Antique Stanley Planes

A number of collectors of antique Stanley planes love using their old treasures because of their fine craftsmanship and excellent quality.

Take a look at a great antique hand tool slideshow.

One of the most collectible of the old hand tools, Stanley woodworking planes are considered by many to be collectibles that are meant to be used. Many of these planes are often found at garage sales, flea markets and online auctions at reasonable prices. Although these are usually the more common planes, there is always the hope that one of them may actually be a rare Stanley tool treasure. As more people find the joy of antique tool collecting, the value of these utilitarian objects slowly continues to rise.

Many old wood plane collectors do not want them for their possible future monetary value. Instead they search for these old tools to use. These collectors are today’s professional craftspeople and hobbyists that appreciate the durability, superior workmanship and long history of these old tools of the trades.

The Stanley Rule and Level Company, which later became the Stanley Works, purchased the patent rights to the plane designs of inventor and toolmaker Leonard Bailey in the 1860s. It was one of Bailey’s patented designs that the Stanley Company manufactured and turned into the world’s standard configuration for wood planes. This antique Stanley woodworking tool, called the #1 smooth plane, is highly sought after by tool collectors throughout the world.

The #1 smooth plane is relatively small in size measuring only 5.5 inches in length and 1.25 inches in width. It was made to be used in small areas and could easily be handled with one hand. Over the years there have been reproductions of this valuable antique wood plane. This type of wood plane is still in production with only a few modifications.

Many printed books and price guides and online resources exist for those interested in antique Stanley tools or for a specific type of tool such as woodworking planes.

• A valuable online resource for both novice and experienced collectors of Stanley wood planes is Stanley Blood and Gore written by Patrick Leach. On his website, Mr. Leach has compiled a comprehensive list of every plane made by the Stanley Company. There are numerous pictures and illustrations, along with detailed information provided for each of the more than 608 different models of Stanley woodworking planes, making this website an extremely useful tool for identifying antique wood planes. Although the amount and type of information varies, depending on the particular model, generally included are:
  • Measurements
  • Weight
  • Rarity
  • Year offered
  • Years in production
  • Information regarding material and type of wood used in manufacture
  • Information of detecting repairs and fakes
• Another excellent resource is Larry and Carole Meeker’s Antiques of a Mechanical Nature found on Patented-Antiques. In addition to a history of the Stanley Tool Company, the Meekers also provide descriptions of an number of types of Stanley woodworking planes including:
  • Bench
  • Block
  • Compass
  • Combination
  • Scraper
  • Rabbit
  • Dado
  • Planes for special use
  • Leonard Bailey’s Victor planes
  • Bailey Tool Company defiance planes
  • Two tone
  • Square
• Handplane Central provides pictures, information and stat sheets for a number of Stanley wood planes. The following information is included in the stat sheets.
  • The years the plane was manufactured
  • Measurements including length and width
  • Construction type
  • Finish
  • Special features
  • The uses of the plane (special or general)
  • Average dealer price
  • Average eBay price
  • Type

• Out of print for several years, the Antique & Collectible Stanley Tools Guide to Identity & Value by John Walter is considered by many antique professionals to be the Stanley tool collector’s Bible. The book is often found for sale on websites such as eBay or Amazon.
• Complete with a facsimile of a 1909 and 1926 catalog, Early 20th (Twentieth) Century Stanley Tools - A Price Guide by Jack Wood is packed with information for the antique tool collector.
• Warman's Tools Field Guide: Values and Identification by Clarence Blanchard includes a section on wood planes from the latter part of the 1800s to the mid 1900s.

Whether you are a new woodworking tool collector or have been collecting for years, antique Stanley planes are fun to find, great to look at and useful to own.

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