plane
dating portion reconstructed. As a fast and convenient dating
tool, I present this version of the ASCII flowchart as amended by
Thom Trail.No, we're not talking about Galoots and their romantic evenings with woodworking tools. We're talking about figuring out what type of Stanley plane you have. For several years, there was a Stanley Plane Dating page on a server at Cornell. The fancy version, as well as the plain text version were the work of Jay Sutherland. By way of some history, the original type study from which Jay's web page was derived was created by Roger K. Smith. The noted Stanley expert and antique tool collector/dealer, Patrick Leach, had updated Roger's study and posted the information to rec.woodworking for the edification of the Internet woodworking community. Jay html-ized Patrick's work along with 'flowcharting' it.
Jay eventually moved on and after a time the powers that be at
Cornell took the original page down. I long ago printed out the ASCII
version of the plane dating page and used to carry it around in my
car. Thom Trail, an OldTools list member of long standing, emailed me
a version in which he had incorporated the date range for each type
as originally presented by Jay on his more elaborate version. Jay's
lost page was recently recovered via the
Internet
Archive and the plane
dating portion reconstructed. As a fast and convenient dating
tool, I present this version of the ASCII flowchart as amended by
Thom Trail.
Roger K. Smith's type study is contained in John Walter's 'Antique and Collectible Stanley Tools: Guide to Identity and Value' - a book every toolhound should own. Patrick Leach's 'Patrick's Blood and Gore' is an excellent Internet guide to Stanley planes with many photographs and useful tips for users and collectors of these tools.
How many patent
dates are cast
into bed?
|
| 0 Yes Yes
|---> Is raised ring cast into -> Is bed painted blue? -------------> Type 20 1962-67
| bed as receiver for knob? |
| | | No
| | No | No
| | Do toe and heel have a raised,----> Type 15 1931-32
| Is plane number broad, flat rib casting?
| (i.e., No. 4) |
| cast into bed? | Yes
| | | | Yes
| | Yes | No Is "STANLEY" printed vertically --> Type 19 1948-61
| | | on lateral adjustment lever?
| | | |
| | | | No
| | | | Yes
| | | Does depth adjustment nut have ---> Type 18 1946-47
| | | a diagonal knurling on it?
| | | |
| | Is lever | No
| | cap back |
| | recessed? Does plane have wartime Yes --> Type 17 1942-45
| | | | features (handle and knob No ---> Type 16 1933-41
| | | | stained red or painted
| How many | Yes | No black, depth adj. nut
| patent dates | | made of steel or hard rubber,
| appear on | | heavier bottom castings)
| lateral | |
| adjustment | ------> Is depth adj. nut stamped No ----> Type 1 1867-69
| lever? | "BAILEY'S PATENT"...? Yes ---> Type 2 1869-72
| | |
| | -------------> Is frog receiver a broad No ----> Type 3 1872-73
| | rectangular area with Yes ---> Type 4 1874-84
| | arched rear (toward tote)?
| | 0
| |---------------------> Does "STANLEY" appear on No ----> Type 4-5
| | lateral adj. lever? Yes ---> Type 8-9
| | 1
| |----------------------------------------------------------> Type 8 1899-02
| |
| | 2
| |----------------------------------------------------------> Type 5 1885-88
| |
| | 3
| ----------------------> Is depth adj. nut stamped Yes ---> Type 6 1888-92
| "BAILEY'S PATENT"... No ----> Type 7 1893-99
| 1
|------------------------------> Is raised ring cast into No ----> Type 13 1925-28
| bed as receiver for knob? Yes ---> Type 14 1929-30
| 2
|------------------------------> Is frog rib enlarged and No ----> Type 9 1902-07
| arched type? Yes ---> Type 10 1907-09
| 3
-------------------------------> Is depth adj. nut large No ----> Type 11 1910-18
(1.25" diameter)? Yes ---> Type 12 1919-24
Last modified: September 24, 2000
Original version by Jay Sutherland, after Roger K. Smith and Patrick Leach
Amended version by Thom Trail
