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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
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    Thumbs up Stanley No:4 Plane !

    Hi Guys,

    I don't know if this is the right place for this post or not !

    I saw this "Stanley No:4" wood plane, the seller was asking £5.00p for it, it looked in reasonable condition so I bought it with a view to cleaning it up and putting it to work. Anyway I've stripped it down, it seems to be in quite good order, but then discovered that the body, a casting is embossed "Baily" No:4". Everything else is marked "Stanley"

    Can anybody cast any light on this. I took the pictures after stripping it down,

    001-.JPG 002-.JPG 004-.JPG 003-.JPG 005-.jpg
    As can be seen here these first three items are clearly marked Stanley and seem to be in good condition.

    009-.JPG 007-.JPG 006-.jpg
    The sole plate has some discolouration but no gouges or dings. The casting is clearly marked "Bailey" !


    008-.JPG
    I found these marks on one of the sides of the body, but they are impossible to make out other than they are letters, but appear to be too many to say Baily and too few to say Stanley.

    010-.JPG 012-.JPG 011-.JPG
    This is the adjustment knob. It looks as if someone has used a wrench on it. I'm considering turning the knurling off and re knurling it.
    But I do wonder whether it would affect its value at all.

    At this point in time I've no interest in selling it, but wouldn't want to destroy its value.
    Help and advice sought !

    Thanks Guys.
    Best Regards:
    BaronJ.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
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    Looks like a fairly early English made Stanley and so may be a reasonable user plane. How flat is the sole?

    Leonard Bailey invented the blade adustment mechanism and sold the patent to Stanley, they put his name on casting as a bit of a tribute. Their own name only ever appeared on the blade until the early 1920’s when they cast it into the lever cap.

    For 5 squid you’ve got it for about 1/3rd of its value as English Stanleys aren’t really collectable. The marks on the adjustment wheel will indeed have been made with Mole grips or similar, at some point it would have seized onto the threads and resisted being removed by hand and someone went a bit gung-ho.
    Nothing succeeds like a budgie without a beak.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Bailey patent, made by Stanley. Don't worry about destroying its value, it's not worth much beyond being a functional plane.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
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    back in Alberta for a while
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    68
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    12,006

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    what I think you have is a generic Made in England Stanley.
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Yorkshire UK
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    Thank you for the info about Bailey.

    Quote Originally Posted by Chief Tiff View Post
    Looks like a fairly early English made Stanley and so may be a reasonable user plane. How flat is the sole?
    As near as I can tell with a straight edge, dead flat. I did nip it in the mill vise and ran a dial gauge over it. The only place it dips is at the thin edge of the slot for a few thou towards the tail.

    The marks on the adjustment wheel will indeed have been made with Mole grips or similar, at some point it would have seized onto the threads and resisted being removed by hand and someone went a bit gung-ho.
    Mmm, I can soon turn the damage off and re-knurl the edge of the knob ! I will have to go careful though, there won't be much meat left after skimming off the damage. At a pinch I could turn up a new knob, but I would need to buy a left hand tap to do the thread in it.
    Best Regards:
    BaronJ.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    733

    Thumbs up Stanley No:4 Plane.

    Hi Guys, Thank you all for your advice and information !

    I had no idea about how the Bailey name came to be on the sole until you guys put me wise !

    I've another question, the wooden parts of this plane have suffered over the years, I wonder how you would go about restoring them.
    The varnish has splintered and cracked off in a number of places, particularly the knob at the front.

    Thanks again.
    Best Regards:
    BaronJ.

  8. #7
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    Aug 2008
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    Quote Originally Posted by BaronJ View Post
    At a pinch I could turn up a new knob, but I would need to buy a left hand tap to do the thread in it.
    Cheaper just to buy a replacement knob https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stanley-P...gAAOSwV-NbrjKW

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