To Those Interested,
Thursday morning I was striking out at an estate sale I'd shown up early for and was about to leave empty-handed when I got a text from someone who is running an estate sale in Sep. She knew of my interest in old tools and in particular woodworking tools. She said they were clearing out the shops and sheds preparing for the estate sale and if I wanted I could come have a look early for anything that might be of interest to me. I couldn't get there fast enough! I came home with nineteen planes, sixteen of the wooden variety, one Record Marples No 7 almost new still in the box, a Stanley No 19 block plane and a Stanley No 45.
Most of the wooden planes (I don't know if these type of planes have a different name. ???) were made by a "M. CRANNELL" "ALBANY". One is "Bensen & Crannell Albany", Some of the others are "____ENT & CO. U.S." within a banner (Sargent & Co. ???), "DEFOREST BIRMINGHAM" and "_____ENFIELD TOOL CO. GREENFIELD, MASS." Would love to know any info on who made these planes and approximate age. They all have irons and "wedges" (?) with the exception of 2 which seem almost identical and one of those has an iron but no wedge and the other has a wedge but no iron. I paid $3 per plane for each of the wooden planes.
The Stanley No. 19 block plane (7" long) appears to be a type 2 from looking in the John Walter's Stanley Guide. It has the knuckle joint lever cap stamped "Pat. Dec. 28. 86.". Stamped on the body in fairly large type is "S R & L". Too much rust on the iron to tell what is stamped there. It appears I'm starting to collect Stanley user planes and I certainly didn't have a No. 19 (or 18).
I have a contact with a Stanley No. 45 who was willing to sell it to me for $80. It has the original wooden box and 18 cutters also with an original wooden cutter box, both sets of arms, etc. I guess it's a good thing I held off on buying it as I picked up this Stanley 45 at less than half of what he was willing to sell it to me at. It has both sets of arms and ALL the standard cutters plus #40 & #41. Judging by the Walter's guide I believe it's a type 16 (1936-1948) and the condition seems to be excellent. The cutters need to be cleaned up and one has significant pitting. The rosewood fence has some apparent intentional damage in one spot. I need to find an instruction manual and get it copied. I would love to try using it for some beading.
All in all it was a fun day and as I was about to leave with my haul of goodies I got a call from our son. He and his wife are expecting their first child (our 3rd grandson). They were at the hospital and her doctor was going to induce labor. Fyi, the little big (8lb 11oz, 21") fella was born on Friday and is going home today. All are doing well. What a wonderful weekend!!!
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