).

[Mel Miller]

I have a Lee's Patent plane, and it's one of my favorites. There are a few different models, and from what I have seen I would say there are more than 10 left. The one listed is missing the distinctive back rod - more than a "breadcrumb sin" in my estimation - and has an incorrect blade. IMO it's grossly over priced, or, I would make someone a hell of a deal on mine.

Mel :D

[Jim Matthews]

It's likely heresy to say this, but I find this sort of thing obscene.

It's an indication of too much money chasing to few things of value.
The number of people willing to pay so much for a plane can't be large.

[Mike Cogswell]

It's value isn't $22,000 until some fool pushes the Buy It Now Button.

[Andrae Covington]

Interesting. I guess in the whole scheme of things though, even if there's a hundred of them left, or a thousand, it's still a pretty rare plane. I mean there must be a few million Stanley #4's. Maybe not $22k rare but...

[george wilson]

Wow!! We had a mint boxwood Sandusky center wheel plough plane laying around in its customer made(?) box in our break room upstairs at the instrument maker/cabinet shop in Wmsbg. for many years. Maybe it's still there. At the time someone offered $3000.00 for it,about 1980,I think,but it wasn't for sale.

[Adam Cruea]

$22,000 for a plane?

I could buy another Harley for that price, have more fun, be more satisfied, and have something useful! ;)

I've got $20 that says it ends up on some hipster's mantle as decoration and it dies a lonely, unused life. :(