what's this tool?

[thetyreman]

Hi, am new to this forum,

do any of you know what this hand plane is?

it says no4 on it but there's no maker, and it's missing the original front handle.

...also the brass ring works in the opposite direction to normal, you turn it clockwise to lower the cutting iron.

 

[Corneel]

It could be an early Stanley, before they made the adjuster left hand threaded. I have a #3 like that, quite confusing, but I like the plane a lot. If it is a Stanley, you can find their name on the lateral lever. Pity the side is broken.

 

[adidat]

some one has gone to a lot of effort to repair it, pinning plates on both sides, and then it has been dropped again! poor thing!

adidat

 

[thetyreman]

It could be an early Stanley, before they made the adjuster left hand threaded. I have a #3 like that, quite confusing, but I like the plane a lot. If it is a Stanley, you can find their name on the lateral lever. Pity the side is broken.

thanks for that, yes at some point it has clearly been dropped... I am thinking of using it as a srub plane and making a front handle.

 

[undergroundhunter]

It could be an early Stanley, before they made the adjuster left hand threaded. I have a #3 like that, quite confusing, but I like the plane a lot. If it is a Stanley, you can find their name on the lateral lever. Pity the side is broken.

Doesn't look to have a lateral leaver to me.

matt

 

[Corneel]

It could be an early Stanley, before they made the adjuster left hand threaded. I have a #3 like that, quite confusing, but I like the plane a lot. If it is a Stanley, you can find their name on the lateral lever. Pity the side is broken.

Doesn't look to have a lateral leaver to me.

matt

Uh yes!

So, it's either a very very early Stanley even before they added the lateral, or it is one of the many copieists.

 

[adidat]

any makers marks on the blade, not a great way to name it but it might give you a clue?

adidat

 

[thetyreman]

I just updated this with 3 more photos, on the brass ring it says 'L.Bailey Patent Aug 1858, Aug 1867'and the back iron says 'L.BAILEY'S PATENT DEC 24 1867' and the frog is a bedrock design from what I can tell, there is no maker stamp on the cutting iron or lever cap... hope that helps.

 

[adidat]

The frog is also damaged at the top! Poor thing.

Looks like an early Bailey to me, with the stamp on the adjuster wheel and blade etc

Adidat

 

[thetyreman]

The frog is also damaged at the top! Poor thing.

Looks like an early Bailey to me, with the stamp on the adjuster wheel and blade etc

Adidat

thanks, it was given this plane by my father who has left it untouched since the 1960s, he said he got it from a man in his 80s then for free, seeing as I've just taken up woodworking with hand tools, it's a shame it's in such bad condition, I wonder what it would be worth in perfect condition?

 

[Corneel]

Sounds all the more like an early Stanley. They used a depth adjuster with the name Bailey and a patent date in 1867. It's not a bedrock design as far as I can see.

Now I see that the frog top is broken, it could have had a lateral adjuster.

I would have a look at one of the Stanley type studies to see if you can pin it down any further. Type 6 was the last with the right hand threaded depth adjuster.

 

[lurker]

If you were a bit more specific about where you are someone might help you out with some spares
I have several boxes of plane bits from which I am happy to donate from but only for visitors.

The plane looks like it has some age but is probably beyond bothering with, might make a decent donor though.

 

[Rorschach]

Can't give you any info but I think it's quite a nicely proportioned plane and even with damage and dodgy handle it looks rather nice. If it were me it would be turned into a roughing plane, I am currently scouring the car boots for a plane with this idea in mind.

 

[thetyreman]

If you were a bit more specific about where you are someone might help you out with some spares
I have several boxes of plane bits from which I am happy to donate from but only for visitors.

The plane looks like it has some age but is probably beyond bothering with, might make a decent donor though.

I'm in stockport, if you had the right parts I'd actually pay you money for the front handle, but I noticed it's a custom size thread, first I'd like to know exactly when it was made, I'm thinking of actually using it but as a scrub plane and MAYBE getting an original frog, but like you say not sure it's worth it, it's very generous for you to offer.

regards, Ben.

 

[Corneel]

The bedding of the frog looks like a type 4 or 5. The type 5 got the lateral lever. So, that's between 1874 and 1888. There is a good description of the several frog styles on the Stanley blood and gore page from Patrick Leach. Look under the #3 description. Combine this information with the several Stanley type studies and you can find anything you need to know.

For parts you will have more luck in the USA. On ebay there are quite a few suppliers of parts. Not cheap though! I wouldn't invest too much in this plane. Maybe file the top edge of the frog so it looks decent again. Make or buy another front knob It should be a low knob for this age, but a high knob works too and is easier to find in Europe.

 

[lurker]

Take the current knob off but put the fixing back in place and post a photo so we can see if you have the right screw and "nut"

 

[thetyreman]

Take the current knob off but put the fixing back in place and post a photo so we can see if you have the right screw and "nut"

I checked the front knob and it looks like a custom size thread, the screw that's with it is slightly too small, I will post a photo later on today or this evening.

 

[lurker]

IT will be a custom size thread in the casting.

IIRC it's near as dammit close to a whitworth but there are people here with the know how to make you one if you need it.

 

[Bedrock]

By an odd coincidence, I passed on what looks like the same unmarked no.4 at a market stall in Winchester, this morning. Asking £11, in what looked like fairly good condition. I didn't check on the right/left adjuster, but I couldn't justify another plane, albeit at what looked like a cheap price.

I did pick up an in-cannel. 3/8" Ward, and a US made Stanley socketed, bevel edged 5/16" parer, albeit with an odd looking handle, under £15 the pair.

 

[Rorschach]

No good planes at the booty today, best looking I found was a stanley handyman but I really didn't like the feel of all the plastic.