Stanley 148 Craigslist find

[Kurt Owens]

Picked this up last night from a former cabinet maker in my area. The japanning on it is nearly half gone, but otherwise it is in fine condition. Does anyone know a good way to date it?


362023

[Jim Koepke]

The "notched box" logo started in ~1920 with the SW Hart era. The plane itself was only made from 1905 to 1958 according to Patrick Leach's site.

jtk

[Kurt Owens]

The "notched box" logo started in ~1920 with the SW Hart era. The plane itself was only made from 1905 to 1958 according to Patrick Leach's site.

jtk

I knew the plane was only made until '58 but that logo tidbit is news to me! So it dates sometime between '20 and `58. At least that narrows it down

[Jim Koepke]

Here is a page with Stanley trade marks used on plane blades:

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

The first use of the notched box started in ~1920. I do not know enough about the #148 to know if it used the SW Hart in it main brand mark.

I have a tool from around that time that has the SW Hart on the top of one of the thumb screws. You might look at the screws for such a mark.

My John Walter book didn't offer any type information on these planes.

jtk

[Sergey Petrov]

I stand corrected, but japanning is the black finish on older tools employing bitumen based coating. Your bad boy looks plated.

[steven c newman]

Case of "1st" model vs. late model. Same plane, just Stanley started nickle plating a lot of their items.

[Jim Koepke]

In the 1880s into the 1890s many Stanley products were japanned. Around 1894 the new bright and shiny look was in and japanning gave way to nickel plating. During WWII nickel was a strategic material for the war effort and many of Stanley's nickel plated items were japanned to lessen the use of nickel.

More here:

http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan13.htm#num148

jtk