$12.98

[phil harold]

walked into a Antique shop
they had a small shelf labeled
"Man Stuff"
Picked this up for 12.98
looks like a newer one
how can I date it?
310872310873310874310875

[Joe Bailey]

how can I date it?

You've set yourself up for advice along the lines of "offer to take it to dinner", etc.

I have several myself, but know of no type study for these.

The closest thing I've found, is the few sentences in Patrick Leach's B&G, where he mentions that the earliest models had no numbers embossed in the casting, and had a bead at the base of the knob.

Perhaps someone out there has in-depth info and will chime in.

[phil harold]

dinner or movie?

would be the next question

[Kent A Bathurst]

Send me the plane. You two get a room. :p

[Jim Koepke]

The John Walter book says they were made from 1885 to 1943. The later types have the trademark on the lever cap screw.

No mention of the "B" of "S" trade marks corresponding to the same dates they were used on the bench planes.

jtk

[Harold Burrell]

Oh, yeah...by the way...you suck.

[Art Mann]

Send me the plane. You two get a room. :p

Too much information!