Bailey plane identification
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19 March 2014 at 3:47 pm #29051
Yesterday, while trolling the local used tool store, I found a reasonably priced ($13) #4 plane and since I don’t have one I purchased it. It was marked “Bailey” and “No 4” around the front knob so I assumed it was a Stanley but the cap and chip breaker, both chrome plated, were marked Millers Falls and the iron was marked “Victoria”. It all fits together and should work fine once the rust is cleaned off but I’m curious if it’s really a Stanley or a Millers Falls. Anyone know about this?
Cheers
Randy-
I always have fun dating/identifying hand tools, but I think what you have is what they refer to as a franken-tool. Orphaned parts of different planes were put together, either in ignorance or to salvage. Since many tool makers were producing very similar planes, it is quite possible you will be able to get it working well.
If it is a USA made Stanley body, you may be able to date it using this flowchart. Also, there is Millers Falls dating information using this type study.
After a brief google session, I did discover that Stanley had a manufacturing plant in Australia (Nunawading, Victoria) after they bought out Turner Industries in 1970. I am not sure if that has anything to do with the “Victoria” marking on the iron, but it is my only (weak) lead so far. If you want to post some closeup photos of the parts, I could dig a little deeper.
25 March 2014 at 4:46 pm #35582Scott – You’re probably right about the franken-tool description. Using the link you provided (thanks for that), it appears to be a type 19 Stanley, carefully fitted with a chip breaker, iron and cap lever from an old Millers Falls plane. I am surprised that they seem to fit together and function well, given what I’ve seen with Stanleys that won’t interchange parts. I’ve attached some photos of what I’ve got. Since it seems to work ok, I went ahead and ordered a new iron (Ray Iles O1) and replacement tote and knob. The iron may be saveable with some grinding but the original tote has been broken and glued but it didn’t hold. Pity, as it looks like an original rosewood tote (under the tastefully applied layer of white latex).
Attachments:
You must be logged in to view attached files.Randy-
To me it looks like your plane body may be a late Type 16 or an early Type 19. It is hard to tell. The STANLEY on your lateral lever is sideways – while Type 19 is known for it being vertical. However, Stanley would often make use of remaining parts as they transitioned from one type to another.
The body looks to be in good shape from what I see, but I do not see a yoke on your depth adjuster. The yoke is the wye shaped piece that the adjuster wheel pivots to make your blade advance or retreat. The yoke has a little nub on top that protrudes through the frog to engage the hole in the cap iron. It is part #7 in the following diagram.
25 March 2014 at 10:58 pm #35834That’s because the yoke is still off. I disassembled it to get all the grunge and rust off and have yet to completely reassemble. Also I wanted to true the frog’s bearing surfaces on my linishing plate and I’m still harboring the idea to sandblast the big bits down to bare metal and repaint them in a flashier color.
I’m anxious to get this plane into action to see what Paul’s talking about.Cheers
25 March 2014 at 11:11 pm #35841Scott, you wouldn’t know of a source for a frog for a no 5 Bailey? I bought one last fall that has the lower frog bearing surfaces machined at an angle! causing the whole frog and iron assy. to sit at a noticeable angle. Can’t imagine it ever worked right from new. Maybe that’s why it was on e-bay.
Randy- You would need to know the Type number for the jack plane, but armed with that information I would do one of two things:
1) eBay. This guy sells plane parts as a business. I just found his eBay store, so I have no experience with him, but he routinely has frogs for different Stanley planes at reasonable prices.
2) I would email a respected dealer. Some dealers bid on box lots at auctions, so they may have parts available. Two of my favorites are Joshua Clark or Sanford Moss. Joshua may buy in bulk more than Sanford, but both dealers are reasonably priced and honorable.
HTH.
A number of people on Lumberjocks use the NHplaneparts guy Scott mentioned quite a bit and have been happy. I think the worst was a little slow service a couple times.
The other option is to find a frog off of a broken plane of a similar type. If you go to estate sales, garage sales, car boot sales or the like you can sometimes fine them very cheap. If the plane body is broken you can get it cheap and salvage the frog.
26 March 2014 at 3:06 pm #36468You do have a ” Franken Plane, clean it up sharpen the blade set the chip breaker ( cap Iron ) as close to the edge as you can and take her for a ride. If it works and the body not warped, bellied or twisted yo didn’t get hurt with the price of $13. If you have access to the April addition of Popular Woodworking Magazine there is an article on the blade/chip breaker which is right on. I have a couple “Franks” myself and they work fine and the price was right.
Steve
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