Is this Stanley old or new??

[Alex Shanku]

Found this looking at the Chicago Craigslist.

http://a.im.craigslist.org/4a/GM/MIYdw7dGGSwEmdkVMAEoODNtqpd6.jpghttp://a.im.craigslist.org/ad/rY/HTsK0aKRrrC7gQhppbmV7wHF29Hg.jpg

[Dennis McDonaugh]

Its hard to tell how old it is from the photo, but its not new because the tote and knob look like rosewood.

[Gary M Kramer]

The lever cap has a kidney shaped opening that shape came in (I think post 1950's) so it is anything from 25 - 50 years old. Older Stanley planes had a "Button mushroom" low front knob and the rear tote was quite shapely with a gentle curve and quite pronounced "spur".

Regards Gary Kramer

[Jim DeLaney]

According to Walter's book, the kidney shaped hole in the lever cap began with Type 16, in 1933.

The Stanley logo, in the notched rectangle began in 1925, with Type 13.

The tote (handle) is of the newer shape (less curve to the front, shorter 'tail' on the top) introduced in painted hardwood in 1946 (Type 18), and in heavily varnished rosewood in 1948 (Type 19). The wood on yours may be a replacement or a refinished one, though, because it shows better grain than most of the original Type 19 totes.

Without seeing the 'innards' of the casting, I'd guess you have a Type 16 (1933~1941) or later (up to Type 19 - 1948~1961) plane. Some pictures of the frog, and the interior of the base casting would help in narrowing it down a bit...

BTW, 1960 and later planes were painted blue - except for the block planes, etc.