Question about dating Stanley Planes

[Marshall Comisar]

Hello,

I'm just starting to learn about hand planes and hand tools in general. I'm using the flow chart at http://www.hyperkitten.com/tools/stanley_bench_plane/dating_flowchart.php.

Can anyone explain this one to me or maybe show a picture:

Types 15-19
Do the toe and heel have a raised, broad, flat rib casting?


Thanks for the help!
Marshall

[Jessica Pierce-LaRose]

The type study at Rexmill is helpful because it has pictures - I used it combination with Joshua's at Hyperkitten which is easier for me to narrow down via the flow-chart. There was another study from an Australian site with photos, but I can't remember it now.

Here's the study at Rexmill:

http://home.comcast.net/~rexmill/planes101/typing/typing.htm

I believe HK is alluding to this (http://home.comcast.net/~rexmill/planes101/typing/types/t16/6.jpg) rib, under the type 16 planes in the link above.

[Jim Koepke]

Marshall,

Welcome to the Creek. Your profile doesn't show what part of this planet you call home.

If you live in the Portland, Oregon area I would welcome you to come by and get a first hand introduction to the ways of plane dating/typing.

My favored site for the most information on determining a planes manufacture date/type is at:

https://home.comcast.net/~rarebear/planes101/typing/typing.htm

This is a cleaned up version of the early type studies by Patrick Leach and others. Just for fun I have a copy of the earlier study that I have updated and added pictures from my own planes.

For quick reference this one is pretty good:

http://primeshop.com/access/woodwork/stanleyplane/pftsynch.htm

There is also a site with a collection of the Stanley trade marks used through the years:

http://www.antique-used-tools.com/stantms.htm

The main thing to remember about type studies is Stanley had nothing to do with them. These were done long after the fact and relied on old receipts and other information found with the planes. Often at the time of changes in production old part stock was on hand and was used up before new features appeared on all of the models. In one instance planes surfaced that were of an unknown type. They were traceable to a time between type 6 & type 7 production. It was pretty much impossible to change the whole type chart for the examples found so it is now considered type 6a and is left out of some type charts. To me this was an important change since it was where the depth adjusting changed from a right hand thread to a left hand thread.

If you can post some images of your plane, it is likely possible to give you a date period of manufacture.

The important details for planes made after 1900 would be; the frog with out the blade and lever cap assembly, the knob with the base around it from toe to mouth and the back of the frog from about the front of the tote to the top of the frog. Other areas of interest include any markings on the lateral lever and the logo on the blade. Type 6 and earlier have dates inside the brass depth adjuster, on the lateral adjuster, on the chip breaker and often on the blade.

jtk

[Mel Miller]

Rexmill has the wrong frog seat shown for type 4 planes. The description is correct, but the picture is of the early style seats.

[Marshall Comisar]

Thanks for the replies all! Like I said, I'm just getting into hand tools, and I dont actually have any planes yet. I'm looking at No 5s and No 60 1/2s on ebay and trying to roughly determine the date based on the pictures.

[Jim Koepke]

I'm looking at No 5s and No 60 1/2s on ebay and trying to roughly determine the date based on the pictures.

For #5s and other bench planes there are a few things that can tell the date quickly. There is also the problem of mixed parts to throw off attempts at getting a correct date for a plane.

It also depends on how much is shown in the pictures.

For the 60-1/2s I prefer the Stanleys made before about 1950. That is about when they went to a shorter blade bedding at the mouth. Some feel this doesn't matter. Some feel the extra metal helps to dampen any blade chatter.

Have you ventured into the Neanderthal wisdom/FAQs section? It is somewhat hidden in the Neanderthal Haven Announcements Sub-Forums:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?103805-Neanderthal-wisdom-FAQs

jtk