The plane arrived. The japanning seems to have little pimples in it, but for all I know, that's from age.
I put the plane down on my table saw, and I found I could rock it a tiny bit. I made sure the blade was out, and I cleaned the bottom of the plane so I would know it wasn't rocking on a piece of dirt.
This is a very long plane. The "22" refers to its length. I don't know if the minute bow in the bottom is normal or not. If it were a 14, it probably would be too small to notice. My only other big plane is a Stanley 6, and it seems to sit perfectly flat.
So now I have a puzzle. Do I send it back, eat the shipping, and consider it an interesting lesson? Do I use it the way it is? Do I put it on the mill and use a face mill to remove the bow? Do I throw out the base and buy a salvaged base to replace it? Do I put it on Ebay under the heading "RARE SECOND-QUALITY MILLERS FALLS 22 HAND PLANE"?
If I get a new body for the plane, I'll be into it for about the standard price of a Millers Falls 22 in good condition, so I will not be able to complain. But I'll have a second-quality body I can't get rid of!
Cry "Havoc," and let slip the dogs of bench.
I was socially distant before it was cool.
A little authority corrupts a lot.