Possible Leonard Bailey no. 3, any info appreciated

[ED65]

This plane is claimed to be from "before 1860". If it is an original it's going for far less than I presume it's actually worth (equivalent to just under 100 quid) and would make a good investment buy.

The little information I've been able to glean online about Bailey's own planes prior to any Stanley association seems to support the type and rough age, but the front knob isn't like any others I can find pics of so I'm wondering how original it all is.

These are the sellers photos, I know they're frustratingly small and he hasn't taken shots of a few key details that would help with an ID. Any help?

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Before 1860? No. Before 1960? Most of it, probably.

The whole frog assembly looks far too developed for something that early, and I'm fairly sure the lever cap came along later, too. The Bailey patent for the thin cutting iron and cap-iron (which we had a lengthy discussion about a few months ago) was late 1870s if memory serves, so that thin iron would pre-date Bailey's patent for it. Seems a tad improbable. The cap-iron seats wrong for one made true to the Bailey patent as well. Of course, the iron and cap-iron might not be original to the plane.

Somebody rather better versed with the type numbers of Stanley planes will no doubt be along shortly with much better information than I can provide, but it looks a bit early 20th century with a user-made front knob. Bear in mind that I'm no expert, though.

 

[Corneel]

Looks like a normal Stanley, early model, about 1900. I don't recognise that foundry number in the levercap, and the blade has the hole for the capiron screw at the top, which also is not standard for Stanley.

 

[bugbear]

I looked at the famous Stanley Dating timeline. This doesn't look early (or right) at all.

BugBear

 

[MIGNAL]

Nah!!!

 

[Bod]

Looks post 1885 to me, the blade may well be older.
http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/stan1.htm explains more.

Bod

 

[ED65]

Thanks all! Definite Frakenplane it looks like. I was beginning to suspect as much after looking at as many images as I could find.

 

[shed9]

Did Bailey actually number his original planes anyhow?

 

[ED65]

I don't recognise that foundry number in the levercap

Bailey's pre-Stanley planes were apparently marked under the lever cap, I think that's one of the features that either mislead the seller or is being used as a deliberately misleading feature.

Did Bailey actually number his original planes anyhow?

They were sold in sizes, but the handful of pics I've seen (all "vertical post" ones) don't have cast-on numbers (on the body).

 

[lurker]

Seems to me every seller adds at least 50 years to the age of what they are selling.

 

[shed9]

Did Bailey actually number his original planes anyhow?

They were sold in sizes, but the handful of pics I've seen (all "vertical post" ones) don't have cast-on numbers (on the body).

That's what I meant in numbering them. I also haven't seen a plane supposedly to be a bailey to have cast number on the sole.