Hello there-
I've visited this site for a while and like the exchange here, so I'm joining in. Here goes-
I acquired a Stanley 40-1/2 at an auction as part of a lot of 6 planes for $30.
I've researched it both in John Walter's 1990 edition and on the web, and still am not sure about date, type, etc. Given the following description, (no pics yet) what do I likely have?
Thanks in advance,
- Sweetheart logo on iron
- backside of iron is stamped with a "+" about an inch from the edge (test for hardness?)
- "B" cast in the body where the frog would normally be (I'm not sure what you call that area if there is no frog)
- Beech tote and knob
- no evidence of japaning on the outside of the body (one website said Stanley japaned the entire body except the sole)
- 1-1/2" wide cap iron works well but has been broken and welded (not brazed - it's rusty) and the weld barely shows through the face of the cap iron
- no cross or tee ribbing under the frog(less) area unlike the description of a #40 I found on another website - Walter's book indicated that the 40-1/2 was the same as a 40 except in size.
Glenn