Results 1 to 12 of 12
  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Blue Mountains, Australia
    Posts
    462

    Default Falcon 9 In bench plane - very good Aussie tool!

    I buy vintage Stanley or Record planes from time to time and had a few highlights recently (No. 140, No. 289, etc.) but this morning I picked up locally from an antiques/vintage/junk dealer a Falcon '9 In' I've had my eye on for awhile, and it impressed me more than the coveted Stanley's honestly.

    I've had Falcon and Pope irons, lever-caps and a frog once but I've never had a chance to buy a complete bench plane. The Falcon parts I sold on would usually sell fast to collectors and I thought today's the day to try a Falcon!
    IMG20180106112823-2304x1296.jpgIMG20180106112845-1296x2304.jpgIMG20180106113133-1296x2304.jpg

    So I bought the Australian made Falcon - A Pope Product 9 In (same size as a Stanley No. 4) for $40.

    It was shamefully in like-new condition, minor nickel flaking/bubbling, no rust on sole, cheeks or frog. The sole and cheeks have very pleasant milling marks that make it a crime to flatten. But we'll see...
    IMG20180106113029-2304x1296.jpgIMG20180106113014-1296x2304.jpg

    The original iron is just shy of 7 ½ inches in length.
    This plane was probably used just a couple of times and put away in a very dry spot in a shed.

    IMG20180106112912-2304x1296.jpgIMG20180106112951-2304x1296.jpg

    After a 15 min clean-up and light de-rusting of frog screws, etc. and a quick iron sharpening this plane really works a treat. Just a super smoother!

    Design wise it is obviously a 100% Stanley Bailey clone, no innovation here, but it is a well made Australian tool and I can see/feel why some folks love and collect them.

    Vaughan

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Blue Mountains, Australia
    Posts
    462

    Default

    Interesting HTPAA webpage on Falcon/Pope archived here:
    archive.org:http://www.htpaa.org.au/pope.php

  4. #3
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Blue Mountains, Australia
    Posts
    462

    Default

    Another good Falcon/Pope website:
    The Village Woodworker: Falcon Pope Hand Planes - A Small Review

    It seems my 9 In is the earliest incarnation made sone time between 1946 and the early 1950s (when the name changed to 'Pope' and then ceased production in 1956)

    Any thoughts/experiences with these planes?

    V

  5. #4
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Blue Mountains, Australia
    Posts
    462

    Default

    Although in the NLA's Trove newspaper archive I just found a Falcon/Pope plane advertisment from August 1945. In the lower left corner it says 'Place an advance order'
    https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/a...y=Advertising#
    Screenshot_2018-01-06-14-41-05-68.jpg
    Pretty cool ad actually

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Brisbane
    Age
    73
    Posts
    488

    Default

    I buy and sell the odd plane or two. I've had a couple of Falcons come across my bench and my observation is that they are as well made as any Stanley. Because they copy the basic design they operate the same way, and as long as you have a well honed blade they cut just as well. They're not as good a seller as the Stanleys but if it's a user you're after you couldn't make a better choice IMHO...

  7. #6
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Blue Mountains, Australia
    Posts
    462

    Default

    Thanks Tccp123, the Falcon is indeed a good user plane. This week I've been putting it through its paces alongside some Stanleys (Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 7) jointing and smoothing a jarrah and ironbark workbench. It worked happily and effectively. Good quality plane for sure.

    V

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Macksville
    Age
    62
    Posts
    390

    Default

    Spotted one of those in our local antique shop today for $35, but it came with a lot more free rust than the one Vaughan found. Might go back & grab it, it'll make a good restoration project.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    3,096

    Default

    Did i just loose a post?
    Cheers,
    Clinton

    "Use your third eye" - Watson

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/clinton_findlay/

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    3,096

    Default

    I think that Stanley grew (includes management decisions about investing in production lines, prosesses, infrastructure, machinery, staff, add in machine cycles and maintenance decisions over time; and I see Falcon getting everything out of the box new.
    Cheers,
    Clinton

    "Use your third eye" - Watson

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/clinton_findlay/

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Brisbane
    Age
    73
    Posts
    488

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Clinton1 View Post
    I think that Stanley grew (includes management decisions about investing in production lines, prosesses, infrastructure, machinery, staff, add in machine cycles and maintenance decisions over time; and I see Falcon getting everything out of the box new.
    You've lost me Clinton

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Macksville
    Age
    62
    Posts
    390

    Default

    Went back & got the plane this morning. I was wrong, it was only $10, because it has a couple of cracks in the sides of the body. I'll give the blade a sharpen & see how it goes. If it's no good, the rest of it is in reasonable condition, so will be OK for spares if anyone needs them.

  13. #12
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Blue Mountains, Australia
    Posts
    462

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by 62woollybugger View Post
    Went back & got the plane this morning. I was wrong, it was only $10, because it has a couple of cracks in the sides of the body. I'll give the blade a sharpen & see how it goes. If it's no good, the rest of it is in reasonable condition, so will be OK for spares if anyone needs them.
    $10 for a working Falcon or spare parts sounds like a good deal to me if it's worth the trouble of parting it out.
    The cracks might not be a user issue though

    V

Similar Threads

  1. Bench Plane ID - Unico Tool Works?
    By schuld66 in forum ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLE TOOLS
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 29th August 2016, 10:33 AM
  2. The Good Ship Falcon
    By Fireguard in forum NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORK
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 22nd August 2008, 08:49 AM
  3. Falcon 9" plane
    By blackhorse in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWERED
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 26th November 2007, 12:11 AM
  4. falcon no 6 plane
    By gratay in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWERED
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 13th October 2006, 02:33 PM
  5. Falcon #5 plane
    By old_picker in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWERED
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 2nd April 2006, 05:44 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •