Amazing finds in an antique shop!!! Even a No 1!!!

[The Muss]

Today I was driving the wife around to pick up some things she needs for an engagement cake she is making next week when I drove past an antique shop I have driven past 100 times and never bothered to go into and have a look at. Today I decided that I would go in and have a look to see if there were any tools in there.

I asked the lady in the shop and she says to me, "My husband is out the back you can go and see his, he has no power tools, just hand tools." I said no worries and wandered back there not expecting too much because tools seem very hard to come buy where I live.

As I started looking through his display, I was excited to see things like Norris planes, Berg chisels, (with the timber handles) and so many things that I wanted to buy but couldn't as we have just came back from a holiday and are a little light on cash.

Then a fellow came in and was asking about a No 1 as a present for his father in law. He was holding a 130 block plane and thought that is was one:no:. The fellow said that they have wooden handles and are a very small plane. I started to tell him that you could look on line and tool exchange and then all of a sudden this guy pulls out a No 1 out from behind his counter and says, "This is a No 1" as casual as could be.

I was so amazed that he had such a collection of tools and even a No 1!!! turns out he is a cabinetmaker and has been collecting for 25 years and is starting to sell some things.

So the point of my story is just to tell everyone that today I held a Stanley No 1 in my hands. It is disappointing that as a cabinetmaker I will never be able to afford a cabinetmakers tool like this but very cool to see!!!

Sorry this is a little bit of a novel.

Kind regards, Andrew.

[Twisted Tenon]

Good story Muss. Was he selling it?

TT

[Pac man]

Was this the one on the scenic highway? What were the prices like?

[The Muss]

Good story Muss. Was he selling it?

TT
Yes he was, He wanted $1300 for it. A little more then I could afford!!! Also it was not in the best shape I have ever seen. But very cool to see:U.

[The Muss]

Was this the one on the scenic highway? What were the prices like?
Na not that one. I didn't know they had tools there, it was in Long Jetty or The Entrance. Not exactly sure where one stops and the other starts:?. The prices did vary. Some reasonable and some a bit dear. Great bloke to have a chat with though.

[Pac man]

Just checkin it wasn't the scenic highway one which i have driven past so many times. Never have got out to check if there are tools in there.

[delbs]

Cool story. I've picked up some old saws and hand drills / auger bits from little gems like that. Seems NSW has them spread through out the place. I love looking through places like these wondering if ur come across a little gem.

I got to be honest though. I don't understand the significance of a no1, nor the justification for such a hefty price attached?. Is it like a first generation of smoother planes from Stanley? (sorry hand plane noob here) i know how to use hand planes and am a hand tool user but have a veritas and few other Stanley's. Don't know much about Stanley's history sorry :)

[Vann]

I don't understand the significance of a no1, nor the justification for such a hefty price attached?. Is it like a first generation of smoother planes from Stanley? (sorry hand plane noob here)It's just the smallest and rarest of the bench planes. I guess some people want to have a complete set from #1 to #8.

Personally, when and if I decide I want a #1 I'll buy a Lie-Nielsen model for $US225 - better made, better condition and much cheaper than an old Stanley (or if I win the Lotto, maybe a Patrick Leach #601 for $US695).

Cheers, Vann.

[Twisted Tenon]

Na not that one. I didn't know they had tools there, it was in Long Jetty or The Entrance. Not exactly sure where one stops and the other starts:?. The prices did vary. Some reasonable and some a bit dear. Great bloke to have a chat with though.

There's a whole heap of second hand shops along the entrance road at long jetty. I've often popped into them on a Sunday afternoon. I bet it was the first shop on the right as you come into LJ? Never thought he would have a No1.

Jim Davey has a couple he keeps on his stand at the various shows I've seen him at. Nifty looking plane, but as a bit of a plane noob myself I can't see what the excitement is about. I think a low angle block plane would be as good.

TT

[DSEL74]

There's a whole heap of second hand shops along the entrance road at long jetty. I've often popped into them on a Sunday afternoon. I bet it was the first shop on the right as you come into LJ? Never thought he would have a No1.

Jim Davey has a couple he keeps on his stand at the various shows I've seen him at. Nifty looking plane, but as a bit of a plane noob myself I can't see what the excitement is about. I think a low angle block plane would be as good.

TT

I saw a bloke with a no#1 at a car swapmeet in a glass case. I got his phone number at the time cos I thought someone unlike me with cash who collects would want to know about it but never did hear if he followed up.

[IanW]

..... It is disappointing that as a cabinetmaker I will never be able to afford a cabinetmakers tool like this but very cool to see!!!...

Andrew, console yourself with the thought you will almost certainly never need one! :;

I have to say I've been puzzled for a very long time about what Stanley were thinking when they made the "Number 1". And so have many others, to judge by the discussions that erupt online & wherever plane-o-philes gather. The suggestions range from salesmens' samples to school use, but the truth is no-one seems to know. What most agree on is that it was unlikely to have been in response to an overwhelming demand by practising cabinetmakers...

I started out thinking (as many seem to do) that if Stanley made 8 bench planes, they must all be essential tools, so eventually I would have to have at least one of each. Then I discovered there are "halves" and "quarters" shoe-horned in between the whole numbers, some have grooved soles, then there are the Bedrocks, and we haven't even begun on the specialty planes yet. I could see bankruptcy looming long before I would be properly equipped for cabinetmaking! :o

Fortunately, at some early point, I got to try a #2 and discovered it was not something I lusted after, so a #1 suddenly seemed much less desirable. In fact, something the #3 is the smallest Bailey type that I find useful to me, these days. I soon after that discovered that #8s are big suckers with attitude, & a #7 is as much as a wimp like myself can push around. This was good - the number of bench planes I 'had to have' was narrowing considerably & it saved me an awful lot of $$$s and running around looking for them! :U

So I reckon there are some tools best left entirely to the collectors - after all, we don't want to push up the prices they have to pay any higher than they are already...... :;

Cheers,

[The Muss]

This is true, I suppose it would be better left to the collectors. It just is disappointing that some things get very evpensive and there are some of us out here that want to use them, not look at them on a shelf!!!

I want a bedrock No 7, but I think it will be a while before I can talk the missus into letting me spend that kind of cash on one. They are quite pricey.

[IanW]

This is true, I suppose it would be better left to the collectors. It just is disappointing that some things get very evpensive and there are some of us out here that want to use them, not look at them on a shelf!!!

I want a bedrock No 7, but I think it will be a while before I can talk the missus into letting me spend that kind of cash on one. They are quite pricey.

Yeah, many 'users' tend to look on 'collectors' as responsible for high prices, but they probably don't make a huge difference apart from the few really rare tools (like #1s, I suppose!). Anything desirable is going to create competition amongst would-be owners, so it really doesn't matter if we lust after a tool to put in a glass case or a working-tool cupboard, it will push the price up. The only consolation is that there are still plenty of old tools around at reasonable prices, you just have to be in the right place at the right time, which of course isn't easy!

Funny how we all seem to have a desire to own a certain tool that appeals to us for some reason or other. Can't be a lot of 607s sitting unrecognised around the country, but I hope you stumble on one at a bargain price someday.....
:U
Cheers,

[Repliconics]

Right now on ebay there are five Stanley No.1's.
Prices start around $1500 and go all the way to $5400.
I guess we're just lucky that theres so many of these rare planes.

[DSEL74]

The expensive ones have made in china written on them!!!! :roflmao: