I totally wish YT would let us post pics, but I'm sure you'd get bombarded. I would never ask anyone to watch one of my videos 😇, but I just posted a Short revealing a couple planes I picked up from a local antique shop. If I read the info on the page correctly, I think the number 4 is from 1902, but idk. I'm totally new and haven't done any hand tool woodwork but I'm getting inspired as my table saw restoration comes to a close. The Short is a quick nod to Paul and starting an inexpensive plan and hand tool collection to clean up and use. Thanks for this info! ❤it
You are a gold mine of information. Thank you for taking the time to do these videos. Reading about it is one thing, but being able to see the differences visually with video is invaluable.
Running a business, running and participating groups on Facebook, helping newbies and oldies alike get the parts they need, shooting content for RUclips, running down Leeds and buying more tools to keep plenty of tools for us fools, all while collecting for yourself.... Plus having a family! How do you do it all? My suspiciousness are you one of a set of triplets that does a 8hr shift once a day or ur just a cyborg.... All I can say to the 3 of you or the robot is thank you!
I promise there’s only one of me but there are times that having a clone would help… a lot. My 12 yr old is on the cusp of being mature enough to be helpful though
Thanks for the very informative video. It is timely for me since I just purchased a No. 5 1/4 and, with no raised rib, I thought it was type 15. But all the other features point to type 16, exactly as you described! Thanks for clearing that up for me.
Exellent video from an experienced plane expert - thanks. I've been hunting a replacement type 15 base for a while and think I've found one, but I was itching for you to remove the frog from yours and give a clear view of the base, by itself. I think as a general principle in your identifying videos it would be useful to do this, and give a clear shot of a naked base, of whatever model you are teaching us about, that way, someone looking for a replacement base, would be able to see all the relevent features in one image. Just a thought. Thanks again for a very instructive video.
Great information. I love to collect and restore vintage Stanley planes.. I have two No. 4 baileys I restored and they have big differences.. One has plastic knob and tole with the raised front and back ridge. The second No. 4 is also a Bailey with no raised ridge but is a full inch shorter in length than the first one. Both have Made in England raised in the body. I didn't know that No. 4s were so different in length. I love my No 1 (1899-1902) and No 2 type 11 or 12 . They are in perfect working order after many hours of sanding, sharpening and polishing.
This was Perfect! I have a no. 7 that I thought was a mess of type 15 body and 16 or later parts. After watching your video, I truly believe it is a prewar type 16 with correct parts. Thank you!
Got a real type fifteen for 10 bucks with some files as well has a broke tote and is kind of roughish but I cleaned it up and it work wonderfully best plane I have by far
Thanks for the very informative video! My initial conclusion about my No 3 was completely wrong. Now that I understand what was meant by the raised rib on the on the toe and heel, it is clear that I most likely have a type 19 not a type 15. While I fine with whatever type I have, it is nice to know what it actually is and the approximate age. Thanks again!
Hey Mike should do one on the English Canadian and Aussie types to just to keep you busy mate.Always a pleasure to watch and learn a bit from you tnx👍💯👀
I have what I think is a Type 15 No 5c. Perfect type 15 body and leaver cap with the wrong frog. The iron is not its original AA logo but the plane clearly saw tons of use and it is nearly full length. The nickel platting on the leaver cap is worn away where the user put their pointer finger during use. Everything on this plane is perfect, intact handles and I even kept the original finish. While I don't care about my plane being type correct as it is the best performing plane in my shop, I wonder if it is common to see planes with parts from the type before or after? I know types were something that tool collectors came up with and Stanley probably had parts left and used them.
You are exactly right. Stanley used up old parts as long as they still fit on the planes as they were being made. With that said, when a tool is 50, 60, 80+ years old, there’s no telling what could have happened over the decades since it was made. How many different owners have used it? It could have been disassembled around other planes and re-assembled with a wrong part or two. Some things we will never know, eh?
Is the underlying problem with the logic tree that some Type 16-19 planes were made without the raised rib at the heel and toe? Perhaps Stanley continued to use the Type 15 castings on newer planes, just until they ran out. So there are some examples like your No.7 that have a Type 15 casting but other features like the depth adjust knob from later types.
It’s really hard to say anything definitive on that. I haven’t seen any documentation to support any specifics so I think all we can do is speculate. What we call type 15s now were only cast for around one year so I can’t imagine it would have taken too long to sell the additional castings and other parts.
Thanks for a great, informative video. I just today received a well-used but decent SB #4 (from eBay, where else?). It's a beater, and will be a user, not a collector's item in a showcase, so I'm not worried about having a perfectly original tool. The- photos in the listing weren't great, but it looked like a type 15. Following along with your videos (this one and the one differentiating between 15's and 16's, I was able to determine, absolutely, that it's a type 15, and in decent shape - sole is flat, no pitting; some surface rust on frog and other parts but again, no pitting; no frozen screws; tote & knob are rosewood, no major chips or gouges; Everything looks like it will be good with cleaning, fettling, tuning, sharpening. However, there are issues - the frog has residual orange paint on the sides...it looks like it was original - did type 15 frogs ever have the orange sides? Second, the cap iron is painted yellow (again, looks original). Third, the iron is stamped, "TWO-TONE by Stanley". Clearly the original iron has been replaced with a lower-quality iron...I have no idea if the Two-Tone iron will hold an edge, but if it doesn't, I can get another iron. But I wonder about the cap-iron. I can remove the paint, that's not a problem...but I wonder it it was original to the type 15 plane?
There was a very brief period of time that Stanley painted frogs orange. It was in the early 1930s if I recall correctly but I’d have to look it up to be certain. Some collectors look for them specifically. For your two-tone blade, you’re absolutely right - it’s a lower end iron that may or may not meet your needs. The yellow chip breaker (cap iron) is also from a two-tone. That’s where the name comes from. The sole was probably a maroon color and the yellow chip breaker was the second of “two tones”. Your type 15 would have originally had an “AA” iron (the last of the SW style logos / trademarks).
@@justplanefun Thank You! After getting your info about the orange frogs, I did some checking - apparently they're considered desirable by some collectors. Many have lost most of the orange paint, but mine still has about 60-75%. I'd intended this plane to just be a user, and was going to do a full "Paul Sellers" renovation. But this plane is in nice condition, and with the orange-sided frog, may be worth saving, keeping it as original as I can. I've bought a good original sweetheart iron for it, though not quite correct - it's the 2nd sweetheart logo, from an older plane (Type 12, 1921-22), but it's a sweetheart. I'll just be gentle, get rid of surface rust without removing the patina, sharpen the iron, refinish the tote and knob, tune it up, then clean and wax everything, and sell it. I'll give an honest, complete description, with photos showing all parts clearly. Maybe I can find someone who'll treasure it. Meanwhile, I've picked up a beat-up Type 18 (1946-47) to be my user. It needs some TLC, and elbow-grease, but it has no major flaws. I'll do the full-up renovation on that one. Thank you once again for your experience, your time, and your kindness.
Thanks so much for your wisdom. I have a number 3 with a B casting under the lever cap..which is a key hole type cap. Under the frog is a marking EvST stamped on the plane bed. No other markings anywhere except no. 3 cast behind the front knob...with two small lines under the o. Do you think this plane is even a Stanley? Is it maybe quite old?
I don’t know if I would call it wisdom, I’m just showing examples of stuff that’s documented in print. The B casting lever cap is probably a Stanley from a type 8. If the body has no patent dates and doesn’t say made in USA anywhere on it, then it may not be Stanley at all. Perhaps it could be a Union from after the Stanley buyout. If you’re on Facebook, swing by “Just Plane Fun - the parts division” and show us some pics. We can help figure it out
Hi great films and very helpful. I’ve a 5 1/2 from the USA with a aa sweetheart iron, curved frog and keyhole lever cap. What type do you think that is? No patent marks , no raised rib and round front tote
I'm a bit confused about the whole ridge thing, I'm looking to buy a no 4 which doesn't have the raised rib on the heel or toe as per the example you picked up @2:50, it looks like the one on the left sat down... Is the issue because people are using a system designed for a certain no and it's the wrong no for that type? Like what's true for no 4 is not true for no 7 or whatever?
The type study is based on the No4 sized planes only. Not everything generalizes to the other sizes, with the raised rib (or lack thereof) being the most commonly mistaken feature. We just have to look at the Non-No4 size planes as a whole and not get tied down to a specific algorithm on the internet to determine type for us.
If you're looking for a screw for the frog on that type 15 on the far left , I know a guy . Lol Very informative my friend , that's some good stuff to know while we're out pickin'.
It’s less common but the value is more determined by demand. To a collector looking for that vintage, you may get a premium for it. It was in the 1930s that Stanley issued planes with orange paint on the frogs
It’s the later ones that got shorter. I haven’t seen anything definitive in print that states when they got shortened but I suspect it was sometime around type 18 or 19… maybe.
@@justplanefun yes, it was my great-grandfather's who was born in the late 1800's.... I have a few of his tools... I know they aren't super old, just wondering when he bought it
wish i could afford that book but its a lil pricey for me when i could buy some more planes instead lol ill get it eventually tho. another great video brother
Asalways thanx for the video, im a lil confused why u keep calling the newer frogs, ' OG ", doesnt OG stand for original gangster, or original ?? THANX AGAIN !!!!!
You gotta watch out for those frogs - they’re strapped! 😅 The shape of the frog is considered “ogee” - somewhat similar to an ogee-shaped blade if you’re familiar with those
I totally wish YT would let us post pics, but I'm sure you'd get bombarded. I would never ask anyone to watch one of my videos 😇, but I just posted a Short revealing a couple planes I picked up from a local antique shop. If I read the info on the page correctly, I think the number 4 is from 1902, but idk. I'm totally new and haven't done any hand tool woodwork but I'm getting inspired as my table saw restoration comes to a close. The Short is a quick nod to Paul and starting an inexpensive plan and hand tool collection to clean up and use. Thanks for this info! ❤it
You are a gold mine of information. Thank you for taking the time to do these videos. Reading about it is one thing, but being able to see the differences visually with video is invaluable.
Thanks! Glad I could help you out. Hopefully I can carve out some time to make the Type 17 video soon
Running a business, running and participating groups on Facebook, helping newbies and oldies alike get the parts they need, shooting content for RUclips, running down Leeds and buying more tools to keep plenty of tools for us fools, all while collecting for yourself.... Plus having a family! How do you do it all? My suspiciousness are you one of a set of triplets that does a 8hr shift once a day or ur just a cyborg.... All I can say to the 3 of you or the robot is thank you!
I promise there’s only one of me but there are times that having a clone would help… a lot. My 12 yr old is on the cusp of being mature enough to be helpful though
Thanks for the very informative video. It is timely for me since I just purchased a No. 5 1/4 and, with no raised rib, I thought it was type 15. But all the other features point to type 16, exactly as you described! Thanks for clearing that up for me.
That’s great news!
Exellent video from an experienced plane expert - thanks.
I've been hunting a replacement type 15 base for a while and think I've found one, but I was itching for you to remove the frog from yours and give a clear view of the base, by itself.
I think as a general principle in your identifying videos it would be useful to do this, and give a clear shot of a naked base, of whatever model you are teaching us about, that way, someone looking for a replacement base, would be able to see all the relevent features in one image.
Just a thought.
Thanks again for a very instructive video.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Great information. I love to collect and restore vintage Stanley planes.. I have two No. 4 baileys I restored and they have big differences.. One has plastic knob and tole with the raised front and back ridge. The second No. 4 is also a Bailey with no raised ridge but is a full inch shorter in length than the first one. Both have Made in England raised in the body. I didn't know that No. 4s were so different in length. I love my No 1 (1899-1902) and No 2 type 11 or 12 . They are in perfect working order after many hours of sanding, sharpening and polishing.
The made in England Stanley planes have a separate type study but unfortunately I don’t have enough of them to make a video on it
This was Perfect! I have a no. 7 that I thought was a mess of type 15 body and 16 or later parts. After watching your video, I truly believe it is a prewar type 16 with correct parts. Thank you!
I’m glad you found it helpful!
Got a real type fifteen for 10 bucks with some files as well has a broke tote and is kind of roughish but I cleaned it up and it work wonderfully best plane I have by far
$10 is a heckuva deal for a functioning type 15!
Thanks for the very informative video! My initial conclusion about my No 3 was completely wrong. Now that I understand what was meant by the raised rib on the on the toe and heel, it is clear that I most likely have a type 19 not a type 15. While I fine with whatever type I have, it is nice to know what it actually is and the approximate age. Thanks again!
Outstanding! I’m glad you found the video helpful 🙂
Thank you for this and all these videos. I had this type 15 question with a 4-1/2 a few weeks ago!
Excellent!
Hey Mike should do one on the English Canadian and Aussie types to just to keep you busy mate.Always a pleasure to watch and learn a bit from you tnx👍💯👀
I need a source for correct information! I have yet to find a reliable source / type study to draw info from
Great informative review. Thanks, MJ!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the lesson Michael. Now I will go back and check my 7 to see if it is truly a type 15.
Let me know what you found out!
I have what I think is a Type 15 No 5c. Perfect type 15 body and leaver cap with the wrong frog. The iron is not its original AA logo but the plane clearly saw tons of use and it is nearly full length. The nickel platting on the leaver cap is worn away where the user put their pointer finger during use. Everything on this plane is perfect, intact handles and I even kept the original finish. While I don't care about my plane being type correct as it is the best performing plane in my shop, I wonder if it is common to see planes with parts from the type before or after? I know types were something that tool collectors came up with and Stanley probably had parts left and used them.
You are exactly right. Stanley used up old parts as long as they still fit on the planes as they were being made.
With that said, when a tool is 50, 60, 80+ years old, there’s no telling what could have happened over the decades since it was made. How many different owners have used it? It could have been disassembled around other planes and re-assembled with a wrong part or two. Some things we will never know, eh?
Very interesting thanks. cheer from Tasmania
Is the underlying problem with the logic tree that some Type 16-19 planes were made without the raised rib at the heel and toe? Perhaps Stanley continued to use the Type 15 castings on newer planes, just until they ran out. So there are some examples like your No.7 that have a Type 15 casting but other features like the depth adjust knob from later types.
It’s really hard to say anything definitive on that. I haven’t seen any documentation to support any specifics so I think all we can do is speculate. What we call type 15s now were only cast for around one year so I can’t imagine it would have taken too long to sell the additional castings and other parts.
Thanks for a great, informative video. I just today received a well-used but decent SB #4 (from eBay, where else?). It's a beater, and will be a user, not a collector's item in a showcase, so I'm not worried about having a perfectly original tool. The- photos in the listing weren't great, but it looked like a type 15. Following along with your videos (this one and the one differentiating between 15's and 16's, I was able to determine, absolutely, that it's a type 15, and in decent shape - sole is flat, no pitting; some surface rust on frog and other parts but again, no pitting; no frozen screws; tote & knob are rosewood, no major chips or gouges; Everything looks like it will be good with cleaning, fettling, tuning, sharpening. However, there are issues - the frog has residual orange paint on the sides...it looks like it was original - did type 15 frogs ever have the orange sides? Second, the cap iron is painted yellow (again, looks original). Third, the iron is stamped, "TWO-TONE by Stanley". Clearly the original iron has been replaced with a lower-quality iron...I have no idea if the Two-Tone iron will hold an edge, but if it doesn't, I can get another iron. But I wonder about the cap-iron. I can remove the paint, that's not a problem...but I wonder it it was original to the type 15 plane?
There was a very brief period of time that Stanley painted frogs orange. It was in the early 1930s if I recall correctly but I’d have to look it up to be certain. Some collectors look for them specifically.
For your two-tone blade, you’re absolutely right - it’s a lower end iron that may or may not meet your needs. The yellow chip breaker (cap iron) is also from a two-tone. That’s where the name comes from. The sole was probably a maroon color and the yellow chip breaker was the second of “two tones”.
Your type 15 would have originally had an “AA” iron (the last of the SW style logos / trademarks).
@@justplanefun Thank You! After getting your info about the orange frogs, I did some checking - apparently they're considered desirable by some collectors. Many have lost most of the orange paint, but mine still has about 60-75%. I'd intended this plane to just be a user, and was going to do a full "Paul Sellers" renovation. But this plane is in nice condition, and with the orange-sided frog, may be worth saving, keeping it as original as I can. I've bought a good original sweetheart iron for it, though not quite correct - it's the 2nd sweetheart logo, from an older plane (Type 12, 1921-22), but it's a sweetheart. I'll just be gentle, get rid of surface rust without removing the patina, sharpen the iron, refinish the tote and knob, tune it up, then clean and wax everything, and sell it. I'll give an honest, complete description, with photos showing all parts clearly. Maybe I can find someone who'll treasure it. Meanwhile, I've picked up a beat-up Type 18 (1946-47) to be my user. It needs some TLC, and elbow-grease, but it has no major flaws. I'll do the full-up renovation on that one. Thank you once again for your experience, your time, and your kindness.
Thanks so much for your wisdom. I have a number 3 with a B casting under the lever cap..which is a key hole type cap. Under the frog is a marking EvST stamped on the plane bed. No other markings anywhere except no. 3 cast behind the front knob...with two small lines under the o. Do you think this plane is even a Stanley? Is it maybe quite old?
I don’t know if I would call it wisdom, I’m just showing examples of stuff that’s documented in print.
The B casting lever cap is probably a Stanley from a type 8. If the body has no patent dates and doesn’t say made in USA anywhere on it, then it may not be Stanley at all. Perhaps it could be a Union from after the Stanley buyout.
If you’re on Facebook, swing by “Just Plane Fun - the parts division” and show us some pics. We can help figure it out
Another possibility is Revonoc or some other department store brand equivalent. Does it have a twisted lateral adjust lever?
Hi great films and very helpful. I’ve a 5 1/2 from the USA with a aa sweetheart iron, curved frog and keyhole lever cap. What type do you think that is? No patent marks , no raised rib and round front tote
Shoot me some pics at jplanefun@gmail.com
Thank you for the help
Thanks for watching!
I'm a bit confused about the whole ridge thing, I'm looking to buy a no 4 which doesn't have the raised rib on the heel or toe as per the example you picked up @2:50, it looks like the one on the left sat down... Is the issue because people are using a system designed for a certain no and it's the wrong no for that type? Like what's true for no 4 is not true for no 7 or whatever?
The type study is based on the No4 sized planes only. Not everything generalizes to the other sizes, with the raised rib (or lack thereof) being the most commonly mistaken feature.
We just have to look at the Non-No4 size planes as a whole and not get tied down to a specific algorithm on the internet to determine type for us.
If you're looking for a screw for the frog on that type 15 on the far left , I know a guy . Lol Very informative my friend , that's some good stuff to know while we're out pickin'.
Who is this mysterious parts seller you speak of? 🤔
How did you one of my No 7's out of my shed to show me that it is a WWII era Type 17. The rubber adjustment wheel is the give away.
Very nice
Just found you. Invaluable. THANKS! Do you have a contact point for parts other than FB?
You can email me at jplanefun@gmail.com
You should do Type 16-20 (the cherry on top)
Continuing the type study breakdown series is most definitely on the list. Just wish I had more time to dedicate to making videos
can you help type a Stanley #2 that has orange paint on the sides of the frog? Does this paint make it more rare or valuable for collector's?
It’s less common but the value is more determined by demand. To a collector looking for that vintage, you may get a premium for it.
It was in the 1930s that Stanley issued planes with orange paint on the frogs
I see 2 different lengths in the chip breaker on these planes. About 4-7/8” and 5-1/4”. Is their any certain typing that these sizes follow???
It’s the later ones that got shorter. I haven’t seen anything definitive in print that states when they got shortened but I suspect it was sometime around type 18 or 19… maybe.
I have a no 3 with kidney hole but instead of PAT NO on back it just has a U stamped and a 3 to the left of kidney hole
That’s a later cap. Probably from a type 18 or 19. Does it have the orange background behind “Stanley”?
@@justplanefun yes, it was my great-grandfather's who was born in the late 1800's.... I have a few of his tools... I know they aren't super old, just wondering when he bought it
wish i could afford that book but its a lil pricey for me when i could buy some more planes instead lol ill get it eventually tho. another great video brother
I’ll bet one will come up that’ll be affordable. The outside of mine is in poor shape but the pages are all there so it works out
The Author of that book Roger Smith is a good friend of mine!!! Local!!! I can get copies off him for a good price if anyone needs one!!
There sure are lots of folks looking for em. Glad to hear R. K. Smith is still around
Asalways thanx for the video, im a lil confused why u keep calling the newer frogs, ' OG ", doesnt OG stand for original gangster, or original ?? THANX AGAIN !!!!!
You gotta watch out for those frogs - they’re strapped! 😅
The shape of the frog is considered “ogee” - somewhat similar to an ogee-shaped blade if you’re familiar with those
@@justplanefun GREAT COMEBACK !!!n thanx for the ogee lesson
Ah thanks for this I thought I had a 15 no 4 but I had a 19 no 4
Happy to help!
Thanks 👍🏻 For helping me identify my Type 16 Stanley Bailey No 4
I appreciate your knowledge. 👉🏻🔪
Anytime
❤😊
Indeed