Thread: US Stanley Planes

This will help you narrow down its age: The Stanley Bench Plane Page

The US made ones are more desirable, but the raised ring around the front knob indicates that it's a relatively late model (post 1930s).

The condition means that it's a user plane, rather than a serious collectible, I think $60-80 is probably fair

It's not a high enough resolution picture to get a close look, but are you sure it is a Stanley. The blue paint and the cap iron look to me like it may be a Record?

Thanks for your replies.
I had picked up on the high knob and the raised ring, but I hadn't picked up on the blue paint. Unfortunately it's the only photo I've got to go off.

The Type 20 was blue, but Stanley had moved to rounded blade tops (as opposed to the sharp corners in the pic) 20 years before...maybe it's a Frankenplane

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

The Type 20 was blue, but Stanley had moved to rounded blade tops (as opposed to the sharp corners in the pic) 20 years before...maybe it's a Frankenplane

The frog shape is also wrong for a type 20. I can't see a raised lip front or back (but it's not a good photo), and the handles look rosewood. I don't think this is a frankenplane.

Originally Posted by Fuzzie

It's not a high enough resolution picture to get a close look, but are you sure it is a Stanley. The blue paint and the cap iron look to me like it may be a Record?

I'm wondering that too. If it is, it's from the best period of Record production and would most likely make a good user.

I don't know what prices are like on your side of the Ditch, but even if it is a good Record, I wouldn't pay $NZ60 for that here (although plenty of sellers would hopefully list for that much). With that poor photo, there's too much chance of being burnt. I would be looking to pay $25 - maybe $30 at a pinch (but then I'm a tight-ass , and prices are lower here).

HTH.

Cheers, Vann.

Is that a crack in the handle? About an inch up from the bottom.

Originally Posted by Colin62

Is that a crack in the handle? About an inch up from the bottom.

Or a mark like the others further up the tote? It's in the right place for a crack.

Like I said in my last post - with that poor photo, there's too much chance of being burnt to pay a good price.

Cheers, Vann.

Originally Posted by Vann

Like I said in my last post - with that poor photo, there's too much chance of being burnt to pay a good price.

Agreed. And the one thing I know is that, if you keep looking, the right one will eventually come up, especially a number 4.

90% sure it’s a Stanley type 14 or 15; could possibly be a pre-‘57 Record but wouldn’t gamble any body parts on it.

If the sole and blade are flat and unpitted and the woodwork has no cracks then up to $80 would be a fair price as the overall condition is shabby. 10 minutes of derusting and cleaning up would add another $10 - 20 bucks.

Value as per blurry single photo? $20 because that’s what the front knob would sell for if the rest of the plane was cactus.

Thanks for all the useful info, guys. I messaged the seller for some better photos, but it's no longer available.

Mint 4s sell at the TTTG sales for $50 tops.
Same with 5s.
There were so many million of these made they will never be “collectable”.
I haven’t been to a Melbourne Sale in a decade or so but can’t see them being any more expensive down there.
H.

True mint condition will still have the decal on the handle and the original box; those definitely are collectible and you're not likely to get one for $50 any time soon

Set yourself up with some saved searches in Ebay for Stanley and Record planes, maybe even refine them to your geographical location so anything you bid on can be picked up locally rather than posted. You WILL get good quality user planes cheaply it just depends on how long you are happy to wait. Research some history, I mainly use these three sources: Patricks Blood & Gore, Rexmill and David Lynch.

The Superior Works - Patrick's Blood & Gore: Preface

RexMill.com Hand Planes 101 The Resource

Record Hand Tools