Thread: Stanley 71 Router plane's age ?

It’s English made so quite late.
The advertising tag is probably traceable.
”The best tools you can lay hands on”
When I worked for Stanley Oz in 1981 it was “Australia’s most borrowed tools”.
I’m sure google would have a timeline on this guff.
H.

I'd say 1970's.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I have just done a search on the ”The best tools you can lay hands on” and found this page about trademarks, if I understand correctly it was registered in 1989.

STANLEY The best tools you can lay hands on United Kingdom Trademark Brand Information - Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. 1000 Stanley Drive, New Britain, Connecticut 06050, United States of America US

I read somewhere else that they stopped making them in 1992 so this would likely to be one of the last made

Rick

I have a Stanley 4 1/2 with the original paper inside, and sometimes there's a clue in the text.

In my case, the line is something like "Since 1869, over 80 years ago" - this dates the plane to a decade beginning in 1949 (1869+80) - and likely earlier in the decade (if it were later, the line might read "Since 1869, nearly 90 years ago".

Any clues in yours?

Any clues in yours?

Yep, the plastic handles! .... = last generation of hand tools

The fence is another indicator. Early models did not have one.

Other than the fact it looks new ..

None of this impacts on its use. It should be an excellent user.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by derekcohen

Yep, the plastic handles! .... = last generation of hand tools

The fence is another indicator. Early models did not have one.

Other than the fact it looks new ..

None of this impacts on its use. It should be an excellent user.

Regards from Perth

Derek

May be it's a little older than I thought, the handles are wood not plastic. I don't think it has actually ever been used as there is no signs of use on the blades or sole.

I will now looking for a project to use it for

Rick


20200301_112827.jpg

Originally Posted by derekcohen

Other than the fact it looks new ..

Funny you should mention that - ironically, I picked up an unused (or so it looks to me) Stanley 71 a few months ago.

I have been torn ever since on whether to actually use it or not - it's in the original box (though the box is in poor shape).

For the sake of interest and curiosity, I've taken a look at it tonight, comparing it to the unit shown here in pictures, and I can see no visual difference *except* that the unit I have has "X1" then "20" stamped under the front arch, whereas the unit shown here has "X1" then "30"

The little yellow printed tag on mine which was attached by a small string even has the exact same wording, and the enclosed pamphlet reads the same (including style, font and layout) to the extent I can compare it to this unit's pamphlet.

Originally Posted by warrick

May be it's a little older than I thought, the handles are wood not plastic.

Rick, interestingly, I looked at the handles on mine too - and they look pitch black and like plastic (which seems to be the same impression I get from your original photographs).

May I ask how you ended up "cleaning" the handle? Sandpaper, or some other method?

Also, mine comes with a fence, and if you can allow me until tomorrow, I'd be happy to take a photo of the screw for you, and give you some rough dimensions, which may assist you in locating a replacement - let me know if this will prove useful

Originally Posted by warrick

The only thing that is missing is the screw for the fence.

I have a similar English made 71. I found a UNC 10-24 thread bolt fitted the fence.
Regards Jim

Originally Posted by Midnight Man

Rick, interestingly, I looked at the handles on mine too - and they look pitch black and like plastic (which seems to be the same impression I get from your original photographs).

May I ask how you ended up "cleaning" the handle? Sandpaper, or some other method?

Also, mine comes with a fence, and if you can allow me until tomorrow, I'd be happy to take a photo of the screw for you, and give you some rough dimensions, which may assist you in locating a replacement - let me know if this will prove useful

I didn't clean them, just got better light for the later photo

Rick

Originally Posted by warrick

I didn't clean them, just got better light for the later photo

Rick

Thanks, and interesting. My handles are pure black, with no sign of wood grain - so I suspect they're plastic in that case!

Mine is made in USA so not sure if it's the same thread. I just rummaged the odd screws tin and found a brass screw from bunnings fitted. Far as I can tell its 3/16'' and about 24tpi. Having gone to the trouble of finding a screw I still have never used the fence in anger.
Regards
John

I've had a chance to take a happy snap - here's the fence, screw and washer:

Stanley 71 Fence & Screw.jpg

The screw itself is 10mm long from the underside of the pan to the tip of the thread. The shaft including threads are around 4mm in diameter.

If any other photos or measurements are required, I'd be happy to help.

Originally Posted by Midnight Man

I've had a chance to take a happy snap - here's the fence, screw and washer:

Stanley 71 Fence & Screw.jpg

The screw itself is 10mm long from the underside of the pan to the tip of the thread. The shaft including threads are around 4mm in diameter.

If any other photos or measurements are required, I'd be happy to help.

Thank you very much for that

Rick

This web site is probably for American router planes, but the link below might help. Yes, if the handles are plastic, it's definitely late construction. And my American No. 71, new enough for a fence, used a modern standard thread pitch - every once in a while, Stanley used a now-standard pitch for some unknowable reason.

Stanley No. 71 Router Type Study Page